S.O.L.E.
Stories of Lived Experience
The goal of S.O.L.E. is to reduce stigma in Duval County related to opioid use disorder (OUD)/substance use disorder (SUD) by increasing public empathy, awareness, and connection to recovery resources.
S.O.L.E. creates multimedia outreach tools, including video storytelling, empathy-based exhibits, and community events, that transform lived experiences into catalysts for understanding and change.
Learn more about stigma, find local resources that support recovery and mental health, and download printable materials about S.O.L.E.
For more information about S.O.L.E., check out our program page.
What is stigma?
Stigma refers to negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes people may hold towards those who experience mental health conditions and substance use disorders. —Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
What is SUD?
“A substance use disorder (SUD) is a treatable, chronic disease characterized by a cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms indicating that the individual continues using the substance despite significant substance-related problems.” —Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Local Resources
Learn more about local resources that support recovery and mental health here in Duval County
Charlie Health
Charlie Health provides virtual Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP) for individuals ages 8–64 who need more support than weekly therapy. Their program includes 9 hours of group therapy, 1 hour of individual therapy, and 1 hour of family therapy each week. They can also assist with medication management. Charlie Health accepts most commercial insurance plans and Medicaid.
Program Highlights
- Specialized Maternal Mental Health Program – Designed to support clients experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and/or postpartum depression
Gateway Community Services
Gateway is the only nonprofit medical detox center in Northeast Florida, providing essential treatment for substance use and co-occurring disorders. Their programs include Detoxification, Residential, Outpatient, Medication Assisted Treatment, Recovery Housing, and many other specialized programs. As a nonprofit organization, Gateway provides services to any individual—regardless of their ability to pay.
Program Highlights
- Recovery Residences – Gateway’s Alumni House offers affordable, transitional recovery housing to support clean and sober individuals
- Adolescent Center – Gateway’s Boys and Girls Recovery Centers provide residential treatment to youth ages 13–17. Duval County Public Schools provides classes 5 days a week to ensure the students’ continued education during treatment.
- Mobile Unit – Gateway’s Mobile Bus brings recovery to various stops throughout Jacksonville and the Beaches to provide support, information, and resources to communities in need
Inspire to Rise
Inspire to Rise, Inc. is focused on holistically helping make the community a little better, happier, and healthier place. The ITR RISE Family Team focuses on immediate screening, assessment, diagnosis, intervention or treatment, and service coordination of families affected by Substance Abuse and/or Mental Health issues and involved in varying stages of the child-welfare system.
Program Highlights
- Service Coordination – Assist with resource connection for all aspects of life
- Outpatient Treatment – Utilizes proven approaches with an emphasis on relapse prevention
- Intervention Services – Supportive services that address the challenges of integrating back into the community
- Peer Community Advocacy – Use peers as partners on your walk to recovery success
- Partnership Initiative – Provides additional wraparound supports, educational opportunities, and resources to the individuals and families we serve
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) Program
JFRD’s CORE Program was launched in October 2023 as part of Governor Ron DeSantis’s statewide initiative to combat the opioid crisis. The program was designed to change how we view and treat addiction by disrupting the cycle of dependency, bridging gaps in care, and utilizing paramedics to connect individuals directly to treatment. Our mission is simple: to support individuals with opioid use disorder by removing barriers to care and guiding them on their road to recovery. Through medication-assisted therapy and compassionate, harm-reduction approaches, the JFRD CORE team serves as a liaison to ensure every individual has access to the care, respect, and support they need.
NAMI Jacksonville
NAMI Jacksonville is a local non-profit organization apart of the National Alliance on Mental Illness serving Northeast Florida in Duval, Nassau, Baker, and Clay counties. Founded in 1987, we provide free mental health support groups, educational classes, presentations for youth and adults, and advocacy groups who work to reduce stigma around mental illness and co-occurring substance misuse. All our programs are led by volunteers with lived mental illness experience, either on the family side through a loved one or on the peer side as an individual. Our mission is to support and improve the quality of life for family members and those living with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance misuse through compassion, education, and advocacy.
Program Highlights
- Peer Programs – Non-clinical, confidential mental health support led by peers who share success and challenges to support individuals in their mental health journey through productive discussion
- Family Programs – Non-clinical, confidential support led by family members and caretakers of an individual with a mental health condition who share successes and challenges to support each other and provide a sense of community
- Youth Programs – Non-clinical, confidential support led by young adults through groups, events, and presentations for teenagers as they begin to understand the importance of their mental health
Rebel Recovery Jax
Rebel Recovery Florida is a low-barrier recovery community organization that provides recovery support services, education, and advocacy to people impacted by drug use and those living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS.
Program Highlights
- Peer Support Services for people with a history of/experiencing substance use challenges, community outreach, Narcan distribution and training, community education, and public access Naloxone boxes — see link for map of all public access boxes
Downloadable Materials
Download free, easy‑to‑use materials to help you share and learn about the program. Community partners can support S.O.L.E. by printing and distributing these resources in their neighborhoods.
Partners
Lanier Consulting Services
This program is funded in whole or in part by the City of Jacksonville through an Opioid Settlement Proceeds Grant.
Video stills by Ramatic Productions.
To improve health outcomes by serving as the source for health information, analysis, and planning in Northeast Florida