Addiction Treatment & Recovery Care
Outpatient Addiction Treatment Sarasota, FL
What Is Outpatient Addiction Treatment?
Outpatient addiction treatment allows individuals to receive medical and behavioral care while continuing to live at home and maintain daily responsibilities. Unlike inpatient or residential programs, outpatient care offers flexibility. At the same time, it still provides medical oversight, medication management, counseling, mental health care, and recovery support.
Programs can vary. For example, some people attend a visit each week. Others may need several hours of care per day. The right level depends on your needs and situation. In many cases, people begin with a higher level of care and then step down to outpatient treatment as they improve.
Substance use disorder is a chronic medical condition that affects brain function, behavior, and decision-making. Over time, patterns of use can become difficult to control, even when they lead to serious consequences in daily life.
For a deeper explanation of how addiction affects the brain and behavior, visit our Understanding Addiction page.
How We Deliver Addiction Treatment & Recovery Care
At Solstice Health & Wellness, outpatient addiction treatment is delivered through an integrated program. In other words, medical care, mental health services, lifestyle support, harm reduction, and recovery resources are offered in one place. As a result, care is coordinated and consistent.
Each treatment plan is personalized from the start. It is built around the substances used, medical history, mental health needs, and personal goals. As needs change, the plan changes as well. In addition, patients are welcome at any stage of readiness, including those who are not yet ready to stop using completely.
Approach to Treatment Planning
Every patient receives a full clinical evaluation before treatment begins. This evaluation follows the ASAM Criteria, which help determine the safest and most appropriate level of care. As a result, the team can choose the right mix of medications, counseling, monitoring, and support.
The assessment reviews six areas:
- Dimension 1: Intoxication, withdrawal risk, and medication needs.
- Dimension 2: Physical health conditions, including sleep and pregnancy-related concerns.
- Dimension 3: Mental health symptoms, trauma history, and cognitive function.
- Dimension 4: Risk of ongoing substance use or unsafe behaviors.
- Dimension 5: Recovery environment, including safety and social support.
- Dimension 6: Personal readiness, preferences, and barriers to care.
Together, these six areas guide a treatment plan that reflects the full clinical picture. Over time, the plan adjusts as progress is made.
If you or someone you care about is affected by substance use or withdrawal symptoms, we are here to help.
Substance Use Conditions We Treat
Solstice provides outpatient treatment for many substances and related health concerns. Below is a brief overview.
Opioids
Includes: Heroin and prescription pain medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, and morphine.
Intoxication: Drowsiness and nausea are common. In addition, mixing with alcohol or sedatives increases overdose risk.
Withdrawal: Cravings, muscle aches, and stomach upset often occur. Medications can ease symptoms and support recovery.
Long-term care: Buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone are first-line treatments. However, methadone requires visits to a specialized program.
Explore how Prescription Opioids and Heroin Addiction are treated.
Alcohol
Includes: Beer, wine, spirits, and other alcoholic beverages.
Intoxication: Slurred speech and poor coordination are common. Also, mixing alcohol with opioids or benzodiazepines raises overdose risk.
Withdrawal: Symptoms range from anxiety and tremor to seizures and delirium tremens. Therefore, medical monitoring is often required.
Long-term care: Naltrexone and acamprosate are first-line. In addition, topiramate, gabapentin, or disulfiram may be used.
Explore how Alcohol Use Disorder is treated.
Benzodiazepines
Includes: Alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium), and clonazepam (Klonopin).
Intoxication: Sedation and confusion may occur. When combined with opioids or alcohol, the risk becomes life-threatening.
Withdrawal: Stopping abruptly can cause seizures. For this reason, a slow, guided taper is required.
Long-term care: Therapy for anxiety or insomnia is central to care.
Explore how Benzodiazepine Addiction is treated.
Stimulants
Includes: Cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin.
Intoxication: Severe cases may cause chest pain, seizures, or psychosis. Therefore, urgent evaluation may be needed.
Withdrawal: Fatigue and depressed mood are common. As a result, relapse risk may increase.
Long-term care: Contingency management is helpful. In some cases, bupropion, naltrexone, topiramate, or mirtazapine may be used.
Explore how Cocaine Addiction is treated.
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) & Related Alkaloids
Includes: Kratom leaf, kratom extracts, mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl.
Intoxication: Low doses act as stimulants. Higher doses act as sedatives. However, concentrated extracts increase overdose risk.
Withdrawal: Muscle aches, insomnia, and stomach upset may begin within 12–24 hours.
Long-term care: Treatment often mirrors opioid use disorder care, including buprenorphine.
Explore how Kratom Addiction is treated.
Nicotine (Tobacco & Vaping)
Includes: Cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes, and nicotine pouches.
Intoxication: Toxicity can occur with the intake of liquid nicotine or high-concentration products.
Withdrawal: Irritability and cravings begin within hours of stopping.
Long-term care: Varenicline and combination nicotine replacement therapy have the highest quit rates. Counseling also improves success.
Explore how Vaping Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction are treated.
Cannabis
Includes: Marijuana, edibles, concentrates, and vape cartridges (THC).
Intoxication: Panic or psychosis may occur in some individuals.
Withdrawal: Irritability and sleep problems may peak within several days.
Long-term care: CBT and motivational therapy are effective. In some cases, gabapentin or N-acetylcysteine may help.
Explore how Cannabis Use Disorder is treated.
Bath Salts (Synthetic Cathinones)
Includes: MDPV, mephedrone, methylone, and alpha-PVP (“flakka”).
Intoxication: Severe agitation and psychosis may require ICU care.
Withdrawal: Fatigue and depression are common.
Long-term care: Treatment centers on behavioral therapy.
Explore how Bath Salts Addiction is treated.
Xylazine
Includes: Xylazine (“tranq”), often found mixed with fentanyl and heroin.
Intoxication: Causes deep sedation and low blood pressure. Naloxone treats opioid effects but not xylazine itself.
Withdrawal: Anxiety, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure occur.
Long-term care: Involves treating co-occurring opioid use disorder, wound care, and harm reduction strategies.
Explore how Xylazine Exposure/Addiction is treated.
Additional Substances & Emerging Drug Risks
Some substances are less common but still carry significant medical and addiction risks. Expand the sections below to learn more.
Medetomidine
Includes: medetomidine, dexmedetomidine (emerging additive in illicit fentanyl).
Intoxication: Stronger than xylazine, causing severe sedation, slow heart rate, and low blood pressure. Overdose requires naloxone for co-occurring opioid effects.
Withdrawal: Symptoms include anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, increased heart rate, and blood pressure.
Long-term care: Focuses on treating co-occurring opioid use disorder and harm reduction strategies.
Inhalants (Whippets/Nitrous Oxide)
Includes: nitrous oxide (whippets), volatile solvents (glue, paint thinner), aerosols, poppers (amyl nitrite).
Intoxication: Can cause sudden cardiac death, seizures, or asphyxiation, even on first use. Severe intoxication is a medical emergency.
Withdrawal: Chronic nitrous oxide use inactivates vitamin B12, which can lead to serious neurological damage.
Long-term care: Psychosocial support, cessation, and for nitrous oxide users, ongoing B12 monitoring with neurology follow-up if needed.
Hallucinogens (LSD, Mushrooms, DMT).
Includes: LSD, psilocybin (mushrooms), DMT, ayahuasca, mescaline (peyote).
Intoxication: Most experiences are self-limiting, but severe panic, psychosis, or perceptual disturbances require psychiatric evaluation.
Withdrawal: Classic hallucinogens do not produce physical dependence or a medically significant withdrawal syndrome.
Long-term care: Psychosocial approaches and attention to co-occurring psychiatric conditions are the primary interventions.
Dissociatives (Ketamine, PCP, DXM).
Includes: Ketamine, PCP (angel dust), DXM (dextromethorphan), Salvia.
Intoxication: PCP is the most concerning, with risk of violent behavior, severe high blood pressure, seizures, and hyperthermia requiring emergency care.
Withdrawal: Chronic users may experience cravings, depression, and cognitive difficulties.
Long-term care: Psychosocial interventions and treatment of co-occurring mental health conditions are the primary approaches.
Rohypnol (Roofies)
Includes: flunitrazepam.
Intoxication: Causes severe sedation and amnesia, with increased risk when combined with alcohol or opioids. Associated with drug-facilitated assault.
Withdrawal: As a potent benzodiazepine, abrupt cessation can cause life-threatening seizures and delirium, requiring a gradual, individualized taper.
Long-term care: Treatment follows the same principles as benzodiazepine use disorder, with psychotherapy and management of underlying conditions.
GHB
Includes: gamma-hydroxybutyrate, GBL (gamma-butyrolactone), 1,4-butanediol.
Intoxication: GHB has a dangerously narrow margin between a recreational dose and overdose, especially with alcohol.
Withdrawal: Can be life-threatening, with delirium and psychosis beginning within hours of the last dose. Hospitalization is typically required.
Long-term care: Psychosocial interventions and relapse prevention strategies form the basis of ongoing care.
MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly)
Includes: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), ecstasy, molly.
Intoxication: Can cause serotonin syndrome, dangerous hyperthermia, hyponatremia, and seizures. Severe cases are medical emergencies.
Withdrawal: The “comedown” brings depressed mood, fatigue, and irritability lasting several days, and chronic heavy use may lead to persistent mood and cognitive changes.
Long-term care: Psychosocial interventions with a focus on treating co-occurring depression, anxiety, or trauma that often accompanies MDMA use.
Performance-Enhancing Drugs (Anabolic Steroids)
Includes: testosterone, nandrolone (Deca-Durabolin), boldenone (Equipoise), stanozolol (Winstrol), oxymetholone (Anadrol), oxandrolone (Oxandrin), human growth hormone, clenbuterol.
Intoxication: Acute toxicity is uncommon but can include aggression, hypertension, and erythrocytosis. Clenbuterol overdose can cause dangerous cardiac arrhythmias requiring emergency care.
Withdrawal: Prolonged use suppresses the body’s natural hormone production, and cessation can lead to fatigue, depression, sexual dysfunction, and prolonged hypogonadism.
Long-term care: Hormonal and metabolic monitoring, and psychological support for body image concerns and dependence.
Polysubstance Use
Includes: concurrent use of multiple substances (e.g., opioids with stimulants, alcohol with benzodiazepines).
Intoxication: Combining depressants dramatically increases the risk of respiratory depression and death, while stimulant-depressant combinations can mask overdose.
Withdrawal: Multiple withdrawal syndromes may occur simultaneously. Withdrawal risk with alcohol or benzodiazepine should be prioritized.
Long-term care: All substance use concerns are addressed together without requiring abstinence from one substance as a condition for treating another.
Withdrawal Management & Outpatient Detox
Withdrawal care is available for appropriate patients in the outpatient setting. First, the clinical team reviews seizure risk, vital signs, and medical history. Then, the safest level of care is determined.
Outpatient management may include:
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Benzodiazepine tapering
- Opioid withdrawal
- Stimulant withdrawal support
- Kratom or tianeptine withdrawal
- Xylazine-related symptoms
- Polysubstance withdrawal
Learn more about Outpatient Alcohol Detox.
Medication for Addiction Treatment
Medications are a key part of effective addiction care. They reduce cravings, ease withdrawal, and lower relapse risk. At the same time, they support long-term recovery.
Opioid and Opioid-like Substance Use
Office-based buprenorphine treatment is available as films or tablets, including Suboxone and Zubsolv. In addition, long-acting injectable options such as Sublocade or Brixadi, are given in the clinic.
Vivitrol is available as a once-monthly injection. It may be preferred by patients who want a non-opioid option. In some cases, buprenorphine may also be used off-label for kratom or tianeptine dependence after clinical review.
Alcohol Use Disorder
Naltrexone and acamprosate are first-line treatments. In addition, topiramate and gabapentin may be used. Disulfiram may be appropriate for highly motivated patients.
Naltrexone (Vivitrol) is available as a once-monthly option.
Nicotine Dependence
Varenicline and combination nicotine replacement therapy provide the best long-term quit rates. However, bupropion and single-form NRT are also effective. Combining medication with counseling improves results.
Medication Details and Prescribing Information
Opioid and Opioid-Like Substance Use (including kratom, tianeptine)
- Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex, Zubsolv, Bunavail):
- Sublocade
- Brixadi
Alcohol Use Disorder
Opioid or Alcohol Use Disorder
Nicotine Dependence
Behavioral Therapies
Behavioral therapies are essential in addiction care. They help patients understand patterns of use, build coping skills, and prevent relapse.
Approaches include:
- Brief interventions: Short, focused sessions that review substance use, risks, and simple next steps.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: In this approach, patients learn to spot unhelpful thoughts and replace them with healthier ones.
- Substance use counseling: Through open discussion, patients build insight, coping skills, and stronger relationships.
- Relapse prevention: Over time, patients learn to recognize triggers, manage high-risk situations, and return to care if use occurs.
- Contingency management: With this method, small rewards reinforce goals such as abstinence and regular attendance.
- Motivational interviewing: In a supportive setting, patients explore mixed feelings and strengthen their own reasons for change.
Co-Occurring Disorders Management
At Solstice Health & Wellness, outpatient addiction treatment in Sarasota is built around the whole person, not just the substance. We focus on how your health, mental well‑being, and daily life fit together, because lasting recovery depends on all of them.
Services include:
- Mental Health Care for anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health conditions.
- Primary Care for high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and other acute and chronic health conditions.
- Lifestyle Health Support for sleep, nutrition, stress, and exercise.
- Virtual Care for flexibility and continuity
Harm Reduction
Harm reduction lowers the immediate risks of substance use. At the same time, it builds trust that may lead to treatment later.
Services include:
- Naloxone distribution
- Fentanyl and xylazine test strip education
- HIV and hepatitis screening
- Wound care
- Safer use education
- PrEP for HIV prevention
Harm reduction is not a substitute for treatment. However, it keeps individuals safer while they move at their own pace.
Recovery Support & Community Resources
Addiction often affects employment, housing, relationships, and daily stability. Our team helps connect you with resources that address these broader needs, supporting your progress across all areas of life.
Support Services
- Housing and shelter resources
- Employment and vocational support
- Transportation assistance
- Family and relationship counseling
- Peer support and recovery groups
- Resources for uninsured individuals
- Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator: SAMHSA. Find alcohol and drug treatment programs on this extensive database of recovery centers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What substances do you treat?
Solstice provides outpatient addiction treatment for opioids, alcohol, benzodiazepines, stimulants, cannabis, nicotine, kratom, tianeptine, xylazine, bath salts, nitrous oxide, and polysubstance use.
2. Do I need to be ready to quit completely before starting treatment?
No. Patients are welcome at any stage of readiness. Also, harm reduction services are available for individuals who are not yet ready to stop using. Treatment begins wherever you are.
3. What medications are available for addiction treatment?
Medications include buprenorphine (Suboxone, Zubsolv), long-acting injectable buprenorphine (Sublocade, Brixadi), naltrexone, Vivitrol, acamprosate, disulfiram, topiramate, and nicotine replacement therapy, among others. Medication decisions are based on clinical review and patient goals.
4. Do you offer outpatient detox?
Yes. Outpatient withdrawal management is available for appropriate patients, including alcohol, opioid, benzodiazepine, stimulant, and polysubstance withdrawal. A medical review determines whether outpatient detox is safe and appropriate.
5. Can you treat mental health conditions alongside addiction?
Yes. Co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and ADHD are screened for and treated within the same care setting during addiction treatment visits.
6. What happens during the first visit?
The first visit includes a full review covering substances used, medical and mental health history, current medications, and personal goals. A personal care plan is developed before you leave.
7. Do you offer telehealth addiction treatment?
Yes. Virtual care is available for appropriate follow-up and ongoing treatment. In addition, telehealth buprenorphine treatment is available to patients across all of Florida.
8. What if I have tried treatment before and relapsed?
Relapse is a recognized part of managing a chronic medical condition. It does not disqualify anyone from treatment. Prior treatment history is reviewed to build a stronger plan going forward.
9. Do you offer harm reduction services?
Yes. Harm reduction services include naloxone distribution, fentanyl and xylazine test strip guidance, infectious disease screening, wound care, and safer use education. Moreover, these services are available regardless of readiness to enter treatment.
10. How do I get started?
Call Solstice Health & Wellness to schedule an initial appointment. The first visit includes a full evaluation and a personal care plan covering addiction, medical health, and behavioral health needs.
Medically Reviewed By
Frank Melo, MD
Board Certified Addiction Medicine and Family Medicine
Medical Director, Solstice Health & Wellness
Last Updated: May 2026
References
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
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- Minozzi S, Saulle R, Amato L, Traccis F, Agabio R. Psychosocial Interventions for Stimulant Use Disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2024.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.