When considering professional treatment for a drug or alcohol problem, one of the first questions you are likely to have is “How much does it cost?” In fact, cost is one of the main reasons people delay drug and alcohol treatment.
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the National Drug Abuse and Mental Health Agency (SAMHSA) helpline at 1-800-662-4357 Information about support and treatment facilities in your area.
Additional mental health resources can be found in our National Helpline Database.
The problem with trying to figure out an answer to the cost of rehabilitation is that there are so many variables involved, including the type of treatment you need and the length of time you need to go through the treatment program. In addition, the price that addiction treatment programs charge for the exact same services can vary widely from facility to facility, depending on the facility’s location and the “extras” the program may provide for basic services.
Although the “average” monthly treatment cost is estimated to be around $ 3,800, that average includes programs offered by the Veterans Administration and other federal and state agencies that cost little or nothing to consumers. It also includes inpatient and outpatient programs, the costs of which can vary widely.
Even private rehabilitation programs for private households can vary greatly in price. They can cost as little as $ 7,500 per month in the lower end of the range, from $ 10,000 to $ 20,000 for a higher quality program, to $ 80,000 to $ 120,000 per month for luxury rehab programs designed for executives, celebrities, Professional athletes and other high profile individuals are designed to be patients.
Factors Affecting Rehabilitation Costs
The main factors that affect the cost of professional drug and alcohol treatment are:
- The type of treatment required
- The length of the treatment program
- The amenities of the facility
- The location of the facility
Type of treatment program
Treatment programs can be outpatient or inpatient. Of course, inpatient or inpatient programs will cost more because you eat, sleep, and live in the rehab facility. You’re there 24 hours a day, which requires the staff to be on duty 24/7 as long as you’re under treatment.
Residential programs must also have medical coverage, which means the facility must have a doctor and / or nurse on duty or on call at all times.
Outpatient programs, on the other hand, are usually only open during business hours. Depending on the type of services the program provides, you may need to be in the facility a few hours a day or even a few hours a week, which means the cost is much cheaper.
Another financial benefit of outpatient programs is that you can continue to work and earn wages while receiving treatment, compared to a residential program that requires you to take vacation / sick days or a leave of absence from work to participate.
Duration of treatment required
The first time you start alcohol or drug treatment, you will go through an assessment. A counselor will then make a recommendation on how long you should stay in treatment to have the best chance of meeting your goals.
Unless you are admitted to the rehab, you are the person who makes the final decision on how long you stay in a treatment program. The evaluator may recommend that you commit to a 90 day residential program, but you are the one who decides how long you need to stay in the program.
You may just need a brief detox program followed by a brief period of time during which your withdrawal symptoms are monitored and treated if necessary. A detox program can last anywhere from three to five days, or up to a week to ten days, maybe two weeks at most.
However, depending on your assessment, the counselor may recommend continuing treatment for 28 days, 90 days, or even longer. In the case of heroin addiction, you can be enrolled on a methadone or suboxone treatment program that lasts for a year and sometimes longer.
Of course, the longer you are in the program, the higher the likelihood that your treatment will cost you. A short two-week detox program in a rehab facility costs less than 28 days.
Equipment of the facility
Professional alcohol and drug treatment is a consumer good. If you can afford it, you can get the treatment you need along with many other personal services you could want in a luxurious setting with all the amenities you would expect from a world class resort or spa.
There are luxury treatment centers that cater to their clients with everything from meals prepared by gourmet chefs to personal trainers and private nurses. They can offer hair and nail technicians, massage therapists, and personal assistants. Some facilities offer private exercise rooms, hot tubs and saunas, and limo service to and from the facility.
Some luxury centers allow their upscale customers to bring their children with them and provide services and recreational activities for these children in luxurious surroundings. There are facilities where customers can take their pets to rehab and offer a full range of pet services, including grooming, massages, and even pet therapy.
In short, the more amenities the facility offers, the higher the price.
Facility location
Facility location is another factor in the final cost of finding treatment. Obviously, services provided at a facility overlooking the ocean or water, or at a center on a remote mountaintop, cost more than one in the city center.
Luxury facilities built specifically as a treatment center are likely to cost more than one located in a former residential or office building.
If you can afford it, you can choose the setting to have alcohol and drug treatments in, whether on a cliff overlooking the Pacific or in a desolate government building in the city.
Luxury treatment programs
Going for drug or alcohol rehab doesn’t mean you have to forego the luxurious surroundings and amenities that you are used to. If money is not an issue, find a facility that can provide all of the services you want. However, you can expect to pay an average of $ 20,000 to $ 80,000 per month for your treatment program, depending on how many additional services you need, up to $ 120,000 per month.
Typical treatment programs
The vast majority of inpatient drug and alcohol treatment programs in the United States offer very few, if any, luxury amenities. They mainly provide the basics: a room with a bed, bathroom, TV, and space for your personal items. Some facilities can save you money if you don’t mind sharing a room.
If you don’t need luxury amenities and are looking for a facility that offers quality drug and alcohol treatment services, you can find many of them with average costs between $ 10,000 and $ 20,000 per month.
Inexpensive treatment programs
If you have health insurance, you can find affordable treatment options by finding facilities that accept private insurance. Your insurance plan may not cover all of your alcohol and drug treatment costs, but most of them today pay for detox services, treatment for withdrawal symptoms, and counseling for substance abuse problems.
Most insurance plans no longer pay for inpatient treatment, so most patients who rely on private insurance for their treatment choose outpatient programs instead. The “average” cost of an outpatient program is about $ 1,400, but some outpatient programs can cost $ 10,000 per month.
If you find that you need inpatient treatment and your insurance company is not paying for it, many facilities will work with you to set up a payment plan for their inpatient services so that you can pay monthly while you receive benefits.
Free treatment programs
If you are uninsured and have limited financial resources, you will still have alcohol and drug treatment options. Many state and local health or social welfare departments offer low-cost or free alcohol and drug treatment programs based on your income and solvency. Since they are free, there may be a waiting list to join the programs, but they are available in most areas.
Some treatment services, such as detox and withdrawal treatments, are free for those who qualify for Medicaid or Medicare.
There are also free drug and alcohol treatment programs offered by nonprofits or charities and religious groups. These organizations can offer anything from detox services to individual and group counseling to sober homes and group participation support.
And of course there is Alcoholics Anonymous, a completely free support group where millions have learned how to live sober lives since it was founded in 1935.
If you are serious about quitting drugs or alcohol, help is available regardless of your financial situation.
