ARTICLE OVERVIEW: In this article, we look into the cost of living and staying in Massachusetts for both long and short term periods. At the end, we invite you to ask more questions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Why Travel for Rehab?
- PROs and CONs
- Massachusetts State Statistics
- Travel to and from Massachusetts
- Average Cost of Living
- Short Term Rentals
- Hotels
- Other Places to Stay
- Visiting a Loved One in Rehab
- Your Questions
Why Travel for Rehab?
People move out of their home state to attend drug rehab for a number of reasons. Many find a new environment very helpful. Living in a new place can take you away from the people, places, and things that remind you of addiction. Or, you might benefit from meeting new kinds of people and discovering more of what this world has to offer.
Whatever your decision is, traveling to Massachusetts for drug and alcohol treatment can be a worthwhile experience. When you travel, you tend to have more of a commitment to your recovery. You’re putting treatment before everything else in your life. A new environment might just be all you need to give you an extra push towards sobriety.
But why might treatment in Massachusetts be good for you?
Sometimes, a stay in an inpatient program out of your state is the best thing for you. In an inpatient rehab, you spend a defined period of time in a 100% drug and alcohol free environment. Plus, you’re under 24/7 medical supervision. In comparison to outpatient programs, people who commit to inpatient treatment benefit from a combination of medical and psychological treatment modalities.
Furthermore, an inpatient program helps address important issues that often arise from addiction, including:
- Legal problems
- Medical problems
- Psychological problems
- Social issues
- Vocational problems
If you’re in an inpatient program, you’ll have the ability to take the time to focus on these issues and, for a short period of time, suspend the responsibilities you might have back home.
Of course, traveling can be expensive. That’s why we’ve looked at the real costs of living: to offer you a sense of the budget you’ll need to plan out your stay in Massachusetts. If you’re looking to visit a loved one in a Massachusetts rehab, we’ll also discuss accommodations and what you can expect from your visit.
PROs and CONs
Whenever you move somewhere new, there’s always PROs and CONs to your travel. So, as you plan out your travel to the Bay State, you’ll want to consider both the PROs and CONs of this move. Massachusetts is unique as it has a rich sense of history, beautiful state parks, and a distinct culture you won’t find in other parts of the country
Of course, experiences will differ from person-to-person. However, there are some common perks and disadvantages everyone might face when traveling to rehab. These include:
PROs
Understandably, you may find it difficult to make the initial move to Massachusetts. You’ll have to leave your comfort zone and adapt to this new environment. Yet, the decision to move has one primary perk:
1. When you move away from the places and people who once encouraged addiction, you’ll find less of a desire to go back to your habit.
As mentioned, a new environment can do a great deal when it comes to recovering from addiction. No longer will you be caught up with your usual stomping grounds, old habits, and familiar faces. A fresh location is a great way to remind yourself of your commitment to beating addiction. And the setting of Massachusetts is unlike any other. Rich with nature, this state offers a wide variety of parks, wildlife, and oceanfront quite different from other states.
2. A fresh location offers you the ability to make a fresh start.
And that’s exactly how you should look at Massachusetts. It’s a fresh start offering you the opportunity to start a new life. Though taking yourself away from friends and family can be difficult, it can also be rewarding. It’s important to remember that your addiction isn’t just something that affects you, it has affected everyone around you. [2] This move can benefit both you and your family.
3. Furthermore, a new cast of people can be a great support system. Considering you’ll have to get to know them just as much as they’ll have to get to know you, there’s a lot to talk about when entering rehab with people you don’t know.
In fact, one of the biggest PROs to moving to Massachusetts is the fact that you will be surrounded by a whole new cast of people. This can be extremely beneficial if you’re concerned about anonymity. By moving to a new state, you won’t have to worry about running into familiar faces. And you might bee more comfortable opening up in group therapy sessions with strangers. [3]
CONs
Of course, moving to a new place isn’t always perfect. One of the biggest downsides is you must be away from loved ones. For some, this can be a real difficulty through recovery process. Families have the ability to play an integral role in the recovery process and offer deep support. [4] Yet, it can be good to separate from them for some time.
1. It’s important to note that most treatment centers won’t allow you to have visitors until week 3 or 4. This is to allow you time to internally process your path to recovery.
You might also find moving to a new place to be uncomfortable. Often, it’s only natural for us to feel out of our comfort zone when visiting new places and meeting new people. However, moving to Massachusetts for drug rehab can be very liberating.
2. By facing your fears of leaving home, you’re becoming a stronger person.
As mentioned, you may also run into complications when it comes to the cost of moving. Though Massachusetts is fairly affordable in comparison with other options around the country, it’s still not cheap. Having to pay for living accommodations, travel, and drug rehab can take a real toll on your wallet. This is why it’s important to lay out the amount of money you’ll need in order to make this trip. Below, we offer some prices to check out as a means of getting a sense of your finances for drug rehab in Massachusetts.
3. Cost of living may be different than your home state.
Finally, you might run into legal complications when trying to move to Massachusetts. If you’re working through the justice system, drug courts, and/or judges, you might have to ask them for authorization to travel. In order to make the best of these situations, you’ll want to consult with an attorney.
4. You may need a legal OK before you travel.
Massachusetts State Statistics
Still not sure whether or not moving to Massachusetts is the right way to go about rehab?
If you feel as though you are alone in your struggle with addiction, you’re not alone!The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the NSDUH, publically offers some shocking facts about the drug and alcohol problem in America. In 2017, it was estimated that 10.6 percent of the nation’s population used illicit drugs in 2016. To put that into perspective, that’s 1 in 10 people, or 28.6 million people. And out of those 28.6 million, around 21 million were in need of substance abuse treatment. [5]
In Massachusetts, many people struggling with addiction have been seeking out treatment. The state government tells us:
- In 2017, there were a total of 98,944 admissions into a substance abuse program. 52.8% of these were for heroin, 32.8% for alcohol, 4.6% for other opioids, 4.1% for crack/cocaine, and 3.5% for marijuana. [6]
- In 2014, the opioid fatal overdose rate in Massachusetts was more than double that of the national average. [7]
- In 2009, 12.12% of residents in Massachusetts reported using an illicit drug. [8]
As you can see, Massachusetts has a addiction problem of its own. And with that, the state government has been working to provide people with affordable and effective drug and alcohol rehab.
Travel to and from Massachusetts
There are four ways most people travel to Massachusetts. If you’re already in New England, you may just want to take a road trip or train ride to the Bay state. If you’re living further, a plane ride is probably your best bet.
When traveling by CAR, you’re going to need to plan out the expenses of your road trip. Luckily, AAA offers a calculator which informs you of the average cost. Going as far as to compare gas prices depending where you are in the country.
If you’re traveling by BUS, you have a number of different services at your disposal. To check for scheduling, routes, and tickets to Massachusetts, you can get more information at the Greyhound bus schedule.
Likewise, there are a number of different TRAIN routes you can use in order to get to Massachusetts. For more information on scheduling, routes, and prices, check out Amtrak.
If you’re looking for a PLANE FLIGHT, the prices vary depending on where you live and seat accommodation you desire. Your price can also change if you’re flying during a high or low season. For example, during the holidays, prices are much more expensive. All of the following costs are based on round trip searches made in 2019:
- New York, NY – Boston, MA: $165
- New York, NY – Worcester, MA: $360
- New York, NY – Springfield, MA: $280
- Chicago, IL – Boston, MA: $170
- Chicago, IL – Worcester, MA: $300
- Chicago, IL – Springfield, MA: $400
- Atlanta, GA – Boston, MA: $170
- Atlanta, GA – Worcester, MA: $360
- Atlanta, GA – Springfield, MA: $260
- Los Angeles, CA – Boston, MA: $400
- Los Angeles, CA – Worcester, MA: $360
- Los Angeles, CA – Springfield, MA: $400
NOTE: Unless you’re going to Boston, flying out of New York, NY to either Worcester or Springfield usually involves flying to random parts of the country (i.e. Fort Lauderdale, Florida or Atlanta, GA) and traveling back up north. Furthermore, it’s much more cost effective to either drive, take a bus, or train from that distance.
Average Cost of Living
If you’re living in Boston, you can expect prices to be higher than those listed below. However, if you’re living in a smaller city and/or suburb, prices in Massachusetts are fair besides housing. When it comes to basic necessities, the following is a comparison to the United States’ National Average:
| COST OF LIVING | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 139 | 100 |
| Grocery | 104.4 | 100 |
| Health | 83 | 100 |
| Housing | 210 | 100 |
| Median Home Cost | $392,600 | $216,200 |
| Utilities | 113 | 100 |
| Transportation | 120 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 109 | 100 |
Short Term Rentals
- Boston: $1,250 per month, about $42 a night
- Worcester: $1,000 per month, about $33 a night
- Springfield: $800 per month, about $27 a night
- Lowell: $1,500 per month, about $50 a night
Hotels
If you plan on staying in Boston, the average price for a hotel room per weeknight is $200
If you plan on staying in Worcester, the average price for a hotel room per weeknight is $90.
If you plan on staying in Springfield, the average price for a hotel room per weeknight is $80.
If you plan on staying in Lowell, the average price for a hotel room per weeknight is $125.
Other Places to Stay
Maybe you have family and friends in Massachusetts? If so, you may want to reach out to them and see if you can stay with them. This can not only be cost effective, but give you the chance to catch up with loved ones you haven’t seen in a while.
Furthermore, you can also consider staying in a hostel. These are much cheaper in comparison to hotels. But it should be noted, you’ll probably have a lack of personal space.
Visiting a Loved One in Rehab
It’s important to visit a loved one in rehab as this visit can be an inspiration to them. But one can you expect from this visit?
There are a few things you want to keep in mind when visiting someone in rehab. These include:
- Connect with the therapeutic team, such as the psychotherapist and support staff.
- Go to a family therapy session or educational session, if possible.
- Keep conversations at small talk. Don’t dive into big discussions, such as family drama or how
- much the treatment is costing.
- Show encouragement for your loved one’s progress.
- Show up on time, your loved one has been waiting for you.
REMEMBER: Recovery is all about living and accepting the moment “as is”. Your loved one is working day-by-day to get better. Discussions of the future can feel like pressure.
Your Questions
By deciding to quit drugs and alcohol, you’ve overcome the first step to beating chemical dependence. Now you need to find professional treatment to help overcome withdrawal and understand the psychology of addiction. 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 Massachusetts 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. 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] Substance Abuse Treatment and Family Therapy: Chapter 2 Impact of Substance Abuse on Families
[3] Dovepress: Benefits of peer support groups in the treatment of addiction
[4] Substance Abuse Treatment and Family Therapy: Chapter 1 Substance Abuse Treatment and Family Therapy
[5] SAMHSA: 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
[6] BSAS: Geographic Fact Sheets
[7] Mass.gov: The Massachusetts Opioid Epidemic
[8] Obama White House: Massachusetts Drug Control Update
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