Lots of programs, short drives
The Southside is laid out along a few big roads: Beach Boulevard, J. Turner Butler Boulevard (JTB), Southside Boulevard, Philips Highway, University Boulevard and St. Johns Bluff Road, with I-95 on the west and the I-295 East Beltway running through it.
A good share of the city’s licensed programs sit along these roads. If you live here, many are a short drive, often without touching the interstate. That makes outpatient care, family sessions and follow-up visits much easier to keep up with.
Traffic still counts. Beach Boulevard and JTB can be slow at rush hour, so a program a few miles away on the far side of a busy interchange may take longer to reach than one farther off on an easy route.
But a short list of nearby places doesn’t tell you which one fits. Two programs on the same road can offer very different levels of care. Start with what your loved one needs, using our level of care guide, and then compare the programs close to you.
How to use being close
Visit before you decide
Ask if you can stop by and see where sessions happen. A short visit tells you a lot about how a place treats families.
Compare two or three
Call programs that offer the same level of care and ask the same questions. Our questions to ask a rehab list keeps it simple.
Plan the step-down
Ask what happens after the first level of care. Close by, your loved one may be able to move from PHP to IOP to outpatient care without changing programs.
More programs can mean more sales pressure
Where there are many programs, there are many ads, call lines and websites. Most are fine. Some are not. Florida law bans paying for patient referrals, and a few things are worth watching for:
- A “helpline” that won’t tell you which program you are talking to
- Offers of free travel, free rent or gifts to attend
- Pressure to decide tonight, or to hand over insurance details before you know who is asking
Call programs directly, using the numbers shown in our listings. Read our patient brokering red flags and check the license with Florida DCF before your loved one starts.
Good signs are simple: the program tells you its own name and phone number, answers questions about licensing and cost plainly, and gives you time to think.
Southside resources
- DOH-Duval. The South Jacksonville Family Health Center at 3225 University Blvd. South (32216) is on DOH-Duval’s list of free NARCAN distribution sites. See its NARCAN distribution page, or call 904-253-1488.
- The library. The Southeast Regional Library of the Jacksonville Public Library is at 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd. It offers public computers, free WiFi and meeting rooms.
- United Way 211. Dial 2-1-1 for free referrals to local services, any time.
- State-funded care. If your loved one has no insurance and low income, ask each program whether it receives state funding through LSF Health Systems. Our state-funded care page explains how it works.
Licensed programs near the Southside
Free listings, checked against Florida DCF. Sponsored listings are always labeled.
ACE Medical
6428 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville
Chemical Dependency Counseling (Southpoint)
4237 Salisbury Road North Suite 308, Jacksonville
Dupont Counseling Group
8540 Baycenter Road, Jacksonville
Lakeview Health
3227 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville
Lakeview Health Outpatient
4496 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville
MedMark Treatment Centers Jacksonville
5600 Spring Park Road Suite 101, Jacksonville
Mental Health Resource Center (South)
11820 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville
North Florida Comprehensive Treatment Center
6639 Southpoint Pkwy Suite 108, Jacksonville
Ron Cipriano & Associates Counseling
9471 Bay Meadows Rd Suite 301, Jacksonville
Sophros Recovery
2511 Saint Johns Bluff Rd S Suite 105/106, Jacksonville
Stepping Stone Center for Recovery
1815 Corporate Square Blvd, Suite 100, Jacksonville
Southside families ask
With so many programs nearby, how do we pick one?
Match the level of care first, then check the license, the network status with your plan and how the program involves families. Our how to check a rehab checklist walks you through it.
Is a program close to home always better?
Not always. Close is great for outpatient care and family sessions. But if your loved one’s friends and routines are all nearby, a little distance can help. Talk it over with the program.
Which areas border the Southside?
See Baymeadows and Intracoastal West for programs just past the edges of the Southside.
Do Southside programs offer medication for opioid use disorder?
Some do, and some refer out for it. Ask each program whether it offers medication-assisted treatment. Our MAT guide explains the medications and what to ask.
What does a free assessment mean?
Many programs offer a free screening or assessment by phone or in person to suggest a level of care. It is a helpful start, but remember the program may recommend its own services. If you are unsure, ask a doctor or a second program for their view.