Recovery Brands, LLC
📍 4579 Northgate Ct., Sarasota, FL 34234
📞 9413665333 Full profile & reviews Claim this listing
Reviewers frequently praised the caring and helpful nature of the staff and counselors, with several crediting the program with saving their lives or helping them achieve long-term sobriety. However, some reviewers criticized the facility as outdated, described the food as poor, and felt there was a lack of individual attention. While many found the staff supportive, a few others perceived them as unprofessional or primarily motivated by money.
AI-generated summary of 13 reviews collected on rehabs.com and recovery.org through 2023. Not a review or medical advice. Review policy
<p><strong>ABOUT FIRST STEP ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAMS</strong></p> <p>First Step Addiction Recovery Programs, located in picturesque Sarasota on Florida’s coast, offers more than 20 programs, including <strong>detoxification, residential treatment, outpatient treatment</strong>, and many other uniquely-tailored programs. Some of these include programs for <strong>teens</strong>, which only <a href="https://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/webt/state_data/FL16.pdf" target="_blank">153 (21.4 percent)</a> Florida treatment centers offer, services for individuals with <a href="http://www.recovery.org/topics/dual-diagnosis-recovery/" target="_blank">co-occurring mental health disorders</a>, offered at <a href="https://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/webt/state_data/FL16.pdf" target="_blank">362 (50.6 percent)</a> facilities in the state, and specialty tracks for <strong>pregnant and postpartum women</strong>, featured at just <a href="https://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/webt/state_data/FL16.pdf" target="_blank">157 (21.9 percent)</a> Florida facilities.</p> <p><strong>TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT</strong></p> <p><strong>Those who begin treatment in the 30-bed medically-supervised detoxification unit can expect a three-to-ten day stay</strong>, with a structured curriculum based on the 12-Steps, educational groups, and an emphasis on good nutrition and vitamin supplements.</p> <p>Long- and short-term residential stays vary in intensity. One option is the facility’s <strong>Pathways, a 28-day inpatient care program,</strong> consisting of group counseling, group therapy, 12-step groups, life skills development, and relapse prevention techniques.</p> <p>The second option is <strong>Extended Care, a 90-day program focusing on more intensive programming</strong> that may be appropriate for those in the criminal justice system, and those who have developmental disorders or co-occurring mental health conditions.</p> <p>Those with co-occurring disorders can enroll in Seasons - complete with family and group counseling, symptom management, and discharge planning. <strong>Comprehensive treatment, education, and <a href="ttps://www.recovery.org/pro/articles/reclaiming-the-feminine-in-recovery/" target="_blank">support for women</a> and children is available through the Mothers and Infants program</strong>. The Choices and Crossroads program is available for those in the criminal justice system, while homeless individuals dealing with substance abuse disorders can enroll in the Voluntary Interim Placement-Enhanced Recovery.</p> <p><strong>Outpatient treatment for adults and <a href="https://www.recovery.org/pro/articles/is-my-child-just-experimenting/" target="_blank">youth ages 13 to 18</a></strong> involves individual, group, and <a href="https://www.recovery.org/pro/articles/the-pain-of-addiction-in-the-family-how-counseling-can-help/" target="_blank">family counseling</a> as well as addiction education. As of 2016, <a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUHsaePercents2016/NSDUHsaePercents2016.pdf" target="_blank">3.29 percent of Florida adolescents ages 12 to 17 needed but did not receive treatment</a> at a specialty facility for illicit drug use. <strong>Suboxone</strong> is available for those in outpatient treatment.</p> <p><strong>STAFF CREDENTIALS</strong></p> <p>First Steps employs a team of medical doctors, registered nurses, mental health counselors, substance abuse technicians, and a psychiatrist. The 10 former clients, loved ones, and staff members polled by Rehabs.com to date were satisfied with the quality of the care offered at this facility. </p> <blockquote> <p>Staff's level of training and experience: 4.5/5</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES</strong></p> <p>The facility’s website states that the facility opened a new kitchen, multi-purpose room, laundry services, and an administrative area in 2012. The 10 Rehabs.com survey respondents at the time of this writing were pleased with the facility's accommodations and related offerings.</p> <blockquote> <p>Cleanliness: 4.2/5</p> <p>Exercise/leisure options:: 4/5</p> </blockquote> <p><strong>WHAT ALUMNI SAY</strong></p> <p><strong>Alumni feedback was mostly positive.</strong> Of the eight alumni responding to a Rehabs.com poll, one of the highest ratings went to the facility's incorporation of family participation.</p> <blockquote> <p>Family participation: 4.25/5</p> </blockquote> <p>Alumni also largely expressed satisfaction with the center's programming, and five indicated that they believed their treatment was worth the cost. “Great place! It's way better than any other equally priced facility I've heard about,” Greg wrote in a representative review.</p> <blockquote> <p>Would Recommend: 4.2/5</p> </blockquote> <p>However, while alumni gave staff high ratings and frequently <strong>praised the high-quality care</strong>, written comments about individualized attention were mixed. One alum wrote, "Availability, staff, accessible" when surveyed on facility strengths; however, another alum listed, "not a lot individual attention" as a facility weakness. </p> <blockquote> <p>Counseling Options: 3.6/5 </p> </blockquote> <p>Reviews about exercise & leisure activities and holistic offerings were similarly mixed. Former client H.R.B. felt "Core amenities, menus, gym" were the center's major strengths, while another respondent listed "Out dated building" as the center's major weakness. Holistic offerings also received one of the lowest ratings from eight survey responses.</p> <blockquote> <p>Holistic offerings: 3.6/5 </p> </blockquote> <p>On Google, where six users produced a <strong>3.7-star average rating</strong>, X.M. representatively wrote, "Some of the best Counselors in town."<small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-1"><sup>[1]</sup></a></small></p> <p><strong>WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY</strong></p> <p>The single loved one responding to a poll from Rehabs.com at this time of writing awarded <strong>four out of a possible five stars for most categories, such as exercise & leisure activities, the level of family participation, admissions & discharge procedures, and whether or not the program was worth the cost</strong>. The reviewer agreed with alumni that the staff was “caring and very helpful.” On the other hand, lower, three-star ratings were given to accommodations & amenities, facility cleanliness, and the program's affordability. The loved one reported, “Out dated building,” when asked about facility weaknesses. </p> <p>On Yelp, three users produced a 3.8-star average rating to date.<small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-2"><sup>[2]</sup></a></small> Two of these reviews, as well as the two "not recommended reviews" on the site, discuss the pros and cons of a particular staff member. The other review, which came from a parent of a former client, noted concerns with the facility because "any time we visited we could have brought in any amount of drugs or alcohol and nobody would have known." </p> <p><strong>WHAT STAFF SAY</strong></p> <p>The sole staff member surveyed by Rehabs.com to date gave overwhelmingly positive feedback, awarding five-star ratings to all 15 evaluated categories, which include holistic offerings, counseling options, level of family participation, the center's ability to treat co-occurring disorders, and whether or not the program is worth the cost. “They can help you overcome your addictions as well as help you to become a working member of society again,” this individual wrote.</p> <p><strong>FINANCING</strong></p> <p>According to the facility’s website, First Steps’ fees are based on a sliding scale. The facility accepts self-payment and credit card payment. Most insurance plans are accepted. Then 10 individuals to provide feedback on the center's affordability to date were generally satisfied. </p> <blockquote> <p>Affordability: 4.2/5</p> </blockquote> <p><small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-1"><sup>[1]</sup></a> <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/First+Step+of+Sarasota+Inc/@27.3739562,-82.5338356,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m7!3m6!1s0x0:0xf9841e4b8e7c3059!8m2!3d27.3739562!4d-82.5316469!9m1!1b1" target="_blank">GoogleReviews</a></small><br /> <small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-2"><sup>[2]</sup></a> <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/first-step-of-sarasota-sarasota-2" target="_blank">https://www.yelp.com/biz/first-step-of-sarasota-sarasota-2</a></small></p>
— Samantha Harper · 2018-04-10 12:32:32 PDT
Editorials are written by independent human writers under our editorial policy. No AI-generated editorial content.
Verified reviews help others find the right treatment. Your review is verified by email and moderated before publication.
Write a verified review