Are drug rehab centers free?

The expense of drug rehab is often enough to make some addicts shy away from treatment. While free drug rehab can be difficult to find, it’s not non-existent. Read on to find out more information about low cost and free drug rehab.

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Cost of drug rehab

The cost of different drug rehab programs will vary, depending on a number of different factors. Inpatient drug rehab centers, for instance, are typically more expensive than outpatient rehab centers. On the same note, long-term drug rehab programs will cost more than short-term drug rehab programs.

According to one study, the average cost of inpatient drug rehab was estimated to be roughly $715 per day. Outpatient rehab, on the other hand had an estimated average daily cost of $135.

Paying for drug rehab centers

With the high expense of treatment, paying for drug rehab centers can seem nearly impossible for many people. Instead of dismissing drug rehab centers and treatment altogether, however, you must understand that there are several resources that you can use to help pay for treatment.

First, many facilities offer sliding scale fees for drug rehab. This means that you’ll only be required to pay what you can reasonably afford for treatment. Your rehab cost is usually based on factors such as your income, household size, and expenses. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website has a Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator you can use to find sliding scale drug rehab centers.

Health insurance plans can also often be used to cover part of the cost of drug rehab. If you have health insurance, there’s a good chance that you’ll only be required to pay for part of your treatment.

Finally, you may be able to pay out-of-pocket at reduced rates, set up a payment plan, or arrange for personal financing through your bank or personal connections.  Help paying for drug rehab centers is possible when you’re really motivated for change.

Find free drug rehab centers

If you truly can’t afford to pay for treatment, you may be able to find some free drug rehab centers. However, keep in mind that free drug rehab centers are typically the exception, not the rule. Only about 4% of rehab centers in the United States offer free drug rehab. You’ll often need to look long and hard to find free addiction treatment.

  1. Call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-HELP to get started.
  2. Some non-profit groups may offer free drug rehab. To find them, contact non-profit groups in your area, such as the Salvation Army and the United Way. Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is another type of free drug rehab. This is not a rehab center, but a self-help group that meets a couple times each month, usually in free meeting spaces such as churches.
  3. You may also be able to participate in free drug rehab with the help of government assistance programs, such as Medicaid. This program offers financial assistance to help low-income individuals receive medical care, including mental health and substance abuse treatment.
  4. Finally, support groups offer free drug treatment in informal settings. 12 step groups or groups like SMART Recovery and Rational Recovery offer help for all kinds of addictions and can connect you with peers that have been there.  Joining these groups is free and often anonymous.

Free drug rehab questions

While drug rehab centers can be difficult to find, they do exist. You simply need to know where to look. If you have any questions about finding free drug rehab centers, feel free to leave them in the comments section below. We’ll do our best to address your concerns and hopefully point you in the right direction.

Reference Sources: NCBI: The Economic Costs of Substance Abuse Treatment: Updated Estimates and Cost Bands for Program Assessment and Reimbursement
SAMHSA: Free Treatment Available
SAMHSA: Treatment Locator
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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