Who we are
and what we do.

Southwest Florida Addiction Services (SWFAS) has been rebuilding lives and families since 1980. SWFAS prides itself in being Southwest Florida's leader in substance abuse treatment and is the oldest and largest provider in Southwest Florida. More than 63,000 residents from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties have turned to SWFAS for help with addiction.

Our goal is to meet the needs of substance abusers, their families, employers and the community by delivering treatment services, at all levels, for adults and adolescents. SWFAS offers services from several locations.


Our Mission

Southwest Florida Addiction Services, Inc. (SWFAS) provides effective, affordable and comprehensive care to individuals and families impacted by addiction and other problem behaviors.


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Our Goal

• To help youngsters with substance abuse problems to remain in school.
• To help women with substance abuse problems give birth to healthy drug and alcohol-free babies.
• To help wage-earners with substance abuse problems to keep their jobs.
• To educate about the dangers of substance abuse and aid in prevention.
• To help families stay together.
• To reduce crime and delinquency caused by substance abuse.
• To provide affordable treatment to those who most need help.

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Our Philosophy

SWFAS believes that substance abuse impacts the entire family-- not just those with addictions. We work with our patients and their families to help everyone recover from the damage caused by addictive behaviors. This means we help our patients abstain from using alcohol and drugs while working with them to adopt new healthier behaviors. Our patients experience increased self-esteem, improved general health, nutrition and fitness. Just as importantly, family members participate in the recovery, learning to assist their loved ones in treatment while overcoming their own emotional issues related to substance abuse. Continuing care, vocational and educational opportunities and ongoing support may also be part of the treatment plan.

We believe that patients are best served through a virtually seamless system of care where they can enter or exit at any point that best meets their needs. SWFAS uses assessment tools to determine appropriate placement, providing the least restrictive level of care to offer the best opportunity for recovery possible.

SWFAS offers services ranging from outpatient treatment and day treatment to a more intensive residential program with continuing care in a transitional facility. Patients also are offered education, group, individual and family therapy, as well as life skills classes, based upon each person's needs and abilities.

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Our Cost

Southwest Florida Addiction Services is not a free service, although no one is denied treatment because of inability to pay. Out of pocket costs may be adjusted, according to each family's income. Private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare are accepted along with MasterCard and Visa.

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Our History

SWFAS was incorporated as Southwest Florida Alcoholism Services in 1979 and began offering Detoxification and Outpatient Treatment for adults in February, 1980. In 1985, the agency name was changed to Southwest Florida Addiction Services to reflect that many of the individuals seeking services were using other substances, not just alcohol. Over the years, SWFAS has added facilities and programs to respond to growing and changing community needs.

Court-involved and outpatient treatment services for adults grew dramatically, as the relationship between substance abuse and criminal behavior became more obvious. SWFAS contracted with the Lee County School Board in 1986 to add a counselor in area high schools. This was the first programming aimed at meeting the needs of adolescents. Treatment services for adults continued to expand in the mid 80's to include residential and day treatment services for adults.

In 1990, the newly formed "Coalition for a Drug Free Lee County" identified the number one need in Lee County as accessible residential treatment for adolescent substance abusers and their families. SWFAS' Board of Directors responded to this need, and in 1991 constructed and opened the Vince Smith Center, a 20-bed residential treatment center for adolescents. This program is the only one of its type in Southwest Florida.

In October, 1994, SWFAS was deeded a facility in Cape Coral by a former drug treatment program, allowing SWFAS to make services more accessible in the Cape Coral area.

Prevention services evolved over time, to become a major portion of the SWFAS mission and focus. This is one of our fastest growing programs, with services offered in many local schools.

The Employee Assistance Program, serving more than 60 area employers, moved into its current location, in the Landmark Building on Evans Avenue in Fort Myers in 1996. This space was generously donated to SWFAS by a local physician.

Outpatient services continue their evolution, with SWFAS providing treatment services in adult, criminal, family, and juvenile drug courts. This is in addition to the variety of other outpatient treatment services already offered.

With the assistance of several federal HUD grants, SWFAS purchased property in central Fort Myers that has become the Transitional Living Center (TLC). The TLC is now a campus of halfway houses for adults and permanent supportive housing for adults and families with substance abuse disorders.

Whether it is combining treatment with court supervision, providing supportive and affordable housing to people in recovery, or seeking to improve existing programming, SWFAS Board and staff are striving to meet community needs related to addictive disorders.

To further demonstrate its professional capacity, SWFAS received its first three-year CARF accreditation in 2001, and has received two subsequent three-year reaccreditations since then with the most recent being awarded in May, 2007.

Today, SWFAS is recognized as a community leader and as a partner in many nationally-acclaimed programs with 150 employees, an $8 million operating budget, and five locations throughout Southwest Florida. More importantly, more than 70,000 area residents have started on the road to recovery because SWFAS is here.

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