ARTICLE OVERVIEW: If you’re looking for a rehab facility in Louisiana, you’ll need to prepare a budget. In this article, we look into the real cost of living and staying in Louisiana for both long and short term periods. We invite your questions in the comments section at the end.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Why Travel to Louisiana?
- PROs
- Louisiana State Statistics
- Travel to and from Louisiana
- Average Cost of Living
- Short Term Rentals
- Hotels
- Other Places to Stay
- Visiting a Loved One in Rehab
- Your Questions
Why Travel to Louisiana for Rehab?
When you first make the decision to quit drugs or alcohol, you may not even consider traveling for rehab. Not only is it more expensive, but you’d be leaving a vital support system, your friends and family. However, as this article will review, it can really help to get out of your old stomping grounds and discover more of what this world has to offer.
When it comes down to it: people who travel for rehab tend to have a commitment to recovery. They’re putting their treatment before all else. Sometimes, in order to gain that extra push, all you need is a new environment.
But why might a stay in a Louisiana inpatient rehab help?
Studies have found that an inpatient treatment helps people adjust to life without drugs or alcohol on many different levels. [1] Not only are you placed into a 100% drug-free environment, but you are under 24/7 medical supervision. Reputable addiction treatment will addresses important life problems, including:
- Legal issues
- Medical problems
- Psychological problems
- Social problems
- Vocational problems
It’s important to focus on resolving these problems while maintaining your recovery. With that, it’s in your best interest to get away from responsibilities and other distractions you have back home. Traveling to Louisiana is a great opportunity to do all this and more. The state is filled with a rich culture that differs from many other places within America. This new environment might just be what you need in order to finally break your dependence on drugs and alcohol.
Keep reading to get a sense of the budget you’ll need to plan out your stay in Louisiana. If you’re looking to visit a loved one in a Louisiana rehab, we’ll also discuss accommodations and what you can expect from your visit. By the end of the article, if you still have any concerns, we invite you to call us for help or any questions you may have. Or, our 24/7 hotline operators are always available on our hotline. Feel free to give us a call with your questions.
PROs
Louisiana has a number of perks when considering a short, medium, or long term stay:
- The cost of living is low.
- The rich culture is unique to the location.
- The weather stays warm year round.
Still, no matter where you go in the world, you’re going to find PROs and CONs when it comes to leaving home. When it comes to addiction recovery, there are a number of reasons it’s good travel to another state and enter an inpatient facility. [2]
For one, you’ll find that a change in environment can really change the way you look at recovery. By surrounding yourself with new places and people, you’ll naturally feel less of a desire to go back to your old habits. A new place calls for a break in old habits. As you spend time in Louisiana and within a rehab facility, you’ll find yourself slowly discovering new areas of interest. Whether it be fishing in the bayous or exploring the rich history of New Orleans, new interests can grow.
Of course, it can be very difficult for some people to leave home and get out of their comfort zone. However, this is what makes Louisiana a great place to do so. The weather is nice and the people are friendly. Though the culture is probably different from your home state, you’ll find it be very welcoming and encouraging of your addiction treatment.
With all this, you’ll develop an increased dedication to your rehabilitation. When you make the decision to go somewhere far away, to spend money on the proper treatment you deserve, you inevitably will be committed to your recovery. As studies have found, those with a true dedication to beating recovery inevitably are the ones to remain sober in the long-term. [3]
Louisiana State Statistics
Still not sure whether or not you want to go to rehab in Louisiana?
Feeling alone?
These statistics may convince you to of the logic behind a move.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the NSDUH, provides national statistics in terms of alcohol and drug abuse. [4] In 2016, the NSDUH found that an estimated 10.6 percent of Americans used illicit substances. To look at it from another perspective, that’s 1 in 10 people or 28.6 million total. Of all those people, an estimated 21 million were in need of treatment for addiction.
You are not alone!
In 2009 to 2010, surveys in Louisiana helped uncover drug trends throughout the state. [5] It was found that 7.52 percent of all residents reported using illicit substances. At that time, the national average was around 8.82 percent. Further, from 2015 to 2016, the drug overdose death rate increased by 14.7% in the state. [6]
To respond to the growing need for treatment, the State of Louisiana is taking a number of actions against drug abuse. One of these is opening more treatment facilities and making them more available to people such as yourself. We encourage you to join the addiction recovery movement! Getting off drugs or alcohol can be the best decision you ever make.
Travel to and from Louisiana
So, you’ve decided to go to rehab in Louisiana.
Now what?
There are multiple ways for you to get to and from Louisiana. What you decide entirely depends on your location. For some, a car might be more convenient. But for those living in the northern regions of the country, a plane ticket is usually the most affordable option.
Car: Taking a road trip to Louisiana is an adventure in itself. As you plan for your journey, you may grow curious as to how much it’s going to cost. In order to get an estimated average, you can use this calculator presented by AAA.
Bus: Truth be told, you can take a bus from and to anywhere within the country. Of course, this isn’t ideal if you’re living as far as, let’s say, the Northwest. But if you’re already living somewhere within the South, you may want to check out your bus options. For a schedule, route, and tickets, check out the Greyhound bus schedule.
Train: If you live too far from Louisiana to road trip, but close enough to where you don’t need to fly, a train is another viable option. You can get more information on scheduling, routes, and prices at Amtrak.
Plane: When all is said and done, no matter where you are in the world, you can always take an airplane to Louisiana. Prices for this will vary depending on your location and when you fly. For example, if you need to travel during the holidays, flights will be much more expensive. However, we’ve gathered together the average prices for flights in various parts of the country through a fare compare website. These costs are based on round trip searches made in 2019:
New York, NY – New Orleans, LA: $200
New York, NY – Baton Rouge, LA: $320
New York, NY – Lafayette, LA: $340
Chicago, IL – New Orleans, LA: $220
Chicago, IL – Baton Rouge, LA: $390
Chicago, IL – Lafayette, LA: $310
Los Angeles, CA – New Orleans, LA: $340
Los Angeles, CA – Baton Rouge, LA: $400
Los Angeles, CA – Lafayette, LA: $400
NOTE: Prices are higher for Baton Rouge and Lafayette as less flights come in and out in comparison to New Orleans.
Average Cost of Living
Compared to other places across the country, Louisiana generally has a low cost of living. This is a HUGE reason to consider moving here for addiction treatment. Especially, if you’re on a budget.
Though prices depend on where you stay within the state, we’ve gathered information from New Orleans, the most expensive metropolitan area within Louisiana. If you plan to go to rehab in another city, you can expect prices to go down. The following are average cost of living estimates for monthly residence in New Orleans, Louisiana:
Basic utilities: $145
One-bedroom apartment in the city center: $1,400
One-bedroom apartment outside of the center: $975
Food: Variable cost depending on your eating
Gas: $2.30 per gallon
Car insurance: $2,000 annually
Tax: Income tax is 6.0% and sales tax is 4.45%.
Short Term Rentals
If you’re looking for a short-term stay in Louisiana, you might want to check out a social networking and rental site, like AirBnB or VRBO. Their services offer daily, weekly, and monthly rentals with fair rates. The price you pay is usually cheaper than a hotel, but remains the average price to stay in Louisiana. The following are prices for stays in Louisiana from short term peer-to-peer rental networking websites :
- New Orleans: $2,000 a month or around $66 a day
- Baton Rouge: $1,750 a month or around $58 a day
- Lafayette: $1,750 a month or around $58 a day
Hotels
If you plan on staying in New Orleans, the average prices for a hotel room per weeknight are $150 to $200 depending where in the city you are.
If you plan on staying in Baton Rouge, the average price for a hotel room per weeknight is $90
If you plan on staying in Lafayette, the average price for a hotel room per weeknight is $80.
Other Places to Stay
If you have family or friends living in Louisiana, you might want to seek out of they can offer accommodations. Not only can this save you money, but you can also catch up with those you haven’t seen for a while. It should be noted, addiction is sometimes a family disease. It’s important to only stay with family or friends who support you or your loved one’s recovery.
If you don’t have friends or family and you’re on a real tight budget, you may want to try a hostel. Unfortunately, these aren’t always the nicest accommodations, but they’re certainly cheaper than hotels. A hostel also offers you the opportunity to meet new people who often are traveling from international locations. You can also learn more about local information from hostel staff. Still, keep in mind, hostels aren’t always clean, you’ll probably have to share a bathroom, and have little to no personal space.
Visiting a Loved One in Rehab
If you want to visit a loved one in a Louisiana rehab, your visit can be a warm welcome. As you know, one of the most important forms a support a person going through recovery can have is that of friends and family. Your visit can be just the motivation and inspiration they need to push on.
But what should you expect when you go?
It’s important to keep a few things in mind while you’re visiting someone in rehab. These include:
- Avoid talk of the future and unnecessary drama.
- Connect with the therapeutic team, such as psychotherapist and support staff, first.
- Don’t discuss the cost of treatment.
- Offer plenty of praise. Addiction is difficult and encouragement can make a huge difference.
- Show up on time, your visit to your loved one is vital to them.
Also, while you’re in Louisiana, you’ll want to attend family therapy with your loved one. Often, you’ll hear that addiction is a family disease. This is due to the way it affects everyone in the family, even if only one person is abusing drugs. Through family therapy, you’ll find ways to strengthen your relationships and answer any particular problems caused by substance abuse. [7] Family therapy can be emotional as you go over the hurts of the past. Trust the process and speak with the lead counselor about how you can get ongoing treatment yourself, if needed.
Your Questions
Making the decision to quit drugs or alcohol is just the first step to beating addiction. Now it’s time to find a professional treatment facility to help you overcome dependence and enter the world of recovery. Feel free to contact us via phone or email. We are gladly available to help you with your battle.
The purpose of this article was to answer all your questions/concerns regarding travel to Louisiana for rehab.
Still have more questions?
We invite you to ask them in the comments section below. If we do not know the answer to your particular question, we’ll make sure to refer you to someone who can help. Still, we try to reply to each legitimate comment in a prompt and personal manner.
Reference Sources: [1] NIDA: Principles of Drug Addiction: A Research-Based Guide
[2] NIH: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction
[3] HHS Public Access: Pathways to Long-Term Recovery: A Preliminary Investigation
[4] SAMHSA: 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
[5] Obama White House: Archives: Louisiana Drug Control Update
[6] NSSP: Louisiana Takes Actions Against Drug Abuse by Sharing Syndromic Data
[7] NCBI: Chapter 1 Substance Abuse Treatment and Family Therapy
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