Addiction recovery residences at center of Post investigation closed by authorities

Antigone Barton, Palm Beach Post

A Riviera Beach-based addiction recovery program was shut down Tuesday after investigations by state, federal and local authorities found it was violating "multiple regulations," Riviera Beach Police announced today.

The program, Pivot Treatment and Wellness Centers was the focus of a Palm Beach Post investigation of addiction treatment oversight in September: "The Florida Shuffle."

The investigation found that lax state oversight under Florida's Department of Children and Families has left addiction treatment clients in the state vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. The investigation followed the path of Joseph Havrilla, a young man who came to Palm Beach County in hopes of recovering from substance use disorder and died here in 2022. His final recovery residence was Pivot.

More: Florida Shuffle: State's failure to oversee addiction treatment leaves patients in deadly danger

Addiction treatment: Pivot sent clients to uncertified recovery residences

Joseph Havrilla with his mother, Stacey Morris, who reported him missing in 2022. His remains were found four months later in front of a Publix in Riviera Beach.
Joseph Havrilla with his mother, Stacey Morris, who reported him missing in 2022. His remains were found four months later in front of a Publix in Riviera Beach.

The housing where Pivot directed its clients to stay were not certified by the Florida Association of Recovery Residences. While DCF does not oversee recovery residences, state regulations require that any residence connected to a licensed treatment program be certified by FARR.

Following The Post's investigation, DCF in February fined Pivot for directing patients to uncertified residences and barred it from treating patients until it corrected all violations.

A statement from Riviera Beach says that no patients are staying at the residences.

State records also show that DCF cited Pivot for false marketing for including a DCF logo suggesting it had been endorsed by the agency. Pivot responded by removing the logo, but still posts a FARR logo on its website.

The U.S. Attorney's Office, the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office and the Riviera Beach Police Department collaborated on the investigation.

“Our investigation is ongoing,” Detective Ted Padich of the State Attorney’s Office Addiction Recovery Task Force. In the meantime the closure of the recovery residences has relieved some concerns for patient safety, he said.

Detective Padich visited the residences Tuesday and said all appear now to be vacant.

This is a breaking story. Check back for more details.

Antigone Barton is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at avbarton@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Addiction treatment housing in Florida Shuffle investigation closed

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