Help for Families in Jacksonville When Someone You Love Is Using

If you are worried about a son, daughter, spouse or sibling, you are in the right place. These guides explain your options in plain language, one step at a time.

Find the Right Level of Care

Need help tonight?

Emergency: call 911 · Crisis: call or text 988

A mother and her adult son sitting together on a dock on the St. Johns River at sunrise

You are not doing this wrong

Most people who find this page are tired. You may have tried talking, pleading, setting rules or staying quiet to keep the peace. None of that means you failed. Substance use disorders are health conditions, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says they are treatable.

This section is for families of someone with a substance use problem in Jacksonville and the First Coast. It covers Florida law (the Marchman Act and the Baker Act), how to start a hard conversation, what treatment looks like from the family side, and how to look after yourself while you help.

We are a guide, not a treatment provider. We can’t diagnose anyone or tell you which program to pick. What we can do is help you understand the choices, so the next call you make is a little easier.

Where to start

If something happened today

Someone is not breathing, can’t wake up or may have overdosed: call 911 now
Someone is talking about suicide or is in a mental health crisis: call or text 988
Your loved one won’t accept help and is in danger from their use: read about the Marchman Act
A mental health crisis without drug use at the center: read about the Baker Act

If you have a little time

Learn a calmer way to bring up treatment: how to talk to a loved one
Figure out what kind of care fits: our levels of care overview
Find people who understand: family support groups
Get some rest and support for yourself: caring for yourself

If your loved one uses opioids, keep naloxone (Narcan) at home. It is sold over the counter. In an emergency, call 911. For a crisis, call or text 988.

How families usually move forward

Understand what is going on

Learn the basics of substance use, treatment and Florida law. Knowing the options lowers the panic and helps you talk with doctors and intake staff.

Match the level of care

Detox, residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP) and outpatient care each fit different needs. The right fit matters more than the closest bed.

Stay steady for the long run

Recovery often takes more than one try. Families do better when they have their own support, clear limits and a plan for setbacks.

Not sure which care fits?

Our short guide walks you through the questions intake teams ask.

Try the level of care guide

Guides for families in this section

The Marchman Act: Florida’s law for court-ordered substance use assessment and treatment
How to file a Marchman Act in Duval County: the Clerk’s process, step by step
The Baker Act: what happens in a mental health crisis, and how it differs from the Marchman Act
Al-Anon, Nar-Anon and other family groups: what each one is and how to find a meeting
How to talk to someone about rehab: a calmer, research-based approach
Interventions: a fair look at confrontational interventions and CRAFT
The first week of rehab: what your loved one is doing, and what you can do
Teen treatment: care for adolescents and Florida’s consent rules
Family programs and visiting: how programs include families
Caring for yourself: support for parents, partners and siblings
After a relapse: staying safe and getting back on track

You may also want our pages on checking insurance benefits and how to check a rehab before you call a program.

Treatment centers near Jacksonville

Free listings, checked against Florida DCF. Sponsored listings are always labeled.