Fort Lauderdale’s #1 Alcohol & Drug Rehab Center

The clinical staff at our addiction treatment center are committed to individualized treatment plans. Our team utilizes many different modalities in both Drug Rehab and Alcohol Rehab to motivate and assist our clientele. These range from rational emotive behavior therapy, which places the focus of control within the client, to cognitive behavioral therapy, which aids with coping skills, increased self-efficacy and a decreased probability of relapse. Our educational groups bring awareness to both the client and family on the stages of change, family systems and enabling behaviors, as well as a host of other issues that can cause struggles for everyone involved.

In addition to our medical treatment and psychological therapies, we offer the following options to help our clients succeed in treatment and move to long-term, sustainable sobriety:

• Life skills, including basic hygiene, time management and employment skills
• Recreation to encourage social interaction and exercise, vital elements in a successful recovery
• Holistic therapies such as acupuncture, yoga and meditation to unite the mind, body and spirit
• Long lasting and succesful Drug Rehab and Alcohol Rehab.

When you’ve gotten back on your feet with the confidence to live a healthier life, we’re there at every step. For our patients, we offer health and fitness programs catering to your individual needs. It is very important for you to feel motivated and stay physically and mentally active after you’ve rediscovered the goodness in life.

We want to ensure you do not lose your motivation along the way and believe in acquiring happiness, peace and contentment. Our post rehab and therapy programs are designed for you to carry out daily exercises that will help you release toxins from your body and entail a positive lifestyle free of substance abuse. Our mission is your well-being and we want to guarantee it thoroughly, even after the rehab program has ended.

Serenity Oaks is a detox and rehab center for addiction located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We aim to support each of our clients through clinical, medical, and recreational treatments as they break free from their addictions and move into a healthier life of long-term sobriety, full of value and fulfillment. 

Our programs provide:

• A broad range of therapies and treatments
• Life skills programs
• Coping tools
• Education groups
• Sober support system

In a safe and comfortable environment, our diverse client group will learn to connect their thoughts and feelings in ways that lead to more fulfilling and healthier lives. We aim to help each individual client, meeting you at your level, and creating a program that works for you as a unique person. You will work with our team to find the underlying roots of your addiction, so you can overcome these issues, heal your mind, body, and spirit, and turn to a higher path of recovery, living a higher quality of life. We treat everybody including:

• First-time clients who may feel overwhelmed and nervous, and may not know what to expect while in treatment
• People with a dual diagnosis who may be struggling with co-occurring mental health issues like depression, anxiety disorders, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, PTSD, personality disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia
• People who have relapsed, and need additional or different types of treatment to get the help they need so they can remain sober for the long run

We transform lives for the better, and our caring team will guide you through this process, making every effort to help you stop using drugs and alcohol, and become the person you want to be.

At Serenity Oaks, each client is treated with respect and dignity, and will never be seen as “just another addict”. We have cultivated a positive community, with a judgment-free, welcoming atmosphere, working toward the goal of living a peaceful, fulfilled life. 

Our ADORN philosophy:

A – accountability, abstinence, acceptance, anger, anxiety, assertiveness, action, absolve

D – dreams, determination, disentangle, disconnect, deception, disembarrass, direction

O – opportunity, obliterate, open, onward, observe

R – roots, reconstructing, roles, relationships, regain, restoring

N – navigate

We will treat you as family, in a safe environment where you can be yourself and get vulnerable, allowing you to dig deep and address the underlying issues that led to your substance use disorder (SUD). 

Our treatments are individualized and integrated, and we also offer connections to our Thrive alumni mentor program, a program that provides:

• Motivation to challenge yourself and achieve personal goals and growth
• 24-hour phone support
• Local groups to meet up with
• Online groups
• The chance to be of service to others

The Serenity Oaks campus is on 7.5 acres of land, providing a sense of tranquility and peace conducive to healing and growth. Staying in our residence is not like a hospital stay. We offer a clean, modern décor, and rooms include a comfortable bed, ample storage, a TV with movie access, and a private bathroom, making your stay comfortable and home-like. There are common areas where you can socialize with your peers and participate in group therapy, and the outdoor space includes a Zen garden for meditation, a basketball court, and plenty of quiet, shady spots to escape the Florida heat.

We are not just another treatment center. We go the extra mile for our clients, providing a low staff-to-patient ratio that will ensure a personalized treatment for each patient, making a real difference in each and every person’s life. With our integrated medical detox, inpatient rehab, outpatient programs, and our Thrive alumni group, you will always have somewhere to turn, whether it is your first time coming to rehab or if you have relapsed. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.

Detoxing from alcohol is never something you should try to do without a doctor’s supervision. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can range from mild discomfort to deadly depending on physiological factors alongside your history of drinking, how long you have been drinking, and how much you have been drinking. A stay in an inpatient detox center will help keep you safe, and ensure your detox is successful, removing the risk of immediate relapse. In this program, you will receive medical care and oversight, therapy, counselling, and psychological care.

If your addiction is low and it is determined to be medically safe, you may be a candidate for outpatient detox, a program that still requires frequent check-ins with experts and taking medications regularly, but this course of action is usually not recommended as the risk of relapsing is high when you detox at home.  

The levels of alcohol detox are:

• Mild – Stage 1: 6 to 8 hours after last drink, mild symptoms like headaches and shakiness will appear, and you may feel stomach pain, nausea, anxiety, insomnia, mood swings, and heart palpitations
• Moderate – Stage 2: 1 to 3 days after your last drink, you will begin to feel symptoms of shock, with heavy drinkers needing medical interference to ensure serious health problems don’t occur. You may notice sweating, mental confusion, irregular heart rate, increased blood pressure, body temperature and respiration, and heightened mood disturbances.
• Severe – Stage 3: 3 to 7 days after your last drink, severe and dangerous symptoms may appear. Delirium tremens or “wet brain” may occur, causing confusion, delirium, hallucinations, and paranoia. You may also develop a high fever and suffer seizures. This stage requires medical care as brain damage, stroke, and death are possibilities.

At Serenity Oaks, we provide a medical detox program for people quitting alcohol. You may require a short-term medicated detox or a longer-term detox, depending on your level of addiction and your physical withdrawal symptoms. We will work with you to customize your detox program, ensuring you remain safe, and providing medications that will keep you comfortable as the alcohol leaves your system and your body and brain adjust.

Detoxification from drugs can be painful, uncomfortable, and even dangerous, depending on the substance you are detoxing from. At Serenity Oaks, we provide a medically supervised drug detox program that can be customized to your needs as the drugs and toxins leave your system. As with alcohol detox, there are both inpatient and outpatient options for detox programs, but inpatient detox is almost always recommended due to its much higher success rate.

Detox is the first step in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, but in order for it to be successful, it must be followed by a full rehabilitation plan. At Serenity Oaks, we provide comprehensive treatment programs that will lead you through every step you need, from detox to inpatient and outpatient rehab, and beyond.

Medical Detox Protocols

Each medical detox program at Serenity Oaks is administered by licensed, certified doctors and therapists who have plenty of experience in the detox and rehabilitation fields. Your plan will be customized to your unique needs as an individual, and our caring, professional team will treat you as a valuable person who is worthy of respect and care.

With our holistic treatments, your psychological, emotional, and physical health is taken into account. This means we will do all we can to ensure your drug cravings, emotional pain, psychological issues, and any discomfort or fear you have is taken care of through a combination of prescription medications, talk therapy, counseling, education, and trauma-informed care. We also provide alternative treatments including acupuncture, meditation, and yoga for a well-rounded healing program that incorporates spirituality and greater body awareness.

Sub-Acute Detox

Depending on your level of addiction, the drug(s) you were using, and physical and mental health aspects, you may not require a full, long-term detox plan that requires a long stay with hospitalization to achieve sobriety. It may only take a short period of intensive medical care during the peak of your withdrawal, or if complications arise. If this is the case, subacute detox may be right for you.

Subacute detox provides a customized level of care and treatments that is appropriate to the severity of your addiction, with a tailored program that will help you get through detox as quickly and easily as possible. 

Rehab for alcohol use disorders is strongly recommended after completing your alcohol detox plan. Depending on your unique needs, you will likely stay for 30 to 90 days in inpatient rehab, followed by an outpatient program. These programs are designed to help you gain confidence in your sobriety, providing skills, education, and therapy that will help you get to the root of your addiction, heal your mind, body, and spirit, and move forward in life with a new, healthier outlook. The different levels of rehabilitation programs at Serenity Oaks are:

Inpatient rehab

Inpatient alcohol rehab (also known as residential rehab) is a program where you move into our addiction treatment center full-time after detoxification, and live there for an average stay of one to three months. In this time, you will continue to heal your body after detox, and begin an intensive, tailored treatment plan designed to get you ready to move back home as a sober person, armed with new recovery tools and coping skills.  

You will work on your physical health through nutrition and exercise programs and medical care, your mental health through various types of group/individual therapy and dual diagnosis care if needed, and your spiritual health through programs like meditation and 12-step programs like narcotics anonymous or alcoholics anonymous.

Living inside a rehab center will remove you from the people, places, and temptations that would normally arise, triggering temptations at home. You will be surrounded by supportive peers and professionals and have the time and space to take a realistic look at your life and gain a new perspective on things.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

In our partial hospitalization program, you will live at home or in a sober living residence, and then come to meetings and therapy sessions during the day, with the option for prescription medications if required. Our PHP rarely requires patients to stay overnight.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

The intensive outpatient program allows you to live at home and return to daily responsibilities like going to work or school, and taking care of your family, while still coming in for therapy, groups, and other treatments once or twice a week.

Outpatient Program (OP)

After you complete your treatment, you can join the outpatient program at Serenity Oaks. This is a program for those who are considered to be in recovery, providing structure and support, allowing you to take responsibility for your actions, while giving you the option to visit for groups, counseling, and medical visits as needed. Outpatient rehab may also be an option for people who cannot afford inpatient, PHP, or IOP treatment programs. 

In our drug rehab and alcohol rehab Fort Lauderdale programs, we provide a variety of treatments and therapy options that will help you not only stop the physical dependence on substances, but also heal underlying issues, and prepare you for life after treatment. We offer traditional treatments like medical protocols, evidence-based therapy, and 12-step programs, as well as behavioral treatments including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Multidimensional Family Therapy
• Motivational Interviewing
• Motivational Incentives

Working to influence your behaviors, actions and thoughts, building your support system, and helping you understand the motivations behind your actions will enhance the treatment process and improve your overall likelihood of remaining sober, long-term.

The cost of rehab depends on many factors, including:

• If you stay inside our residential rehab center
• Medications and therapies provided
• Whether you move into a partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient program after inpatient care
• How long you are in rehab

The important thing to think about when deciding to go into rehab is whether the cost of staying on drugs or continuing drinking is worth it. Not only the actual cost of purchasing the substances each day, but also the physical health costs, the spiritual costs, the mental health costs, and the quality of life you are living, along with the emotional and spiritual toll this addiction is taking on you and those around you. Contact our team to verify your insurance will cover your stay with us and to learn more about how we can work with you to make your rehab a success.

The timeline of a typical detox is one to two weeks, depending on factors like:

• What substance(s) you have been using
• If you have been mixing drugs and/or alcohol
• How long you have been using the substance
• How much you were taking and the frequency you were using
• Your physical and mental health at the time of detox
• Your medical history and family history

At Serenity Oaks, we will help you to comfortably progress through detox, whether your symptoms are mild or severe, in a program customized to your needs.

30 Day (Short Term Rehab)

30 days in residential rehab is the minimum amount of time recommended, as the first month is the most crucial time to spend reprogramming your brain and gaining new habits. Attending rehab within a structured, community-oriented residential rehab will provide you with the therapy, holistic care, and time away from home that you need to be able to make life-long changes to thoughts, behaviors, and your outlook on life. At Serenity Oaks, our acupuncture, yoga, and meditation programs will help you strengthen your connection to your body as you heal the damage done by harsh substances, and somebody will be there for you, 24 hours a day, providing support when you need it. After 30 days, your risk of relapse will be reduced significantly.  

Long Term Rehab (60 to 90 Days)

 A longer stay in inpatient rehab is better for anybody who is recovering from alcohol, opioid, or benzodiazepine abuse. Sometimes withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and other health issues can return as rebound withdrawal symptoms, so the more time spent learning to deal with these issues and healing the underlying causes of addiction, the better. People who have suffered ill physical health effects from drug use will do better in a long-term rehab facility as well, as there is 24-hour access to medical care.

People with mental illnesses, post-traumatic stress disorder, or those beginning new psychiatric medications will also benefit from a longer stay in rehab. These medications often take up to 6 weeks to take effect, and you will have more time to work on behavioral issues, mental and spiritual wellness, and finding the underlying cause of your addiction. The longer you stay in the structured environment of a residential rehab program, the lower your risk of relapsing will be.

If you have health insurance, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 states that you should have coverage for behavioral health treatments, substance abuse and addiction treatments, and residential treatment for mental and behavioral health. This means that your insurance should cover some, or all of your rehab, depending on the carrier, and the program you enter. Usually, insurance will cover 60% to 90% of care, as long as you go to a rehab treatment center that accepts your insurance.

At Serenity Oaks, we accept a number of insurance plans, but as coverage may be difficult to navigate, you can call our team for help determining what is covered and what will be paid for out of pocket, and why. We will ensure you get the help you need so you can plan treatment and understand the costs.

At Serenity Oaks, we offer a multifaceted program, with various types of therapies and addiction treatments that will help you recover from your addiction and learn to live life again as a sober individual. These include unconventional treatments with a focus on healthy living and holistic healing like:

• Nutrition classes
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Recreation
• There are also life skills courses available, including:
• Budgeting
• Resume building
• Financial education
• Personal grooming classes
• Time management skills

MAT

We provide an integrated Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) detox program at Serenity Oaks treatment centers, providing therapy, addiction counseling, and medical care together, along with beginning dual diagnosis treatments for those with mental illness, with antidepressant and antipsychotic medications prescribed if needed as you detox from drugs and alcohol.

The biggest reason people choose a medical detox program is the reduced suffering. The body goes through intense physical and emotional pain during most detoxes, and our team of experts can provide medications and holistic treatments that will help you rest, reduce pain, and stop drug cravings. This makes the recovery more likely to be successful, stabilizing the body and healing you psychologically at the same time.

Some medications that have been approved by the National Institutes of Health for medical detox include methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram. We will ensure you receive the medications that will best suit your unique needs, getting to know about your health history before writing a prescription.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common behavioral therapy used to treat substance use disorders (SUD). The focus is on modifying behaviors and thought patterns, while treating underlying emotional disorders. CBT helps people find the reasons behind addiction and destructive behavior, finding alternate coping mechanisms and treating mental disorders like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is a therapy that works on the psychosocial aspects of addiction, helping patients work through the emotional and social reasons for their substance abuse. It helps replace negative behaviors with positive ones, integrating mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness with behavior therapy methodologies.

Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy

 Rational emotive behavioral therapy focuses on perspective, with the reasoning that no situation is “good” or “bad”, it only depends how you look at it. This modality challenges patients about their own thoughts, emotions, and responses to triggers, while addressing underlying issues and providing healthier coping techniques.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Dual diagnosis treatment is the treatment of addiction and mental health issues at the same time. Usually substance use disorders and mental illness are tied together or connected in some way, perhaps even stemming from the same underlying issues. People use substances to mask symptoms of mental illness, while other latent mental illnesses can be exacerbated by substance use. As these issues have a deep impact on each other, treating them at the same time will break the cycle.  

Relapse Prevention

Leaving rehab does not mean you are cured of addiction, as it is a chronic brain disease that will not go away completely. It can be managed, though, and that is why relapse prevention programs are so important. Learning new coping techniques for stress, gaining a strong network of support, and knowing the symptoms of relapse and what to do are all valuable techniques you will gain in rehab.  

Alternative Treatments

Every patient is unique, and although traditional treatment methodologies are proven to be effective in many cases, others may benefit from alternative techniques and programs. Holistic treatments for addiction incorporate mental wellness and spirituality for a whole-patient approach to healing. Choices alternative to classic Western medicine may:

•       Help some withdrawal symptoms including aches and pains
•       Provide spiritual grounding and a better mind-body connection
•       Help the patient regain physical strength and wellness through exercise, nutrition, movement, and stretching
•   Provide relief from stress, anxiety, and emotional issues 

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a type of treatment that has been around for thousands of years, involving tiny, hair-thin needles placed at pressure points throughout the body to stimulate the nervous system. Used to promote an overall balance in the body and improve blood flow, acupuncture has been shown to help relieve withdrawal symptoms (cravings, insomnia, anxiety, depression, digestive issues, muscle cramps), increase a patient’s energy, induce a sense of calm and well-being, and increase the chances of remaining sober after completing addiction treatment.

 Yoga

Yoga combines Eastern philosophies with body movements to improve the body-mind connection, providing a balance between the physical body and mental wellness. The benefits of yoga include:

• Increased physical stamina and strength
• Stress relief, with increased self-awareness
• Pain relief and emotional healing
• Improving quality of sleep, resulting in more energy and less fatigue during the day
• A clearer head, with less irritability
• The potential of achieving inner peace

Being attuned to your body can help you learn to take ownership over the way you feel, and gain more control over your emotions, physical sensations, and overall wellbeing, reducing the wish to use substances as a coping mechanism.

Meditation

Meditation promotes mindfulness practices, combined with the awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and body sensations you feel in any given moment. It can lead to improved self-control, higher self-esteem and confidence, and improved mental health as you learn to understand and prevent cravings, negative thoughts and emotions, and other intrusive sensations from leading to self-sabotaging behaviors.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy that is led by one or more therapists or counselors, with a group of patients gathered together to discuss a specific topic or theme. Groups help in many ways, providing:

• A space where you feel you are not alone, and the relief in hearing that others are struggling like you
• A sounding board, with others to brainstorm with
• Perspective on issues, achieved through talking and listening
• New ways to tackle problems, with new perspectives and strategies
• A place to gain new social skills and communication skills with other sober people
• A supportive environment with empathetic peers 

One on One Therapy

One-on-one therapy, also called psychotherapy, counseling, individual therapy, or talk therapy, is time spent alone with a therapist, talking through issues that are hard to face alone. Your therapist will help you if you are feeling overwhelmed or unhappy, or if there is something bothering you or interfering in your everyday life.

In therapy you will work to find the underlying causes of your addiction and get new coping skills and relapse prevention tools that will reduce your stress and improve your quality of life as you move forward in your recovery.

Family Therapy

Family therapy is a broad term for many types of therapy involving two or more family members who, along with a trained therapist, will work through issues like:

• Problematic behaviors
• Trust issues
• Guilt or shame and other intense emotions
• Poor communication or lack of understanding
• Any situation that causes conflict, grief, or stress

Family therapy can also provide education about addiction, helping families understand more about what a person with a substance use disorder is going through and how to best help them in their recovery. With family therapy you can heal old issues, improve your relationships and communication, and become closer as a family.

Trauma Informed Therapy (After PTSD)

Trauma informed therapy is a methodology that focuses on providing a safe and healing environment to anybody undergoing treatment. Care providers will know the symptoms of trauma, and work to ensure patients are not re-traumatized. The focus will be placed on collaboration, empowerment, and trust, with open decision making and consent acquired before moving forward with any treatments. This will improve patient engagement, and enhance treatment outcomes, as the patient will be more likely to allow themselves to be vulnerable and honest with their therapists and with themselves.  

Physical Fitness

A regular exercise routine, when combined with therapy, medication, and other treatments, can promote healing and lasting recovery in addiction patients. It can distract from cravings, provide structure to the day, and help you meet new people, while strengthening your body and improving your self-esteem.

Off Site Activities

While inpatient rehab is very beneficial, sometimes taking a break from the routine and trying new things is good for the spirit. Offsite activities provided by rehab facilities give patients the chance to open their world, experience nature, local attractions, or just have fun in the world, giving them a reminder that there are plenty of drug- and alcohol-free ways to enjoy life.