New Season Treatment Center Celebrates 40 Years Of Compassion, Care and Recovery

In 2026, New Season Treatment Center marks a profound milestone: 40 years of service to individuals, families, and communities impacted by opioid use disorder and substance use disorders. Four decades is more than a measure of time; it is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and an unwavering belief that recovery is possible. As CEO Jim Shaheen said he often reflects, when you look beyond milestones and metrics, New Season is ultimately a living story written every day by people who refuse to give up on recovery.

What began in 1986 as a single treatment facility in Central Florida has grown into one of the nation’s most established and trusted providers of medication-assisted treatment and comprehensive recovery services. Today, New Season operates 91 treatment centers across 20 states, supported by a dedicated workforce of healthcare professionals who share a common purpose: restoring lives through compassionate, evidence-based care.

This anniversary is not only a celebration of organizational growth, but a recognition of hundreds of thousands of individual recovery journeys—each one a reminder that healthcare, at its best, changes lives.

The First Chapters: A Vision Takes Shape (1986–1996)

The New Season story began in 1986 when Dr. Randall Greene founded what was then known as Central Florida Treatment Centers, later called the Orlando Methadone Treatment Center. At a time when opioid addiction treatment carried stigma and limited public understanding, those early caregivers took a courageous step forward. They believed that specialized, structured, and compassionate care could alter the trajectory of a person’s life; and they were right.

Between 1987 and 1996, additional centers opened across Florida and neighboring states, extending access to opioid addiction treatment in communities that urgently needed it. These formative years established the principles that still guide New Season today: clinical integrity, patient dignity, and a commitment to meeting people where they are. Shaheen has shared that from the very beginning, the focus was never simply on opening doors, but on creating places where dignity, trust, and hope could take root.

Growth with Purpose: Expanding Access and Accountability (1997–2010)

In 1997, the organization entered a new phase when it was acquired by an investor group that later evolved into Colonial Management Group, LP. This transition allowed for expanded resources while preserving the mission-driven focus of care. Importantly, governance, compliance, and clinical oversight became increasingly formalized, reinforcing a culture of accountability and ethical practice.

The appointment of the first Compliance Officer in 2005 and the creation of a Compliance Oversight Team reflected New Season’s proactive approach to regulatory excellence. As the organization continued to grow into new states and regions, it did so with a clear understanding: sustainable expansion must always be matched by quality, consistency, and trust.

Advancing Care: Innovation, Training, and Specialized Programs (2011–2016)

As the addiction landscape evolved, so did New Season. Shaheen notes that healthcare progress is rarely loud or dramatic, and that real advancement is often built quietly in exam rooms, counseling sessions, and moments of trust between a patient and a caregiver. In 2013, buprenorphine was introduced as a supplementary medication option, expanding treatment pathways for patients with prescription opioid dependence. This marked an important step in individualized, patient-centered care.

In 2014, a dedicated Training Department was established, ensuring that every team member—from clinical to operational—was equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to deliver high-quality care. One year later, New Season launched its first Special Care Program to address the rising complexity of polysubstance use, including benzodiazepine dependence.

The year 2016 represented one of the most significant periods of expansion in the organization’s history, with new centers opening across Florida, Maine, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, bringing treatment closer to patients who might otherwise go without it.

A New Identity for a New Era (2017–2019)

In 2017, the organization officially rebranded as New Season Treatment Center, a name chosen to reflect the personal transformation and renewal experienced throughout the recovery journey. This rebrand symbolized more than a new look; it represented a reaffirmation of purpose and a forward-looking vision.

During this time, New Season continued expanding geographically while also investing in access-enhancing solutions. In 2018, the Telecounseling Department was created, allowing patients to receive counseling services remotely, reducing barriers related to transportation, work schedules, and geography.

Meeting the Moment: Resilience Through Crisis and Change (2020–2022)

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the essential role of addiction treatment services. New Season responded by maintaining continuity of care while expanding access where the need was greatest. New centers opened across multiple states, and operational flexibility ensured patients could continue treatment safely and consistently.

In 2020, New Season Laboratories was launched, strengthening clinical capabilities through advanced laboratory science and supporting more informed, timely care decisions. These efforts reinforced New Season’s role not only as a treatment provider, but as a healthcare partner invested in long-term community wellness.

As of January 1, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved Opioid Treatment Program services as a covered Medicare benefit under the SUPPORT Act. This change allowed Medicare beneficiaries to receive bundled OTP services, including counseling, therapy, toxicology testing, and medications for opioid use disorder, through both traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. For New Season, this transition from a strictly self-pay model to third-party reimbursement significantly expanded the organization’s ability to increase access to care for older adults and individuals with disabilities who previously faced financial barriers to treatment. These efforts reinforced New Season’s role not only as a treatment provider, but as a healthcare partner invested in long-term community wellness.

Expanding the Continuum of Care (2023–2024)

Recent years have brought further innovation. In 2023, New Season launched its first Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in West Palm Beach, providing a higher level of structured counseling and education for patients requiring additional support. Telecounseling services expanded to include telemedicine and tele-inductions, significantly improving accessibility.

That same year, a second Special Care Program was implemented to address the ongoing fentanyl crisis, demonstrating New Season’s ability to adapt quickly to emerging public health threats.

In 2024, New Season introduced its first mobile medication unit in Portland, Oregon, bringing treatment directly to underserved and rural communities. This milestone reflected a continued commitment to meeting patients where they are, both geographically and clinically.

The Heart of the Story: People

While milestones, programs, and facilities matter, the true legacy of New Season lies in people. Shaheen frequently emphasizes that compassionate, evidence-based care does more than treat illness; it restores families, dignity, and hope.

It lives in the clinicians who show up every morning with compassion and resolve. In the counselors who listen without judgment. In the nurses, physicians, administrators, and support teams who understand that recovery is built through consistency, trust, and human connection.

It also lives in the patients and families who placed their trust in New Season during moments of vulnerability, and in the lives rebuilt as a result. Parents reunited with children. Professionals returning to meaningful work. Individuals rediscovering stability, purpose, and hope.

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter

As New Season celebrates 40 years, the organization is not slowing down. Shaheen believes the organization is entering its most impactful era yet, driven by innovation, expanded access to care, and a deeper commitment to the communities New Season serves. In fact, this milestone marks the beginning of what may be its most impactful era yet.

With continued focus on innovation, expanded access to care, workforce development, and community partnerships, New Season remains committed to addressing the evolving needs of those affected by substance use disorders. The vision for the future is clear: broader reach, deeper impact, and unwavering dedication to evidence-based, compassionate treatment.

Every chapter written over the past four decades has led to this moment — and there is still so much more to come.

A Shared Legacy

New Season’s 40th Anniversary is a celebration shared with our medical providers and staff, patients, families, and communities nationwide. It is a recognition of what can be achieved when healthcare is guided by empathy, integrity, and belief in human potential.

The story continues—one patient, one family, one community at a time.

Happy 40th Anniversary, New Season Treatment Center.

Forty years strong. The future of recovery is still being written.