What Are the 3 Steps of Overcoming Addiction?

Overcoming addiction is a complex and individual journey, but typically it encompasses three essential steps towards recovery. While each individual’s path may differ, these steps offer a valuable framework:

What Are the 7 Tips of Recovery If You Are an Addict?

Completing a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program is a significant milestone. It is important to recognize the challenges and hard work it took to achieve sobriety. It’s essential to acknowledge the effort and obstacles you overcame to reach this point of sobriety. Now, the focus shifts to protecting your recovery by applying the lessons learned during treatment to your everyday life. Here are seven recovery tips to help you on your journey:

Rehabilitation Center Fort Myers | WhiteSands Drug Treatment

Our Tampa Facility

Pool Next to Private Rooms

Private Room Overlooking Pool

Private Rooms Featuring Private Bathroom

Relax and take a break at the outside snack and lounge area

Breaks and free time can be enjoyed in the outdoor common area featuring picnic tables and lounge chairs

Entrance to Outdoor Lounge Area and New Rec. Center

Outdoor Seating and Lounge Area

Boxing Ring and Training Area

Full Range of Exercise Equipment Featuring Boxing Ring

Front Door and Entrance Area

Lobby and Reception Area

Our Fort Myers Residential Campus, Offering all Levels-of-Care

Entrance to Main Lobby and Reception Area

Lobby and Welcome Area

Swimming Pool

Updated Private Rooms

Accomodations: Each Home Featuring Private Rooms

Amenities Including Gazebos, Walking Paths, and More

Spa and Therapy Rooms

Yoga Room

Our Hyde Park (Central Tampa) Location, Day-Night/IOP Levels of Care (Transitioning)

Aerial View of our Facility Located in Close Proximity to Downtown

Entrance to Facility

Entry to Home-Style Living

Renovated Private Rooms

Lounge/Living Room Area and Common Space

Mission Statement - Raising Industry Standards

WhiteSands Treatment Center was founded in 2014 with the overarching philosophy that it was time to raise industry standards with respect to the quality of treatment, comfortability of patients, and increased rates of long-term sobriety. We recognized that national relapse rates were abysmal and treatment protocols have remained stagnant for many years. Our founders, CEO Garry Jonas and COO Joseph Ducey had a vision to create a treatment program that stood well above its competitors and that treated patients as individuals while also providing many of the comforts of their home environments.

WhiteSands hired accomplished Clinical Director, Dr. Lyndsay Henry, as the centerpiece for a strong clinical team. Dr. Henry accepted the position with the condition that ownership allow the clinical and medical teams to operate unrestrained regardless of expense to create the most effective treatment program. Dr. Henry, Mr. Jonas, and Mr. Ducey carefully selected a specialized management team and began analyzing what innovations could be developed to raise the bar within their treatment facility.

Providing Truly Individualized Treatment

We have been on a mission to develop the most comprehensive and individualized treatment program
We believe that one-on-one care should be expanded within the treatment experience
By focusing on individualizing the treatment experience, we are finding that patients can better understand and address the issues underlying their addictions
It is our goal to help those we serve to gain a better awareness of underlying emotional challenges

At WhiteSands, we begin to help patients address the underlying issues from the very first day they start their journey with us. Within the first week of treatment, each patient meets with our medical director, clinical director, psychiatrist, and individual therapist multiple times. As a team, each patient’s needs are carefully reviewed to determine what the best course of treatment will be.This includes working with each patient to help them establish goals for individual therapy, selecting therapy group options, and their individualized need for medical treatment. Each patient will have 4-5 individual and/or family therapy sessions per week. This requires WhiteSands to have a larger number of qualified clinical staff as part of its treatment team.

At WhiteSands, we believe in true individualized treatment and implement this in a variety of areas. We do not believe in moving patients like cattle from one group to another where everyone is following the same treatment program regardless of background or circumstances. From the conception of WhiteSands to present, we have been on a mission to develop the most comprehensive and individualized treatment program.

It has been the philosophy of WhiteSands that too many treatment centers focus on treatment as a group endeavor. While primarily focusing on group treatment may be easier and less expensive, we believe that one-on-one care should be expanded within the treatment experience.

Most treatment centers divide patients into one or two tracks with limited options. While this may meet the needs for some in treatment, we have found that most patients are looking for more options to choose from in meeting their personalized needs. We believe when programs are not more individualized, there may be a higher probability patients will become disengaged from the treatment experience, leading to poorer outcomes in achieving and maintaining sobriety. By focusing on individualizing the treatment experience, we are finding that patients are able to better understand and address the issues underlying their addictions. At WhiteSands, we strongly oppose the one-size-fits-all approach and have designed our programs to meet everyone’s individual needs.

We all know the abysmal statistics on relapse rates following completion of treatment, and our industry needs to continue to strive to improve these outcomes. At WhiteSands, we believe the heart of improving outcomes is getting to the underlying issues of why someone uses substances. Why are they self-medicating with drugs and alcohol? A person can be physically detoxed from the substance in 7-10 days, but the mental withdrawal and obsession lasts much longer. At WhiteSands, we want to focus on what is at the heart of the mental component of addiction.

Determining the underlying issues and the mental component of addiction takes intensive one-on-one therapy and having a broad menu of groups to choose from that can address any underlying issues. At WhiteSands, it is our goal to help those we serve gain a better awareness of underlying emotional challenges such as depression and anxiety, how to cope with past traumatic experiences, how to cope with family dynamics, and how to cope with situational stressors present in the home/work/social environment. We believe that we cannot get to the underlying issues if we limit the treatment modalities offered and if the group sizes are too large. We strive to hire staff with diverse backgrounds and specialties, so that we can assign a patient to the therapist best able to cope with their needs.

Replacing Harmful Addictive Behaviors with Healthy Habits

We support patients by helping them create healthy habits, which can become a new part of their daily routine
We have worked hard to create a program that encourages patients to be mentally and physically active during the time they are not in active individual or group therapy

At WhiteSands, we recognize that humans are by nature creatures of habit that can be prone to addiction and obsessive behaviors. Individuals with addictive personalities are going to struggle with moderation in any area of their life. At WhiteSands, we first focus on the harmful addictive behavior that is leading them to enter treatment and has been destructive in their daily lives. We support patients by helping them create healthy habits, which can become a new part of their daily routine.We also help them avoid falling into the pitfall of other harmful addictive behaviors following completion of our treatment program. We address this by helping them examine other areas of life for potential addictive behaviors such as work, exercise, food, spending money, or sex addictions and creating a detailed relapse prevention plan that monitors each of these other areas of life prone to addiction.

Many treatment centers have patients being mentally and physically unchallenged throughout their treatment program. They are often either sitting in group sessions or chain smoking on a bench outside while experiencing increased anxiety and agitation as a result of that treatment experience. Although we do permit smoking and utilize group and individual therapy, we have worked hard to create a program that encourages patients to be mentally and physically active during the time they are not in active individual or group therapy. An individual in treatment for 4-6 weeks has the opportunity to not only address their addictive behaviors while also having the opportunity to spend time working on their physical health and general life management skills.

A Comfortable Guest Makes a Successful Patient

At WhiteSands we believe that patients should be comfortable and treated with dignity and respect at all times. Our CEO, Garry Jonas recognized that many treatment centers treat patients like cattle, moving them from one location to another in a group, with little recognition of the uncomfortableness and shame with which many patients struggle with, as they work on their issues. He recognized that the agitation and anxiety many experience was due to patients not being in the comfort of their own home. This led to the pioneering idea of designing a program with most of its therapy occurring during the hours of 8:30am-4:30pm and in the evenings, patients become guests. This schedule mimics the reality of many people returning to work and home. There are set hours each day for therapy and for relaxation.

We have all recognized that many patients enter treatment at their personal “rock bottom” and are often highly agitated and anxious. People do not enter treatment because their life is going great, their emotions are balanced, and they have healthy coping skills. Many people enter treatment following an intervention from family, friends, or an employer that have increased feelings of shame and anxiety. These feelings can increase throughout the treatment program experience, and for many, may lead to difficulty engaging in treatment or absorbing the information presented to them. While the patient is trying to deal with these challenging issues, treatment centers typically make it more difficult by limiting the patient’s comforts of home. Limiting these home comforts, such as no access to electronic devices, sharing a bedroom and bathroom, and being told what to do every minute of the day can all significantly increase the agitation and anxiety already present.

What Does ‘a Patient Becoming a Guest’ Mean?

At WhiteSands, we worked to create an environment with a hotel/resort like atmosphere. At 4:30 PM, after completing a full day of groups and individual therapy, patients are able to return to their private bedrooms and find their personal electronics (phones, tablets, laptops) waiting on their queen-sized beds. They are able to check in with family, friends or work, check emails or social media and process what they have learned that day in their personal sanctuary. They are able to have privacy watching television in their bedroom or engage in various activities on our campus.

From 4:30 PM - 10:30 PM, they can create their own schedule. Some people prefer to spend time in small groups playing volleyball, playing basketball, swimming, or playing board games while others prefer to read in their rooms, walk quietly around our property, or exercise in our large recreation center. We want each individual’s needs to be met during this time. They are able to eat healthy food prepared on our property either in their rooms or on their patios. Many choose to eat dinner with their families over video calls.

At WhiteSands, we believe that providing access to electronics offers a necessary degree of privacy and freedom, but we ensure this is done within a clinically supportive environment. Clinicians are on-site during these hours to process negative phone calls, confrontation by family members, or contact from unhealthy friends or family that may lead to cravings being triggered. We fully believe that if we were to limit access to electronics throughout the entirety of a treatment stay, individuals would be confronted with an overwhelming number of triggers once they return home. With allowing them access while in treatment, they are able to learn to process these triggers in a supportive environment where drugs and alcohol are not available.

At 10:30 PM (or earlier for those who prefer to go to sleep earlier), all devices are collected, and a period of self-reflection and reading is encouraged before turning in for the night. Life Skills reading is provided daily, and many take this time to complete reading assignments or journal. This allows them to enter treatment in a healthy and positive mindset the next day.

At WhiteSands, we truly believe that treating a patient like a guest after clinical hours teaches them that they deserve to experience healthy pleasures in life and learn to have fun while sober.

Our Unique Life Skills Program

The Life Skills Program is centered around creating and maintaining a healthy and balanced routine in daily life
Our Life Skills Program is first administered by the individual therapist and we provide 4-5 individual sessions per week
The Life Skills Program is based on having balance throughout the day including sleeping well, eating well, and exercising

At WhiteSands, we encourage patients to focus on their health, general well-being, and organizational skills. To help them achieve this, we are proud to share that we have created a specific Life Skills Program to help each individual achieve this goal. The Life Skills Program is centered around creating and maintaining a healthy and balanced routine in daily life. We have witnessed great success in not only helping individuals maintain sobriety but also in helping them implement changes and improve their entire lives. The key to relapse prevention is sending them home with new healthy living habits.

Our Life Skills Program is first administered by the individual therapist. We provide 4-5 individual sessions per week, with one focused entirely on the Life Skills Program. Each patient is also assigned a Life Skills Guide who helps them execute their personal Life Skills Program on a day-to-day, hour by hour basis. Each patient has the option to be assigned a personal trainer and nutritionist throughout their treatment stay. An important component of the Life Skills Program is learning to begin the day by writing out a detailed plan of what the day will look like including meals, exercise, therapy, family contact, and increasing sober support. For many individuals in early recovery, understanding how to not give into one’s own impulses is a significant issue that needs to be addressed. Creating the daily schedule greatly decreases decisions made with poor impulses. This becomes an important component of creating healthy habits via visualization and execution.

Throughout our Life Skills Program, we want to teach patients to develop healthy time-management skills, to set healthy and achievable goals, to achieve balance in their work, personal life, health, and recovery, and to monitor their mood, behaviors, and accomplishments closely so they are aware when they are veering off track.

The Life Skills Program is based on having balance throughout the day including sleeping well, eating well, exercising, working smart by being organized, and has the overall philosophy of “plan your work and then work your plan.” During the Day/Night (PHP) phase of treatment, and in collaboration with the patient, the individual therapist and Life Skills Guide will work together to focus on what each individual’s routine will look like once they return home. This is critical to relapse prevention as many people do well within the structured environment of treatment but then return to a chaotic environment and relapse rapidly. We want to work with each patient to transfer the healthy habits they learn in treatment to their home life.

WhiteSands Recovery and Wellness

Patients are meeting daily with Life Skills Guides and learning new time management techniques, scheduling techniques, and how to create Self-Management and Recovery Training
These Life Skills Guides will assist in helping patients stay on track
Participants in WhiteSands Recovery and Wellness will additionally have access to a 24-hour hotline they can call anytime they are struggling
We believe it is our duty to assist patients in staying sober even after they have completed treatment
WhiteSands Recovery and Wellness was created to allow us to continue “monitoring” the behaviors of patients long after they are out of our residential levels of care
We have learned the benefits of virtual connection that can allow patients to continue to participate with WhiteSands once they return home

WhiteSands Recovery and Wellness is an extension of our Life Skills program discussed in previous sections. While in detox, residential, and day/night (PHP) levels of care, patients are meeting daily with Life Skills Guides and learning new time management techniques, scheduling techniques, and how to create Self-Management and Recovery Training (”SMART”) Goals from their therapists. After completing these levels of care and returning to the “real world,” their Life Skills Guides will continue to follow-up with them daily and to ensure they are continuing to begin their day by writing out their daily schedule including meal plan, exercise plan, tasks to be completed, and time they need to be sleeping. Guides will be monitoring that patients are continuing to stick by the plan they created in inpatient treatment and will be available to discuss triggers or stressors that arise.

These Life Skills Guides will assist in helping patients stay on track and be able to rapidly support patients if they are showing signs for potential relapse. Guides will continue monitoring their daily behaviors for as long as necessary and will always be a source of continued support. This will also allow us to gather in depth data on the success rates of our program and identify any other treatment program needs which may be helpful in ensuring the best sobriety maintenance outcomes.

WhiteSands Recovery and Wellness will not only allow patients to maintain contact with us through their Life Skills Guides but will also allow them to continue seeing the same therapist, medical provider, and psychiatric provider via in person or telehealth (video) sessions. This allows them the unparalleled opportunity to continue to see providers they have begun trusting, who know their history, rather than having to begin to develop a relationship with someone new.

Additionally, participants in WhiteSands Recovery and Wellness will additionally have access to a 24-hour hotline they can call anytime they are struggling and that will be answered by individuals in recovery themselves. They will be able to virtually access multiple alumni and check-in meetings daily to have a safe place to process any events, feelings, or triggers amongst peers.

As they gain greater periods of sobriety, participants will be able to participate in KO Addiction’s quarterly boxing events where they will be celebrated for their achievements and be able to provide their experience, strength and hope to those early in a recovery journey. KO Addiction is a non-profit organization that works to highlight drug epidemic issues currently facing our nation, to engage our community to provide support for those issues, and empower individuals to force change.

Our overall goal at WhiteSands is to not only help people get sober and maintain long-term sobriety, while also helping assist them in achieving their full potential in life , whether in relationships, work, and in their overall health.To help patients take the skills they learned in our Life Skills Program into their daily lives, we will offer them the same Life Skills Guide they had in treatment so they remain connected with them once they return home. This is accomplished via daily virtual check-ins as well as in-person check-ins when feasible. We believe this will allow us to catch many “slips” before they happen. If a “slip” does occur, it can be caught early and then does not require further inpatient treatment that takes patients away from work and family again.

A long-term Life Skills Guide for each patient is a significant and costly undertaking that is unique to WhiteSands; however, we believe it is our duty to assist patients in staying sober even after they have completed treatment. At WhiteSands, we believe “once a patient, always a patient” and want them to stay part of our family. We believe our program will greatly decrease relapses from occurring, given our unique approach offering.

At WhiteSands, we believe preventing relapse can be brought to a whole new level. We know that we have successfully detoxed many patients and have witnessed them complete our program and graduate successfully. While many patients look and behave like new people by the end of their treatment program experiences, many of these same patients return to their home environments and quickly change back to old habits due to the lack of structure and support for their sobriety. Many treatment centers emphasize relapse prevention throughout the treatment stay but then leave patients to implement their plan and cope with the triggers which make them vulnerable to use again, when they return home on their own. We believe this can set them up for failure. We recognize that we needed to do more to assist our patients in maintaining long-term sobriety and reaching their highest life potential. Thus, we created the WhiteSands Recovery and Wellness Program.

Our CEO, Mr. Jonas, developed a tried-and-true credo that he has utilized to manage his business for many years. “People don’t do what you expect, they do what you inspect.” WhiteSands Recovery and Wellness was created to allow us to continue “monitoring” the behaviors of patients long after they are out of our residential levels of care. Through this challenging year of Covid-19, we have learned that we do not always need to be in physical proximity of doctors, therapists, and peers to be able to communicate and observe behaviors. We have learned the benefits of virtual connection that can allow patients to continue to participate with WhiteSands once they return home.

Flexible Lengths of Stay

We have created a flexible 60-day program that combines inpatient and outpatient treatment stays
Once a patient graduates from the 60-90 day inpatient and intensive outpatient program, they become a part of the WhiteSands Recovery Program which supports them in maintaining long-term sobriety

The overall philosophy and treatment program of WhiteSands is based on a 60-90 day treatment stay encompassing both inpatient and outpatient levels of care; however, we recognize that lengths of stay will vary, and some patients are only able to complete a 7-day stay due to various issues such as time away from home, cost, family obligations, work obligations, and insurance coverage.

Based on these considerations, we have created a flexible 60-day program that combines inpatient and outpatient treatment stays. For some patients, this means 7 days of detox and 53 days of intensive outpatient treatment, but the majority of our patients chose to stay in our 35-day inpatient program (comprised of detox, residential, and day/night (php) levels of care) followed by 25 to 55 days of intensive outpatient treatment where they can reside in their home or in a recovery residence.

It is important to note that once a patient graduates the 60-90 day inpatient and intensive outpatient program, they become a part of the WhiteSands Recovery Program which supports them in maintaining long-term sobriety with continued outpatient therapy and follow-ups with affiliated medical providers who are experienced in addiction treatment.

For the purpose of illustration, we will provide examples of what each level of care encompasses using average lengths of stay that have led to success. The actual course of treatment will always be based on medical necessity, doctor/therapist’s recommendations, and insurance and financial capabilities.

Levels of Care

At WhiteSands Treatment, all treatment services share common and key elements in providing comprehensive, individualized care for co-occurring disorders. These include having M.D., Ph.D. and Nursing level staff skilled in the diagnosis of psychopathology. All staff members are cross-trained to deal with addictions and substance-related disorders.

Inpatient Detox (Medically Assisted Detox)
Residential/Intensive Inpatient Treatment
Day-Night Treatment [Transition from inpatient to outpatient environment with housing]
Intensive Outpatient Treatment with residence (IOP) further transitioning

Detox Program

The Detox Program generally lasts 5-10 days with our average length of stay being 7 days
Each patient is met by an admissions coordinator and nurse who will ask basic questions, take vitals, and have a urinalysis completed
The patient is then escorted to the comfort of their private bedroom

The Detox Program generally lasts 5-10 days with our average length of stay being 7 days. Detox begins at the point of admission. We strive to make our admissions process as comfortable and quick as possible. We recognize that entering treatment may be emotional and anxiety provoking and that many individuals are struggling with shame and embarrassment. Please click below to see the details of our admissions process and how we cater to the patient, the family, and any third party referring them to our program.

At the point of arrival, each patient is met by an admissions coordinator and nurse. The nurse will ask basic questions, take vitals, and have a urinalysis completed to ensure and consult with appropriate medical professionals to confirm we are the right program for the patient.
Once the nurse determines the patient is appropriate for admit, the patient signs a consent for treatment and other basic forms and then is escorted to the comfort of their private bedroom. The rest of the admissions process occurs in the bedroom to ensure privacy. Various departments can come and go as necessary, but the patient is able to remain in their room through this initial admission process.
Each patient will have their belongings searched and inventoried by a behavioral health technician and will receive their belongings within a few hours.
Extended slow tapers off of all mood and mind-altering substances. With the benefit of slow tapers, you are able to, but not mandated to attend group therapy from day 1. We understand there is an adjustment period for anyone entering treatment. Using a combination of controlled medications, our board certified Addictionologist will meet with you every day throughout the course of your detoxification, to both ensure you are as comfortable as possible, and make any necessary adjustments to your individualized protocol. Your safety and comfort are of the greatest importance to us through the detoxification process.

Note: Complete history and physical within the first 24 hours of admission to WhiteSands.

More Info on Detox

Medically Assisted Detox

Offered at our Fort Myers and Plant City Locations
Typical duration is 5-10 days
Before participating in residential/inpatient treatment, many patients require a period of medically assisted detox where they are carefully weaned off of the substance of abuse. This takes place in a closely monitored environment where your comfort is of paramount concern to us.
We utilize several medications for an extended taper, based on medical symptoms and history of use. With the benefit of slow tapers, you are able to, but not mandated to attend group therapy from day 1. We understand there is an adjustment period for anyone entering treatment.
Patients are seen daily by our medical director (Board Certified Addictionologist) while on detox to ensure you are responding well to medications, and not experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Patients have a complete history and physical completed within 24 hours of admission as well as a complete psychiatric evaluation within 48 hours of admission.
Patients will also be seen by their primary therapist within the first 48 hours to start a treatment plan and outline goals while in treatment.
We employ 3 Addictionologists to provide medical detox coverage 7 days per week.
A psychiatrist will be on-site 7 days per week to closely monitor patients in all levels of care.
Medical provider onsite 7 days per week.
Nurses are on-site 24 hours per day to address ongoing medical issues. There are multiple nursing stations on the property to ensure patients do not have to wait in line for their medications and assessments.

Residential Program

The Residential Program generally lasts 14-21 days
Patients will receive 4-5 individual or family sessions per week with their primary therapist
Patients will begin completing assignments in the Life Skills Program

The Residential Program generally lasts 14-21 days with average length of stay being 15 days. During this time, patients will receive 4-5 individual or family sessions per week with their primary therapist and will have daily check-ins with their Life Skills Guide as well. Patients will begin completing a nightly Life Skills Planning worksheet and will begin each day by writing a daily schedule to follow that includes sleep goals, exercise goals, therapy goals, and nutrition goals. Additionally, they will begin completing other assignments in the Life Skills Program. Patients will see medical and psychiatric providers at least one time per week to continue adjusting medications or to address new or ongoing symptoms they may experience and will be evaluated by our nursing staff each day. They will have the option of eating nutritious meals in their patio area with their peers or in the privacy of their own bedrooms and will have nightly access to their personal electronic devices.

More Info on Residential Program

Residential/Inpatient Treatment

Offered at our Fort Myers and Plant City Locations
Typical duration is 10-21 days
Following the completion of detox, patients transition into residential/inpatient treatment
In this level of care, you will continue to reside on our campus-style facility and are monitored 24 hours per day by nursing and behavioral health staff.
Patients receive comprehensive, individualized treatment that includes multiple individual sessions with our professionally licensed staff, and are seen by medical and psychiatric staff a minimum of weekly.
In residential treatment, your therapy is from 8 am to 4 pm. After that you become a guest and have a variety of services to choose from.
After 4:00 pm, some options are:
- Go to our state-of-the-art recreation facility and athletic complex. One of the main reasons why our treatment is more effective than what other centers offer, is because of how we treat the patient when they are not in treatment. Having the recreation center is one of the most effective treatments we have. We have seen a much greater response to treatment because the patients are so comfortable during their stay.
- You will have access to personal electronic devices after, as long as it is used in your private room.
- Grass and sand volleyball courts are available
- You can sit by the pool and relax
- A variety of games and board games are available
- Work one-on-one with our personal trainers
- Participate in the boxing and fitness program
Patients will be eligible to partake in multiple activities/amenities offered at the facility including chiropractic care, massage therapy, exercise facility, and yoga classes.

Day/Night (PHP) Program

The Day/Night (PHP) program generally lasts 10-20 days
Day/Night is the transitional phase of treatment where patients are beginning to move back into activities they would engage in at home
They can reside in community housing or return to their home environments and commute to one of our outpatient locations for programming each day
This allows them to receive freedoms slowly rather than all at once where they may become overwhelmed

The Day/Night (PHP) program generally lasts 10-20 days with the average length of stay being 14 days. Day/Night is the transitional phase of treatment where patients are beginning to move back into activities they would engage in at home and they experience increasing responsibilities. During this level of treatment, patients receive a reduced level of services commensurate with the stepped down level of care, however, continue to have access to some of the same amenities as described in our Residential Treatment Program. For instance, patients begin to attend group therapy 5-6 days per week instead of 7. They are able to reside in community housing or return to their home environments and commute to one of our outpatient locations for programming each day. They begin to self-administer their medications but are still able to consult with nursing staff during program hours and they begin to cook their own breakfasts and dinners again. Patients are able to participate in sober outings to surrounding areas and those residing in our community housing will have access to weekly shopping trips and receive increased access to personal electronic devices. This allows them to receive freedoms slowly rather than all at once where they may become overwhelmed. Patients who opted into the personal training program will be able to continue to exercise with their personal trainer on a daily basis and to engage in the boxing and fitness program (optional). Upon completion of this portion of the program, patients will be introduced to their outpatient therapist and primary care physician to provide a smooth transition into the next stage of their treatment and recovery.

More Info on Day/Night (PHP) Program

Day-night/IOP levels of care [Transition from inpatient to outpatient environment with housing]

Offered at our Fort Myers and Hyde Park locations
At the point that your insurance and medical staff have decided you are ready to transfer out of residential treatment, you would then be sent to one of these locations.
Typical duration is 14-30 days depending on your individual insurance company.
This is a highly-structured day program that occurs 5-6 days per week and involves 5 hours of groups daily to further address addiction and transitioning back into society.
Typically, patients that do detox and residential do that at our Plant City location, but we move you to Hyde Park or Fort Myers for this level of care
Our professional staff is highly trained and used to working with other locations, where your file is seamlessly transferred and your care can continue
Patients continue to receive multiple individual sessions per week and will see a psychiatrist weekly.
Professional nursing staff is available during program hours to address medical issues, answer to a sick call, or for medication management.
In this level of care, individuals can reside in their own homes or in the houses located on property.
Lunch is provided daily but patients are responsible for preparing their own breakfast and dinner.

Intensive Outpatient and Recovery Program

The Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) can last anywhere from 30 to 90 days
IOP entails participating in three hours of groups three days or nights per week
Their Life Skills Guides will continue to check in with them daily for 90 days
Allows patients to continue seeing their therapist for individual sessions

The Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) can last anywhere from 30 to 90 days and the Recovery Program lasts a lifetime. IOP entails participating in three hours of groups three days or nights per week as well as individual sessions with a therapist and follow-up appointments with a psychiatrist and medical provider that you will have met during your earlier phases of treatment. During this phase of treatment, patients are either living at home or in a recovery residence and use their IOP programming to assist them in having increased levels of support during this early time in recovery. Patients can work full or part-time during this phase of treatment and resume many of their old responsibilities. Their Life Skills Guides will continue to check in with them daily for 90 days. The WhiteSands Recovery program (as detailed in our unique philosophies) allows patients to continue seeing their therapist for individual sessions as well as psychiatric and medical providers for a lifetime. This provides greater continuity of care and medical providers who know a patient’s history with trust already established.

More Info on IOP Program

Intensive Outpatient Program with residence (IOP) further transitioning

Offered at Fort Myers and Hyde Park locations as well as multiple offices throughout the state of Florida
The typical duration of IOP is 30-90 days
Following the completion of the day-night/IOP program, many patients choose to transition into an IOP program
This program offers 3, 1 hour groups at 3 days a week as well as individual sessions and follow-ups with a psychiatrist. IOP is necessary for many individuals to maintain long-term sobriety and helps them ease back into coping with the stresses of daily life
Recovery residences are available at our Fort Myers, Hyde Park, and St. Petersburg locations
Patients in recovery residences are able to benefit from case management services including resume building, job interviewing, and life skills development

Staff Onsite 24/7

Throughout detox, nurses monitor patients’ vitals and withdrawal symptoms 5 times per day and are seen by an addictionologist daily
We have a minimum of 2 nurses working each detox station at all times and a behavioral health technician outside the detox rooms
At the end of your 5-7 day detox, each patient will work with their therapist to agree on their individualized program

Within the Detox Program, each patient is seen by an addictionologist for a History and Physical Assessment and their individual therapist for a Chemical Dependency and Psychosocial Assessment within the first 24 hours. Throughout detox, nurses monitor patients’ vitals and withdrawal symptoms 5 times per day and are seen by an addictionologist daily.

At WhiteSands, we believe in staff always being available to patients; therefore, we have a minimum of 2 nurses working each detox station at all times and a behavioral health technician outside the detox rooms to provide any needed additional support. A patient only has to open their door and request assistance to receive help or to let a staff member know during their 30-minute safety checks. Each detox patio area, located directly outside the detox bedrooms, has comfortable seating and is stocked with food and drinks so that patients do not have to walk far in order to find food or beverages.

As the Detox Program progresses, patients in detox continue seeing their primary therapist multiple times to complete treatment planning, be introduced to the Life Skills Program, and to begin individual therapy sessions. They will additionally be introduced to their Life Skills guide who will be assisting them in developing a healthy and sustainable routine they can follow once discharged from treatment. At the end of your 5-7 day detox, each patient will work with their therapist to agree on their individualized program which will consist of including groups they will attend while also becoming familiar with their goals for therapy, physical health, and medication.

Customized Treatment Plans for Each Patient

Patients will attend 5 groups per day, 7 days per week, and will receive a daily itinerary of groups, individual sessions, medical appointments, and personal training sessions
This is all based on their individualized treatment program
Our Trainers can assist patients in meeting health and exercise goals

During the Residential Program, patients will attend 5 groups per day, 7 days per week and will receive a daily itinerary of groups, individual sessions, medical appointments, and personal training sessions based on their individualized treatment program. Beginning in the Residential Program, patients will also have the opportunity to begin working with a personal trainer. WhiteSands employs full time personal trainers in our state-of-the-art recreation center. Our Trainers can assist patients in meeting health and exercise goals and introduce them to the benefits of boxing on physical and mental health. Our boxing is an entirely optional portion of the program, but has proven to be a popular one. Our boxing and fitness program consists of professional boxers and coaches who train patients in the physical and mental aspects of boxing, such as technique and strength and conditioning, using heavy and speed bags, training mitts, as well as fitness training.

What is a Typical Day in Residential Treatment

The theme at WhiteSands Treatment is that you are a patient from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, and from 4:30 PM to 11:00 PM, you become a guest. Once you become a guest, you are able to relax and enjoy the amenities. Guests can spend their free time enjoying whichever activities or amenities they wish, whether it’s exercising, partaking in activities and hobbies, or simply hanging out in your private room where you can watch TV and stay connected with friends and family.

Program Schedules

6:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Patients will wake up at 6am (or earlier) each day will be able to exercise in the gym, take medications, eat breakfast, and to complete their daily agenda.
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM	Patients will attend 5 groups and see their therapist or medical providers per their individualized itineraries. Patients will have short breaks between groups as well as a lunch break and will have an hour of scheduled recreation to utilize the gym, the pool, or to relax in their bedrooms.
4:30 PM - 10:30 PM	At 4:30 PM, patients become guests (as discussed in our innovative philosophies) and will be able to engage in a variety of recreational activities as well as recovery meetings. Their personal electronic devices will be waiting in their rooms when they finish groups, and they will be able to check in with family and unwind from a day of intense therapy. During this time patients will have dinner and will be able to learn to have fun while remaining sober. Please click below to see a list of activities available.
10:30 PM (or earlier)	Patients will retire to their private bedrooms, complete their Life Skills Planning Worksheet, and go to sleep.

After 4:30 PM, guests are welcome to:

Use their cellphone/laptop or enjoy a flat screen tv in their private room
Enjoy the gym
Relax by the pool
Take a walk
Hang out in the lounge area
Get a snack at the cafe
Enjoy the rec. center and athletic complex

MAT Program

MAT treatment is for individuals struggling with opiate addiction
Allows patients to taper off opiates slowly while seeing a medical provider weekly

WhiteSands Treatment Center additionally offers a MAT (medication-assisted treatment) program for patients who have difficulty entering inpatient treatment for an extended period of time. MAT treatment is for individuals struggling with opiate addiction who have the ultimate goal of being off all addictive substances but who are unable to enter a detox program or detox from opiates within one to two weeks. Our MAT program allows patients to taper off opiates slowly while seeing a medical provider weekly. During MAT, patients are encouraged to participate in IOP or outpatient therapy as well and are able to receive the benefits of our WhiteSands Recovery Program.

Meet our Staff

WhiteSands Treatment has a team of highly-qualified addiction therapists, counselors, and specialists who are experts in the field of substance abuse treatment and recovery. Our team will work with patients daily, always putting the comfort and well-being of guests first. Achieving personal recovery goals is possible with the help of our staff.

Joseph Ducey, Chief Operating Officer, WhiteSands Treatment Center

Mr. Ducey currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of WhiteSands Treatment Centers and has held that position since before the opening of the facility.

As COO of WhiteSands, Mr. Ducey is responsible for the day-to-day operations of both the Fort Myers and Tampa treatment locations, which consist of over 180 beds combined. In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities at WhiteSands, Mr. Ducey was responsible for the implementation and expansion of WhiteSands locations at the direction of the owner and CEO, Garry Jonas. The vision was to build a treatment center that put both patient comfort and individualized care as the center point of our program, employing the best in the business to deliver second-to-none treatment.

Before joining WhiteSands, Mr. Ducey held a variety of management positions within Acquinity Interactive and its subsidiary companies, where his responsibilities primarily focused on the day-to-day operations of the call center management team, product development, and implementation and analysis. Prior to joining Acquinity, Mr. Ducey served as Executive Vice President of CIT Group in Livingston, New Jersey, where he was responsible for all trading and securitization activities. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Mr. Ducey currently resides in Fort Myers Florida.

Lyndsay Henry, Clinical Director, WhiteSands Treatment Center, Ft Myers

Lyndsay Henry, Ph.D. currently serves as Vice President of Clinical Services for all WhiteSands locations and has held that position since shortly after the opening of WhiteSands in 2014. She divides her time between both the Fort Myers and Tampa locations.

Within these roles, Dr. Henry oversees the clinical operations for all locations. She is responsible for hiring and training all clinical staff in Fort Myers and Tampa as well as creating and implementing the program schedules and aiding in ensuring that patients receive the best treatment possible. Dr. Henry is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in the state of Florida; she received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. She has her master’s and doctorate degrees in Psychology from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She has worked extensively with children, adolescents, and those struggling with addiction.

Dr. S. Mann, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, WhiteSands Treatment Center

Dr. Mann currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director of the WhiteSands Treatment Centers and he has held these positions since July 2017. In addition to medical department administrative duties, Dr. Mann is responsible for the medical needs and detoxification of patients at WhiteSands Treatment, Tampa.

Before joining WhiteSands, Dr. Mann has worked in addiction treatment facilities throughout Florida. He has served as an Adjunct Clinical Postdoctoral Associate in the Addiction Medicine Division at the University of Florida, where he enjoyed teaching medical students and medical school graduates during their residency training. He has also practiced Addiction Medicine in the private sector and served as both Medical Director and Associate Medical Director at other substance abuse treatment centers. He currently enjoys both clinical duties and oversight roles as Medical Director of WhiteSands Treatment Centers. Dr. Mann appreciates the teamwork at WhiteSands and how this helps patients resume a happy, fulfilling life.

Dr. Mann graduated with honors from Indiana University where he earned both his Medical Degree and a degree in chemistry. He completed his internship at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital before completing his residency in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, FL. He later studied Addiction Counseling in Denver, Colorado and he completed an Addiction Medicine Fellowship in the Psychiatry Department at the University of Florida. Dr. Mann is Board-Certified in his field.

Karen Lopez, M.S., Director of Quality Assurance, WhiteSands Treatment Center

Karen Lopez currently serves as the Director of Quality Assurance for WhiteSands Treatment. Ms. Lopez graduated with a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Maryland and has been working in the healthcare sector for over 10 years. She has been working with WhiteSands for the last three years where her role includes coordinating the admission and discharge processes, as well as maintaining high standards of quality assurance. As someone who has witnessed family and friends struggle with drug and alcohol addiction, she states, “I wanted to be part of a team that genuinely cares and works to help those in their most desperate times. I am proud to be part of a team that understands that addiction affects all walks of life, and prides itself on providing an outstanding, comprehensive approach to treatment.”

Valerie Deacy, R.N., Director of Nursing, WhiteSands Treatment Center

Valerie Deacy, Director of Nursing, WhiteSands Treatment Center

Valerie Deacy currently serves as the Director of Nursing for WhiteSands Treatment Center, Tampa. Mrs. Deacy graduated from Kingsborough College with an AAS degree in Nursing.

She has been part of the healthcare industry for the last 15 years, specializing in working with patients who struggle with all forms of addiction and substance abuse. Valerie has been the Director of Nursing for WhiteSands since 2017. “Seeing the transformation in patients while they are in treatment is the most rewarding part of my job".

All Things Non-Medical/Clinical - Amenities, Activities, Accommodations and Food

At WhiteSands, we believe that patients deserve to be in comfortable accommodations and be treated with respect and dignity throughout their stay. We put a great deal of emphasis on this, because we have recognized that a comfortable guest makes for a successful patient (one of our innovative philosophies discussed in other sections of our program description). Patients are treated as guests from 4:30 PM, which is the conclusion of a rigorous day of groups and individual sessions, until 8:30 AM the next morning. We have seen evidence that treatment absorbs better when this occurs; thus, we believe that this will lead to increased rates of sobriety following completion of treatment. Here is a description of our amenities:

The main issue that individuals who sought treatment ran into was that these centers made treatment as if it was a torture test. They wanted to see if the patient could last the 30-60 days required for treatment with no creature comforts at all. To us, the average facility has the mentality of, “we understand that you are giving up your substance of choice and preparing to go through that is hard enough, but now let’s take away your cell phone, your privacy, restrict your television viewing time; let’s take away virtually all of your ‘creature comforts’ including no contact with your loved ones and no access to food that you enjoy”. This isn’t just a substance abuse rehab center anymore; it is a torture test of all habits and no one would thrive under these conditions. Naturally, this creates agitation and patients begin to do whatever it takes to simply get through treatment and get out.

Understanding what the treatment industry lacked and knowing how we wanted to make it better, allowed us to cultivate a simple philosophy: let’s make guests as comfortable as possible by placing a large focus on the wellbeing of our patients.

"Let’s make guests as comfortable as possible and by doing so, get better results with treatment".

Previous Next

Rooms/Property

WhiteSands is housed on a spacious, 10-acre property that is set up in a campus style environment. We offer private rooms with queen-sized beds, full bathrooms, and flat screen satellite televisions to allow for a private and tranquil place to unwind each evening. This allows patients to learn to “sleep right,” which is an important component of our Life Skills Program. Patients are able to complete homework assignments and reading, check-in with family members, and decompress without being distracted by others. This can lead to increased focus and decreased anxiety.

Food

At WhiteSands, we prepare healthy and nutritious meals each day on-site, and we emphasize the need for a healthy diet through the “eat right” portion of our Life Skills Program. We have a dedicated kitchen staff that is able to meet dietary restrictions and provide multiple food options. This allows patients to begin to return to a state of physical health, when in their addiction they were often overeating or undereating.

Spa

At WhiteSands, we recognize that many patients were self-medicating anxiety, stress, and physical pain with their addictions. Due to this we provide chiropractic care, massage therapy, and biofeedback. For many patients, their chronic pain and stress is due to poor self-care, and we want to assist them in recognizing that they can engage in healthy activities daily that reduce the need for self-medication. The spa services and relaxation techniques assist in the “sleep right” portion of our Life Skills Program.

Physical Health

At WhiteSands, we have a state-of-the-art recreation center to allow patients to exercise or engage in personal training daily. We have a large boxing ring, a cardio section, a yoga area, and a weights section to suit everyone’s needs. Personal training is beneficial for those who have never exercised before or who struggle with poor self-esteem and shyness that prevent them from entering a crowded gym. Physical health is an important component of our Life Skills Program.

click arrows to see more testimonials

Boxing and Fitness

As a component of the physical fitness program, WhiteSands offers a one-of-a-kind specialized boxing program where patients are able to be trained by professional fighters and coaches using professional grade boxing equipment and heavy / speed bags and boxing mitts. Because this can be done within a personal training session, we can meet the needs of the typically sedentary individual and the needs of former professional athletes. Patients and alumni are able to witness professional boxers both spar for upcoming matches and attend the actual fights. Being successful in boxing, much like being successful in sobriety, requires day to day effort, determination, and focus. Boxing has many therapeutic benefits including allowing for unparalleled releases of frustration and anxiety, requiring complete focus and increasing concentration, increasing self-esteem and the belief that you can be powerful and protect yourself, and serving to exhaust the body and lead to a better night’s sleep. Boxing assists many people in slowing their thought processes and reacting in less impulsive manners. Many of our alumni have continued a boxing training regimen in their hometowns and have discussed how it aids them in maintaining their sobriety.

Electronics

At WhiteSands, we recognize that cutting patients off from all social and family contacts while in treatment, can be detrimental to lasting recovery. If patients are fully isolated while in treatment, they are often bombarded with voicemails, text messages, emails, and social media when they return home. This can lead to rapid relapses. Due to this, we provide nightly access to personal electronics for patients fully participating in all groups and individual sessions. This allows them to check messages daily, have lengthy conversations with family members, and be exposed to some “real-world” stressors while in a supportive treatment environment with staff nearby. Allowing patients to experience some inevitable conflicts with friends or family while having easy access to staff members and therapy, allows them to deal with this trigger within a supportive environment.

Activities

During the guest hours (4:30 PM - 10:30 PM), we offer a variety of activities on our large and resort-like property. When entering treatment, many individuals struggle with the belief that they will never be able to engage in social activities or have fun while sober. We challenge this nightly and work to have each individual identify sober activities and hobbies they can continue when they return home. We offer both small group and larger group activities that include karaoke, board game tournaments, corn hole games, basketball, volleyball, ping pong, escape rooms, and movie nights. Patients have access to pools to exercise or socialize in as well as a large entertainment complex with large screen televisions. As patients transition through levels of care, they begin to be exposed to off campus sober activities as well with trips to the bowling alley or beach. This allows for activities for all ages and interests.

10-Acre Campus - Room to Breathe

Our main goal was to provide ample space and room to breathe for all patients. If an individual is going to stay 30-60 days and be in a good frame of mind, having enough space to roam around is a very important element so that patients don’t feel cramped or crowded.

When patients are not attending treatment or therapy, they are welcome to enjoy the wide range of amenities that are offered at the facility, much of which would not be accessible without our significant investment in a 10-acre campus.

Previous Next

Private Rooms - Peace of Mind

When we invested in our Tampa residential campus, one of the things that attracted us to the property was the number of rooms it offered. This allowed us to provide private rooms to each guest. The newly renovated private rooms feature a flat-screen TV, queen-sized bed, and a private bathroom which allows patients the privacy to be comfortable and relaxed before and after treatment hours.

Everyone wants and deserves privacy which is why we offer this private room feature. Not many individuals can last very long sharing a room with a random person. Our approach is different; we aren’t trying to strip you of all the comforts of home but rather, believe that having these luxuries, such as a private room and all that it has to offer, truly aids in the recovery process. We understand that you have to take care of life while you are here and our policies are conducive to that.

We aim to make patients as comfortable as possible because when individuals feel comfortable in their environment, they are much more likely to digest therapy.

Please call for more information.

Cell Phones/Devices Allowed - Staying in Touch

We decided on a lenient cell phone/electronics policy that allows guests to use their cell phones and electronic devices from 4:30 PM to 10:30 PM. Allowing guests to stay connected with friends and family provides peace of mind, lowers anxiety, and makes for a more comfortable stay.

To protect the privacy of fellow patients, cellphone and laptop use are prohibited in common areas. We understand that being admitted to treatment is an overwhelming adjustment in itself, and taking away personal electronics can make a guest feel disconnected and isolated. We went the extra mile to ensure that our guests have access to their personal electronic devices before and after treatment hours, putting us a step above other treatment centers.

We understand that you must be able to interact with the outside world while in treatment. Having access to therapists who can help you handle some of the personal issues that come with communication from the outside world during your 30 or 60-day stay is very beneficial and can help you better grasp and control emotions during this time of change.

Brand New Recreation Center - Pass the Time

Our facility features a newly-constructed recreation center where guests can enjoy a range of activities in their free time. The center features a snack bar, refreshment stand, and lounge area where individuals can kick back and relax. The recreation center is more than just a place to catch up with fellow guests and share some laughs; it brings a sense of community, builds friendships, and allows for the development of healthy hobbies and habits. Some of the activities that guests can enjoy in the rec. center are:

Ping pong
Watching major sporting events and movies on a large, theatre-sized screen
Enjoy a snack/refreshment
Playing cards and board games
Socialize and mingle with other guests
Yoga Classes
Listen to music
Relax on the patio at night
Enjoying a BBQ

Activities to Enjoy - Have Some Fun

Our facility offers patients the chance to enjoy a range of recreational activities when they are not in treatment or therapy. From walking paths that lead to tranquil fountains and gazebos, to boxing, and yoga; WhiteSands has countless options when it comes to enjoying your free time.

Some of the activities that can be enjoyed when guests are not in treatment are:

Enjoy the pool
Volleyball
Basketball
Yoga
Watch a movie on the big screen
Ping-Pong
Enjoy walking paths
Relax in the gazebo
Designated smoking areas
Arts and crafts
Badminton
Cornhole

Keeping busy through exercise and activity is a great way to get fit while creating new hobbies and habits that can help you lead a healthy and happy life, post-treatment.

Previous Next

Newly Constructed Athletic Complex - More to do

Our facility features a newly-constructed state-of-the-art, 15,000 square foot athletic complex featuring a range of exercise equipment and activities. This includes ellipticals, treadmills, and stationary bikes, among others, as well as a full-sized boxing ring. Boxing is a great means of therapy and is an effective way to manage stress, anxiety, and the different emotions that come with the treatment process. There is something for everyone at our new athletic complex, whether you are looking for a moderate workout or wanting to hone in on self-defense tactics; we offer a wide selection of activities for those of all athletic abilities to take part in.

This athletic complex is something that no other treatment center provides at this level. Please see the presentation for details on the fitness and boxing programs.

Fitness Programs and Personal Training - Get in Shape (Optional)

Our team of specialists will work with patients to construct a fitness and nutrition program that is tailored to their unique needs. As the patient gradually overcomes and learns to manage their addiction during treatment, personalized fitness programs can be implemented as this will help them create new, healthy habits. We feel strongly that fitness and nutrition are a big part of combating temptation and cravings.

What patients may not realize is that a balanced, nutrition-rich diet can help them better manage withdrawal symptoms such as lack of concentration, anxiety, cravings, and insomnia. We have also seen that exercise, coupled with good nutrition, promotes better sleep. Our theme here at WhiteSands is that eating well, sleeping well, and exercising regularly are important components in achieving long-lasting recovery.

For those who are not very athletic or have not been trained before, there is no need to worry. Our staff is very sensitive to this reality and we have programs for all different fitness levels and abilities. We have programs offered at certain times throughout the day that are allocated to beginners, intermediate, and advanced; our programs are designed for all.

click arrows to see more testimonials

Boxing Program - Blow off Steam (Optional, Tampa Only)

The owner of WhiteSands Treatment is a boxing enthusiast and a hobby of his is training and managing professional boxers. His professional boxers and coaches use the WhiteSands gym during the day while patients are in treatment. From 6 am to 7 am and from 4 pm to 8 pm, his team of trainers and fighters focus solely on training and helping the patients.

All our patients who have tried the boxing program have experienced significant therapeutic benefits. This is truly a program that we believe works for everyone. For those of you who think this isn’t for you, we have a long list of clients who felt this same way until they tried it. Men, women, young, old, and the physically challenged all get significant benefits from the mental, emotional, and physical release that boxing training provides. The owner only asks that everyone try it just once. Please see the video testimonials.

Some of the benefits of our boxing program are:

Amazing therapeutic results
Better sleep patterns
Feeling more alert
Lessened anxiety
More relaxed

Boxing has proven to be beneficial in the recovery process and many guests who partake in this program have continued boxing post-treatment.

Life Skills Program

Each patient gets a life skills guide who works with them daily to help this become a healthy habit long-term
The overall philosophy of the Life Skills Program is that we want to assist each patient in not only developing the skills to maintain long-term sobriety, but we also want them to live their most successful, happy, and balanced life possible
We assign each patient a Life Skills guide to assist in improving eating and sleeping habits and to help create a daily routine, schedule, organization skills, and planning that helps to live a balanced, healthy, and happy lifestyle
Our Life Skills Guides conduct check-ins throughout the patients involvement in the WhiteSands Recovery and Wellness program
Each patient will be assigned a personal trainer and nutritionist throughout their treatment stay (optional)

At WhiteSands we recognized how many of our patients thrive in treatment and then struggle to create a routine and healthy lifestyle once they return home, which ultimately leads to relapse. We, therefore, decided to create a Life Skills Program that would assist patients in learning to sleep right, eat right, and live right on a daily basis. The overall philosophy of the Life Skills Program is that we want to assist each patient in not only developing the skills to maintain long-term sobriety, but we also want them to live their most successful, happy, and balanced life possible. For many patients their addictions led to a chaotic and disorganized lifestyle where anxiety and impulsiveness were significant issues that led to substance use. When living in chaos, people tend to skip meals, eat unhealthy foods, have unhealthy sleep patterns, run late, and not meet family and work goals. This can lead to poor focus, irritability, mood swings, increased depression, weakened immunity, and weight gain.

Through our Life Skills program, we assign each patient a Life Skills guide to assist in improving eating and sleeping habits and in creating a daily routine and schedule that helps to live a balanced, healthy, and happy lifestyle. This leads to greater success in personal and professional areas and decreased relapse rates. Our Life Skills program is implemented through weekly sessions with a therapist and daily check-ins with a Life Skills Guide. This leads to patients being able to “plan their work” and “work their plan”.

Our Life Skills program works to meet the needs of all patients, as it is conducted on a one-on-one level. We work to help patients be able to identify the progress and areas of weakness they face each day, identify and complete healthy goals, and find balance in all areas of their life. We have each patient complete a detailed relapse prevention/continuing care plan that addresses not only addiction to substances but all compulsive behaviors. Life Skills Guides conduct check-ins and remain in contact with and accessible to patients for as long as the patients are actively involved in the WhiteSands Recovery and Wellness program, which may include continued participation in outpatient therapy, seeking medical or psychiatric services from one of our providers, or maintaining pharmacy services through our affiliated pharmacy.

This program has been extremely popular with our patients. Some patients were resistant; however, once they saw that they could create their own program with their life skills guide, they were extremely pleased with the results. We work with patients to adapt the life skills program to their individualized needs to increase the likelihood they will implement it not only in treatment but also once they return to their home environment.

Relapse Prevention

WhiteSands created a Recovery and Wellness Program to help address concerns that come with the transition between leaving inpatient treatment and entering the next phase in the recovery process
Patients in our outpatient program are also able to continue seeing the same doctors and psychiatric providers once they return home
We believe that taking this approach will lead to increased long-term sobriety rates and will allow us to monitor its impact on our patients and their road to recovery

At WhiteSands, we recognize that nationwide relapse rates are abysmal and something that we want to work to change. The standard relapse prevention groups and work has not been successful for the majority of individuals struggling with addiction. We have made many changes to our program experience in addressing the prevention of relapse.

As part of our program, we have patients complete relapse prevention plans related to substance addiction while also having them identify areas where they might fall into other addictive patterns once they return home. Many individuals with addictive personalities achieve initial sobriety from drugs and alcohol but begin exercising compulsively, restricting food, overeating, working 80 hours per week, or engaging in compulsive sexual behaviors. Engaging in any of these behaviors often leads to relapse on substances while also causing issues in their personal lives, just like their substance use issues did.

We also recognize that many patients successfully complete inpatient treatment but then do not complete recommended intensive outpatient treatment, do not attend medical follow-up appointments, and do not remain medication compliant. All of these behaviors often lead to relapse, and patients are additionally losing the structure, accountability, and medical care that assisted them in succeeding in inpatient care. When discussing reasons why alumni did not engage in follow-up care, we learned that there were common reasons. These included not wanting to tell their story to a new doctor or therapist and difficulty finding doctors to refill their medications. Therefore, WhiteSands created a Recovery and Wellness Program to help address these concerns so they are not a barrier to sobriety. Patients are introduced to their outpatient therapist by their inpatient therapist and relevant information and history is discussed during the last week of inpatient. With this approach, the patient knows who they will be meeting with the following week. Patients in our outpatient program are also able to continue seeing the same doctors and psychiatric providers once they return home, so that their providers know their history and which medications have achieved the greatest effect. Patients will also have access to a 24-hour hotline and multiple virtual alumni and check-in meetings that occur daily for support with their sobriety.

Patients in our inpatient settings also receive 4-5 individual or family sessions per week as well as the Life Skills Program discussed in other descriptions of our services. This allows for greater processing of the issues that contributed to their addiction and increased family involvement. We recognize that if a patient returns home to the same environment without engaging in therapy with their loved ones, they will often relapse. The Life Skills Guide additionally provides for greater accountability throughout lifelong sobriety. We believe that taking this approach will lead to increased long-term sobriety rates and will allow us the ability to monitor its impact on our patients and their road to recovery.

How Does WhiteSands Compare to Other Treatment Centers

Clinically and medically we consistently provide more than industry standards require. Our clinical and medical staff recognize that we need to provide more in-depth and individualized treatment in order to meet the critical needs of our patients. As a result of our commitment to providing the highest quality of care, we have a higher percentage of patients with sustained recovery. Please see the list of highlights below:

Individual or family therapy five times per week, where other agencies offer one hour per week.
Truly individualized treatment that results in smaller groups and a high staff-to-patient ratio despite the narrowing of profits.
Full-time skilled and highly-credentialed staff dedicated to all stages of treatment/recovery, resulting in better continuity of care and a total focus on patient outcomes.
Truly unique Life Skills Program, which increases success when patients leave our treatment facilities, as well as provides continued daily support following discharge.

All of the above comes with either significant investment or greater operating costs. We go above and beyond because of our commitment to our patients and their outcomes.

With regards to patient experience while not in treatment, the strength of our amenities and the overall quality of life at WhiteSands are of significant importance to our leadership team and staff. We strongly believe that a patient’s comfort level during their stay has a strong correlation to their success in treatment. We have witnessed that their ability to focus and absorb information is correlated with them feeling calm and comfortable. Please see the list of highlights below:

Large private rooms with satellite television and private bathrooms.
Use of electronic devices in room from 4:30 PM - 10:30 PM nightly to allow contact with loved ones and management of life outside of treatment. This policy allows patients to receive the value of limited distractions while in treatment, while also allowing for continued connection with the outside world. Importantly, if patients are triggered by calls or messages they receive, they are doing so while in a highly-supportive environment rather than facing this for the first time at home alone.
State-of-the-art athletic complex and boxing gym.
Personal training with professional athletes and coaches.
Large campus with pool, basketball, and volleyball courts.
Strict COVID testing and safety protocols.

No personal training or customized nutrition plan.

WS PREMIUM

Ability to schedule personal training sessions. During these sessions, the personal trainer will build a customized plan catered to the fitness needs of each individual. They will also work with your nutritionist which works with each patient in building a nutrition plan.

8 of 18

Spa services allow patients to indulge in much-deserved self-care which is an essential part of the overall recovery journey. By offering a range of spa services to enjoy that are designed for the patient's well-being, they can relax both body and mind in a serene and calming environment.

Industry Standard

Most treatment facilities do not offer any type of spa services for patients.

WS PREMIUM

With WS Premium, patients have access to a selection of spa services such as massage therapy, chiropractic services, and haircuts.

Which WhiteSands Facility is Right for Me?

Fort Myers Features:

Inpatient Detox (Medically Assisted Detox)
Residential/Intensive Inpatient Treatment
Day-night Treatment [Transition from inpatient to outpatient environment with housing]
Intensive Outpatient Treatment with residence (IOP) with residence [Transition from day/night to outpatient treatment]

Resort-like atmosphere with gazebos, streams, and walking paths to avoid the institution feel.
Maintains a small population of 20-30 patients
Bedrooms include full-sized beds in private rooms.
Cell phone and laptop access are available nightly following completion of detox.
Housing is villa style with 4 bedrooms per house and a living room in each house.
Our residential services include updated, private rooms providing the privacy patients need for a successful recovery
2 pools are available for patients to utilize after group hours.
Basketball hoop, corn hole, and other recreational activities available.
Gym open daily to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Off-site outings offered to aid patients in learning to have fun in sobriety. Outings include trips to the bowling alley, the park, and the beach.
Barbeque grills are located throughout the property.
High quality catered foods from local restaurants.
Patients within day/night levels of care prepare and cook their own food.
Chiropractic care is offered as an amenity to assist patients struggling with chronic pain.
Yoga classes are offered multiple times weekly. These include a blend of stretching and active classes.
Spa Services available.

Plant City Features:

Inpatient Detox (Medically Assisted Detox)
Residential/Intensive Inpatient Treatment
Day-Night Treatment [Transition from inpatient to outpatient environment with housing]
Intensive Outpatient Treatment with residence (IOP) with residence [Transition from day/night to outpatient treatment]

Bedrooms include queen-sized beds and the option of private rooms. Televisions are available in each room, as well as a private bathroom and shower.
Cell phone and laptop access are available nightly following the completion of detox.
Large pool is available for patients to utilize following the completion of detox.
Resort-like atmosphere with gazebos and tiki huts to avoid the institution feel.
Basketball court, grass volleyball court, and sand volleyball court available on property.
15,000 Sq ft. professional grade athletic complex open daily to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Newly-constructed state-of-the-art recreation facility.
Professional Boxing training program by professional coaching staff.
Outdoor barbeque cookouts with freshly grilled food to order.
Quality food, home cooked on site. 18 item salad bar.

Hyde Park Features:

Day-Night Treatment [Transition from inpatient to outpatient environment with housing]
Intensive Outpatient Treatment with residence (IOP)with residence [Transition from day/night to outpatient treatment]

Located in the upscale historic district of Hyde Park, and within walking distance of Bayshore Boulevard, this area offers many outside activities to enjoy such as walking paths around Tampa Bay, exercise and fitness stations, local shopping, and much more.
Hyde Park is 20 minutes from our inpatient program in Plant City where you can still take advantage of our state-of-the-art recreation center, boxing lessons, and fitness program.
Cell phone and laptop access are available outside of group and program hours.
Housing is comprised of 4 historic homes that can accommodate up to 32 patients. Each home has its own kitchen, private bathrooms, and a washer/dryer.
Off-site outings are offered to aid patients in learning to have fun in sobriety. Outings include trips to the bowling alley, the park, and the beach.
BBQ grills are located throughout the property.
Patients prepare and cook their own meals (Lunch is catered).
Basketball and other games and recreational activities are available on-site.
The property was designed as an open environment within a residential neighborhood and very much feels like you are attending treatment within a home environment with no institutional feel.

Fort Myers IOP Features:

Day-Night Treatment [Transition from inpatient to outpatient environment with housing]
Intensive Outpatient Treatment with residence (IOP) with residence [Transition from day/night to outpatient treatment]

White Sands DNT & Community Housing is in Fort Myers, FL about 25 minutes from the nearest beaches, and 10 minutes from downtown Fort Myers. We are located just a few blocks away from the Caloosahatchee River.
Each apartment has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, living room, laundry room, and bathroom. There are two twin-sized beds in each room, making for a total of four residents per apartment, when full.
Located 10 minutes from our detox/residential facility and can access spa services such as chiropractic care and can utilize fitness center daily.
Cell phone and laptop access available outside of group and program hours
Off-site outings offered to aid patients in learning to have fun in sobriety.
12 step meetings nightly.
Patients prepare and cook their own meals (lunch is catered daily).
Basketball and recreational activities available on site.
Property was designed as an open environment within a residential neighborhood with no institutional feel.
Group hours offsite 8:00-2:15 Monday-Friday with Master’s Level Therapists.
Weekly individual therapy and psychiatric visits.

We have 16 outpatient locations located throughout Florida. We do not have pictures of these offices as they are just for meetings and one-on-one sessions. Onsite licensed medical staff and counselors will work one-on-one with patients, assisting and directing them in their journey toward long-lasting recovery. Our outpatient programs offer personalized therapy and individualized care which give patients a network of support during a time of transition, providing ongoing aftercare. When individuals are given the tools and resources necessary to sustain their sobriety post-treatment, they are much more likely to succeed in recovery.

Our 16 Outpatient Locations

Licensed IOP/OP

Fort Myers
Brandon
Clearwater
DeLand
Gainesville
Lakeland
Longwood
Melbourne
Naples
Orlando
Palm Harbor
Sarasota
Tampa
Kissimmee
Ocala
St. Pete

Accepted Insurances and Self-Pay Rates

We accept almost all health insurance policies so we recommend that you call our admissions department and provide your plan information. We are also proud to service our Military and their families by accepting most Tricare and VA policies.

If you do not have health insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover substance abuse, we offer flexible self-pay rates. We have 3 inpatient campuses and more than 16 outpatient offices, allowing us to devise a treatment plan that fits within your budget. Depending on your particular circumstances, such as the type, frequency and quantity of your drug or alcohol usage, we can design a treatment program that will effectively treat your addiction at an affordable price. Our self-pay programs generally range from $5,000 for one week of inpatient medical detoxification and up to $50,000 for a longer-term comprehensive program. For example, a 35-day treatment plan starting with detoxification and inpatient treatment through outpatient treatment with housing runs $23,000 - $30,000. We also provide finance options for those who qualify. We suggest you call and speak with an admissions counselor to understand your insurance and financial options.

Length of Stay and Program

Your length of stay can vary. In some limited cases, starting at 7 days of detoxification only to up to 90 days including our step down outpatient programs. Typically, our medical and clinical staff recommends a treatment program of 35 to 60 days for successfully maintaining long term sobriety. Our programs are flexible in order to accommodate our guests' particular circumstances. We offer a comprehensive recovery program that includes detoxification and inpatient care at one of our 3 campus-style locations followed by continued care on an outpatient basis. We provide housing options for our outpatient programs. Call our admissions counselors today and they will explain our treatment options.

Admissions Process

If you want to end the destructive cycle of drug or alcohol abuse, it is important to realize that your success may depend on accepting help from others. By recognizing that you have a problem and conducting a self-assessment, you have already taken a crucial step towards recovery. However, it can be dangerous to deal with addiction alone; this often times ends in failure.

At WhiteSands, we are experienced in dealing with addiction and substance abuse. We understand that you initially may have feelings of anxiousness or vulnerability. Our knowledgeable, empathetic staff can help you to overcome these feelings of discomfort as you work towards your goals. Addiction may seem like an insurmountable obstacle, but we’re here to restore hope.

The comfortable, supportive environment at WhiteSands helps to make the addiction recovery process as effective as possible. We provide therapy that helps you to understand the underlying reasons behind your addiction, as well as unique counseling and education for family members. This can help to rebuild troubled or broken relationships that have been negatively affected by the disease.

By conducting a thorough patient assessment, we will be able to identify what sort of treatment modality is right for you.

Steps in the Admissions Process

Step 1 - Call and speak with our admissions counselors

They will ask you the following:

What is your insurance coverage? Once we know this, we can discuss your insurance plan benefits and self-pay rates, if necessary.
What are you struggling with? We ask this so that we can understand more about the substance of choice, frequency, and volume of use to determine the specific treatment you require and the treatment options we suggest for your specific situation.

Also, our admissions counselor will answer any questions you may have concerning:

Our medical and clinical services and programs
The different types of accommodations and amenities at our 3 campus locations
Any other questions you may have concerning WhiteSands

Step 2 - Agreeing to treatment and the admittance process

Assuming you want to continue in seeking treatment, we would then verify your insurance benefits with your insurance company. This usually takes about 10 minutes. During that time, we will also conduct a preliminary clinical assessment to understand all of your medical and clinical needs and circumstances in more detail.

Once we have gathered all necessary information, we will then complete the admissions process. If for whatever reason WhiteSands is not right for you or you don’t qualify, our staff will spend the time to review all other options given the information we’ve gathered. We will make every effort to connect you to a facility that will be a more appropriate fit.

WhiteSands Stories of Recovery

Over 300 Google-Verified Reviews

Rebecca Kutsor

5 days ago

“This treatment center is absolutely amazing. I have never felt so safe and loved during such a scary time. The counselors are well versed and very engaged. The accommodations are immaculate and private. The staff are caring and courteous. All of your needs will be met.”

Robert Vannata

5 days ago

“Amazing staff, therapists, and doctors. Accommodations are great... Nice rooms, catered food, vollyball, massage, biofeedback, chiropractor, basketball, beach and more. Definitely saved my life!!!”

Anthony Moniz

a month ago

“I wanted to stop my habit for a very long time trying on my own never worked I needed help and would never accept it. I finally had enough and gave in to acceptance and looked for help. I found WhiteSands and watched one of the videos they had of a guy around my same age talking about his story and how he found help from WhiteSands. It gave me hope so I ended up calling them and I was there that night. White Sands was a life changer the therapist to the staff all of them played a part in helping me find myself. I’m forever grateful! I’d be dead or in prison if I didn’t get the help I needed. If you read this review your life is worth living. Give yourself a chance to change.”

Kenneth Kaser

a month ago

“White Sands is a phenomenal rehab for alcohol and substance abuse addiction. Staff is great! Food is great! They take you on outings, provide chiropractor's, and have a medical staff on clock 24/7. If you're tired and want to give up the fight, then White Sands is the only place I recommend anyone to start! Thank you White Sands!”

View All Reviews

Recognized by

10 months ago

The staff go above and beyond in ensuring that all the patients get the treatment they need. Best drug rehab center in St Petersburg.

Meet The Team

WhiteSands Treatment employs the highest qualified boxing trainers and instructors who demonstrate a combination of credentials and experience in the boxing and recovery field. Our compassionate team works to provide clients with the resources, tools, and support necessary to reach sustained sobriety.

Nelson Lopez Jr., Boxing Instructor, WhiteSands Treatment Center

Nelson Lopez was born and raised in a boxing/karate family where these competitive sports were a large part of growing up. Some of his accomplishments include competing in the Florida Golden Gloves Champion ‘98 and ‘99 and representing Florida in the Super Heavyweight Division in Biloxi, MS.

In 2001, Lopez received a Bachelor’s degree in both Science as well as Psychology from Nova South Eastern University. He began his career as a biology teacher at his hometown high school and worked as a strength and conditioning coach for the basketball and football teams. After practice, he would open up his gym where he trained many amateur boxers and world champions alongside his father.

He started the first amateur team in his hometown in 2002. He worked at widening his network and went off to travel the world as a trainer for Olympic teams and various regional teams. Lopez then ventured into managing fighters and matching fights all over the world which allowed him to develop long-lasting relationships with many top-level promoters.

He developed a passion for this beyond just the desire to win and earn money, but the desire to change lives and give opportunities to those that needed it most. Lopez targeted the fighters that lived in the poorest countries and brought fighters from all over the globe to the U.S. to compete. By virtue of this opportunity, the move helped them feed their families, build their homes, and develop their small businesses back in their home countries. These fighters are forever thankful and Mr. Lopez is grateful that he had, and continues to have, the ability to help. “I want to pass my knowledge on to the patients/guests of WhiteSands Treatment Center and teach them what boxing taught me: discipline, determination, and respect. With this, anyone can conquer anything”.

Asa Beard, Boxing Trainer, WhiteSands Treatment Center

Originally from Manchester, England, Asa is the youngest of 13 children. Asa started playing soccer from the early age of 4 and did some martial arts as well, but always stuck with his two main passions: football and boxing. Asa has trained athletes of all levels in multiple sports such as soccer, boxing, and personal training, and at the age of 16, began training fighters where his huge passion for the art of boxing grew stronger. He was eventually asked to train some fighters in his hometown after becoming a professional soccer player. He graduated from college with degrees in Business, Personal Training and Leisure, and Tourism and is an expert in fitness and nutrition.

Asa has worked alongside some of the best in the business, training and coaching with some of the most respected trainers in the world. Asa has worked with world champions and former world champions, as well as training and developing some amateur fighters in his own youth soccer club.

Asa trained alongside Floyd Mayweather, Sr. Roger Mayweather, and Jeff Mayweather while in training camps with his fighters. Asa was invited to train and work alongside hall of fame fighter, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and trainer, Freddie Roach.

Upon moving to the United States, Asa spent time at the Mayweather Boxing Club, Wildcard Boxing Club, Top Rank Boxing Club, Amir Khan Boxing Club, Kronk Gym, and the Phoenix Camp for many years where he was able to fine-tune his trade as a coach.

Asa’s extensive knowledge of the game, and his connections in the pro athlete community, make him an invaluable asset. His years as an athlete have given him priceless insight and understanding of the sport. Asa’s fast hands and intense coaching skills have gained international respect from some of the best fighters in the industry.

After spending time at some of the world's top-ranked gyms, Asa now lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife and children. He has always had a passion to help others and give back to the community which has made him an exceptional addition to the WhiteSands team. Asa is very excited to be a part of WhiteSands as a boxing trainer and looks forward to continuing to help positively change lives.

Services and Program Details

At WhiteSands Treatment, we offer a full continuum of treatment programs and services. Our goal is to prepare you for your own unique journey toward recovery and to provide you with the tools, insight, and support you’ll need to achieve lasting sobriety and avoid relapse. Some of the services that we provide are:

Individualized programs
Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)
NA/AA
Smart Recovery
Multiple group options are offered throughout the day
Individualized treatment planning
Multiple individual sessions per week
Family therapy
Family visitation is offered weekly or by special request
Smaller group sessions
Licensed primary therapists
Complete history and physical within the first 24 hours of admission to WhiteSands
Extended slow tapers off of all mood and mind-altering substances
Licensed Nutritionist reviews and approves all menu options
Full-time dedicated staff
All vitals are monitored throughout the course of the day for your safety and comfort
Full psychiatric assessment within first 48 hours by Board Certified Psychiatrist
Follow-up psychiatric assessments once a week
Medically Assisted Treatment program (MAT)

Services and Program Details

Individualized programs
When you go to treatment, you will often find that most centers offer one type of program, which is certainly easier and cheaper, but may not fit all of the patient’s individual needs. At WhiteSands we want you to have the flexibility to choose the program that best fits both your personal preferences, and any underlying issues that exacerbated or led to your addiction.
Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)
MRT is a Cognitive Behavioral therapy-based program that addresses the underlying issues related to addiction and life struggles. This allows us to provide more in-depth treatment and not just place a “band aid on the bullet hole.” We have multiple counselors that are trained and certified to conduct MRT groups so that everyone participating gets the one on one attention needed.
NA/AA
Known as Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12 steps
Smart Recovery
Smart Recovery is essentially the principles of NA/AA without the higher power component built into the philosophy.
Multiple group options are offered throughout the day
Patients can select groups that best fit their personal needs after consultation with their primary therapist. At WhiteSands, there are multiple group options throughout the course of the day, designed to fit the needs of individual patients based upon their background and history of use.
Individualized treatment planning
All patients will meet with their primary therapist within the first 24 hours of admission, to begin laying out your goals while in treatment. Detoxing from the substances you have been abusing is just the first step in your treatment at WhiteSands. We will also help you to identify and resolve any other issues in your life that may have led to or exacerbated your addiction.
Multiple individual sessions per week
All patients will be seen by their primary therapist a minimum of 2-3 times per week for individual sessions. This is an important distinction from the way a lot of treatment centers treat their patients. In most cases, you are seen by your primary therapist once per week, and the rest of the time you are in large group settings with the rest of the community. This does not allow for the deeper issues to be addressed and rectified while you are in treatment.
Family therapy
Family therapy is available and encouraged while in treatment. We offer these sessions either in person if your family lives locally or through video conference. Very often patients' loved ones and family do not have a full understanding of the disease of addiction, and it is through family therapy that we are able to educate and treat any existing family dynamics.
Family visitation is offered weekly or by special request
Smaller group sessions
Besides AA/NA meetings and community meetings, all of our groups are run with between 12-15 patients. This allows for more interaction and deeper processing of issues and occurs in daily process groups as well.
Licensed primary therapists
All of our primary therapists are licensed LCSW (licensed clinical social worker) or LMHC (licensed mental health counselor.)
Complete history and physical within the first 24 hours of admission to WhiteSands.
Extended slow tapers off of all mood and mind-altering substances
With the benefit of slow tapers, you are able to, but not mandated to attend group therapy from day 1. We understand there is an adjustment period for anyone entering treatment. Using a combination of controlled medications, our board certified Addictionologist will meet with you every day throughout the course of your detoxification, to both ensure you are as comfortable as possible, and make any necessary adjustments to your individualized protocol. Your safety and comfort are of the greatest importance to us through the detoxification process.
Licensed Nutritionist reviews and approves all menu options
Full-time dedicated staff
- Most of the treatment centers today employ part-time staff, particularly when it comes to medical and psychiatric staff, as a means of cutting costs and providing the minimum care possible to fall within compliance standards. While this is an effective means of saving money, it comes at the cost of patient care and one-on-one treatment.
- All of our staff are full-time employees of WhiteSands. We do not employ part-time employees who split their time between a number of treatment centers.
- We employ 3 board certified Addictionologists so patients will have access to these specialists 7 days a week.
- 24-hour nursing and support staff
  Nursing staff, as well as community therapists, are on-site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Patients will be seen by our nursing staff for daily assessments throughout the course of their stay.
All vitals are monitored throughout the course of the day for your safety and comfort
Full psychiatric assessment within first 48 hours by Board Certified Psychiatrist
We employ 3 Board-Certified Psychiatrists who will work with you to identify and treat any underlying psychiatric issues that have not been addressed. Very often through medication management, these underlying psychiatric issues can be addressed effectively, so as to not impact your recovery going forward.
Follow up psychiatric assessments once a week

Why WhiteSands Does it Better

Why does WhiteSands do it better? Plainly said, WhiteSands was built with the goal to elevate the standards of care in addiction treatment, to ensure that we are giving patients the best chance at sustaining long-term sobriety and doing so in a safe and comfortable environment. I am Joe Ducey, the Chief Operating Officer of WhiteSands and someone who is in recovery. I wanted to build a treatment center that went to the next level in providing the best patient experience from the initial phone call to our admissions department until the day you complete our program.

It was with these guiding principles in mind when I approached my boss Garry Jonas (CEO of WhiteSands and a successful entrepreneur) to start WhiteSands. With his blessing and guidance, I got to work with our current Clinical Director, Lyndsay Henry, in researching all the treatment centers out there today, and the types of treatment currently available.

After an extensive amount of market research, exhaustive interviews to identify the best doctors, psychiatrists, therapists and nurses, and identifying properties conducive to recovery, WhiteSands officially opened its doors in March of 2013. Since then, we have treated over 10,000 patients struggling with both substance abuse and underlying psychiatric issues and have seen time and time again the success stories of those going through our programs. What follows is the WhiteSands difference, and how we have elevated standards of care for addiction treatment. You can be one of these success stories.

Some of the elements of how WhiteSands does it better:

Individualized treatment programs. At WhiteSands, we do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach in anything we do. You will see this philosophy employed in both the programs and services we provide.
Compared to the average treatment center - Most treatment centers use a generic, one-size-fits-all approach to recovery that does not offer a personalized or individualized treatment plan.
Multiple one-on-one sessions with a licensed primary therapist. At WhiteSands you will meet with your primary therapist 4-5 times per week, allowing them the time to work on some of the deeper issues that have led you down the addiction path.
Compared to the average treatment center - The industry standards generally call for 1 individual session per week, which does not provide the time patients require for treatment to be effective.
Extended slow taper off of all mood and mind-altering drugs. Whether you are coming off of narcotic medication or alcohol, this can be a very uncomfortable and often dangerous process if not handled correctly. At WhiteSands, there should be no fear of the withdrawal process. Our board-certified Addictionologist will work with you one-on-one using extended tapers to wean you off the substance of choice, allowing you to get the maximum benefit of all the services we offer. We ensure that your detox experience is made as comfortable as possible.
Compared to the average treatment center - Compared to the average treatment center- Many facilities administer small doses of detox medications and only for 3-4 days, which results in a much less comfortable and more risky detox.
Board-Certified Addictionologist. An addictionologist will meet with you daily during the detoxification process. All of WhiteSands Medical staff are full-time employees, dedicated to helping you through the recovery process.
Compared to the average treatment center - Many facilities will not employ any addictionologists, or will hire them on a part-time basis, and will not have full-time doctors onsite. Many specialists that the average facility has, are employed by multiple centers. They simply make their rounds to each one, never building a personal relationship with the patient.
Dual diagnosis program with Board Certified Psychiatrist. These specialists are on-site 7 days per week. Every patient that comes to WhiteSands will be seen within 48 hours for a full psychiatric assessment, then will be seen once a week thereafter for follow-up evaluations and medication management.
Compared to the average treatment center - Standard treatment facilities do not have an on-site, full-time, board-certified psychiatrist but instead, hire them on a part-time basis.
Low patient-to-therapist ratio. At WhiteSands, we put a lot of focus on ensuring that there are no more than 10-12 patients in a group at any given time. It would certainly be less expensive to have much larger group sizes, thereby requiring less staff, but it is certainly not more effective. With low patient-to-therapist ratios, each patient can participate in a meaningful way in every group that they attend.
Compared to the average treatment center - In standard facilities, there are generally group sizes of 20 or more individuals. With this amount of people in a single group, there is simply no time for one-on-one interaction between the therapist and the patient, and groups essentially become a lecture.
State of the art recreation and athletic center. The theme at WhiteSands Treatment is that you are a patient from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, and from 4:30 pm to 11:00 pm, you become a guest. Guests can relax and enjoy the amenities and can spend their free time exercising, partaking in activities and hobbies, or simply hang out in their private room where they can watch TV and stay connected with friends and family. We believe that having these features allows patients to absorb treatment better and, therefore, have a better chance at life-long recovery.
Compared to the average treatment center - Standard treatment centers offer very few, if any, recreational activities and amenities for patients to enjoy after treatment hours. This leaves patients bored and eager to get through treatment as quickly as possible so that they can get out.

A Testament to Our Success

AMA rates 10% below the industry average. In layman terms, AMA means leaving treatment against medical advice. A typical AMA rate for inpatient treatment centers is between 10 and 15% and generally indicates there are flaws within the program. At WhiteSands, our AMA rate is 4%, and the results speak for themselves, with thousands of people that have maintained long-term sobriety. WhiteSands success in this area can be attributed to our expertly trained staff who can talk you through those impulsive thoughts and decisions. This coupled with all of the amenities that we offer, is designed to make you much more comfortable while you are in treatment.

WhiteSands Treatment	Average Facility
Low Patient-to-Therapist Ratio	Most facilities only offer large group meetings with limited access to one-on-one counseling and therapy
Full-Time Medical Director and Psychologist On-Site	Other facilities will often have a part-time medical specialist and will not always have an office onsite
Individualized Dual Diagnosis Treatment	The majority of facilities do not personalize and tailor their treatment modalities to each patient and resort to a 'one-size-fits-all' standardized treatment plan
Medical Detox Onsite	Generally, facilities refer detox to a partner, then brings the client back for their stay
Biofeedback	Most facilities offer basic, non-progressive or personalized treatment modalities
Variety of Groups	Other centers only offer single or limited types of therapy that do not conform to the unique needs of patients
Aftercare / Continuum of Care	Most facilities do not offer as many aftercare and relapse prevention options as we do
Private Rooms	Other facilities may not offer private room options to their guests
Cellphones & Laptops Allowed	Having this feature is very expensive to manage which is why most facilities do not offer this, but we go the extra mile to ensure that our guests have access to their personal electronic devices after treatment hours
10-Acre Campus	The majority of facilities are often confined, hospital-style buildings converted into a facility that has a sterile feeling and no room for amenities
Amenities	Most centers do not offer the extensive amenities and activities that WhiteSands does, or does not offer amenities at all
Spa Services	An average facility may only offer one spa service. This unique feature is rarely or never offered in a treatment facility setting
Smoking and Vaping Areas	Some facilities limit vaping, some limit smoking, and some limit both