
Fighting the Florida Shuffle
The Inside Story of Corruption in the Drug Treatment Industry and How One Community Found the Solution
by Dave Aronberg; David R. Campbell
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Pub Date Jun 17 2025 | Archive Date Jun 16 2025
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Description
Motivated by greed, Purdue Pharma's explosive marketing of its powerful painkiller, OxyContin, helped create the opioid epidemic that kills over 200 people every day in the United States. Many more battle substance use disorders that impact health, happiness, family relations, and jobs. Federal policymakers have responded with laws that require insurance policies to cover drug treatment and classify addiction as a preexisting condition. But what happens when the rehab industry itself is corrupted, leading to the untimely death of individuals in their care?
Fighting the Florida Shuffle is a gripping account of how unscrupulous players have infiltrated the drug treatment industry, and how well-intended, yet naïve policymakers continue to incentivize relapse over recovery. Former State Attorney Dave Aronberg and MSNBC Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Dave Campbell tell the stories of victims enticed with free plane tickets and other illicit benefits to enter substandard outpatient rehab and live in flophouses masquerading as "sober homes," leaving too often in ambulances and body bags. The authors offer an insiders' perspective from the world of law enforcement and medicine on how corporate malfeasance fueled the rise in opioid overdoses, how families can identify and avoid rehab scams, and how one community fought back to clean up the industry and put the worst offenders behind bars.
Drug treatment has become a thriving enterprise, but the profit motive has lured predators to exploit the vulnerable who seek help. As rogue rehab owners line their pockets through insurance fraud, patient brokering and illegal kickbacks, their victims leave behind grieving families and loved ones, who wonder how the insurance coverage thought to be a lifeline led to increased overdose and premature death.
Advance Praise
"An unflinching view into the dark side of an industry meant to be the hope of those caught in the grip of addiction. Campbell and Aronberg guide the reader through the Florida treatment landscape with valuable insights into the perils and pitfalls along the way. A must-read for those who would safely journey, not shuffle, our families and communities to recovery." – Dr. Jay Kuchera, MD, FASAM
"In the midst of a heroic group of professionals who treat those suffering from an unprecedented opioid epidemic, there exists another group of people who seize on vulnerability, seeing it as an opportunity for selfish financial gain. Fighting the Florida Shuffle tells a compelling tale of corruption, resilience and recovery, demonstrating a way out of this horrible mess and serving as an inspiration and model for others to follow." – Marvin Ventrell, JD. CEO, National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers
“It is imperative to fight corruption in the drug treatment industry to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation that too often turns into human trafficking. Every community needs to heed Palm Beach County's experience in upholding justice and eradicating this evil." – Laura Cusack, Chair, Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9781964686424 |
PRICE | $9.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 236 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ~ 4 stars
(Thank you to NetGalley for the pre-release copy).
Told in 14 chapters, ‘Fighting the Florida Shuffle’ is a harrowing account of the exploitation of so many, sewn together with heart-breaking anecdotes. This book is pertinent in raising awareness for the heinous crimes and corruption of pharmaceutical companies and all of those complicit in the Florida shuffle model, both in Florida and worldwide.
Admittedly, this book felt slightly disjointed, with the focus shifting every chapter or so. Terminology wise, some of the extracts about the pharmaceutical company were hard to follow, but I put this down to the writers maybe not simplifying this enough.
Overall, this book is thought-provoking and a crucial read. It shifts the blame and stigma off of victims and onto the system of crime and exploitation.
To quote one of the final pages, “may Jenna’s murder be solved” and may everyone impacted by the industry finally regain some sense of justice.
- Review published on Goodreads

Really informative and I liked the real life stories added in as well. I think that highlights an ongoing opioid addiction problem and many people can relate to this world wide and not just in Florida.

Book Review: Fighting the Florida Shuffle: The Inside Story of Corruption in the Drug Treatment Industry and How One Community Found the Solution
By Dave Aronberg & David R. Campbell
Note, I am a public health professional and involved with policymaking, so these experiences may influence my review.
Fighting the Florida Shuffle is both a searing exposé and a beacon of hope. Aronberg and Campbell meticulously dissect the predatory underbelly of Florida’s drug treatment industry—where profit-driven “rehab mills” exploit addiction for financial gain—while spotlighting actionable solutions that emerged from grassroots advocacy. This book is essential reading for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and anyone invested in ethical addiction treatment reform.
Thank you to NetGalley and Indigo River Publishing for providing an advance review copy. The authors’ dual perspective as a prosecutor and journalist lends the narrative both legal authority and human urgency, making it stand out in addiction literature.
Key Strengths:
Unflinching Investigation:
The book’s examination of the “Florida Shuffle”—a cycle where patients are shuffled between fraudulent treatment centers for insurance profits—is both shocking and meticulously documented. The authors reveal how these schemes often lead to tragic consequences.
Solutions-Oriented Approach:
The most impactful sections outline concrete solutions, including stricter regulations, ethical treatment models, and practical guidance for identifying legitimate centers. These chapters transform outrage into actionable change.
Human-Centered Narrative:
By amplifying voices of survivors, families, and whistleblowers, the authors turn policy discussion into a moral imperative. Their account of Palm Beach County’s reform efforts demonstrates how local action can inspire national change.
Areas for Further Exploration:
While focused on Florida, comparisons to other states’ struggles with rehab fraud could broaden the book’s impact. Additionally, more discussion of harm reduction strategies could complement the abstinence-based solutions presented.
Personal Reflection:
As someone deeply concerned about ethical healthcare, I found the guidance on selecting treatment centers particularly valuable. The authors’ list of questions for vetting facilities—examining accreditation, avoiding kickback schemes, and prioritizing individualized care—should be essential reading for families navigating this difficult system.
Thoughts about the book:
-A damning exposé that also lights the path to reform—this book reveals rehab industry corruption and how to fight it.
-The Florida Shuffle isn’t just fraud; it’s deadly. Aronberg and Campbell show how communities can take back control.
-Required reading for policymakers: Proof that systemic corruption can be overcome through local action.
-Addiction treatment should heal, not exploit. This book teaches how to spot scams and demand ethical care.
Final Verdict:
A powerful blend of investigative journalism and public service. Fighting the Florida Shuffle doesn’t just diagnose a broken system—it provides the tools to fix it.

Fighting the Florida Shuffle is an essential look into the corruption of the addiction treatment industry. The authors shed light on a system that too often rewards relapse. This is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand how the opioid crisis has been worsened not just by Big Pharma, but by those claiming to offer the cure.
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