Resources
We've compiled a list of helpful recovery guides to support those looking to take the first steps towards recovery from addiction.
How To Find Help
Different people will face different challenges when they take the first steps toward addiction recovery. These guides outline some of the unique challenges faced by various groups of people, as well as some resources which may aid in their treatment.
- Asian-American & Pacific Islands – A list of culturally competent mental health support resources.
- College Students – Drug use is common in college students and this is often the age when someone may begin experimenting with drugs. Likewise, certain drugs may be seen as “helpful” during school, and we examine the patterns and use habits of college students while providing resources for treatment and recovery.
- Domestic Violence Survivors – A look at the co-occurrence of addiction and violence in relationships and an examination of the contributing factors. We also provide resources for someone experiencing domestic violence to find help and safety.
- Eating Disorders – Substance abuse and eating disorders are frequently co-occurring and having the right help to deal with both of these issues at the same time is critical if someone wants the best possible chances of recovery.
- LGBTQ – The LGBTQ community appears to be harder hit by certain drugs than others and the health concerns that come with these certain drugs. Here are some specific resources which may help LGBTQ men and women find treatment for addiction and co-occurring health issues.
- Parents – It can be hard to tell if a teen is using drugs; especially if someone has no drug experience themselves. Here we provide insight and information about what may indicate a child is using drugs.
- Pregnant Women – Quitting drugs while pregnant can introduce a whole host of unique risks for both the mother and child. There are some unique risks associated with certain drugs, along with specific steps a woman may take to minimize the potential dangers.
- Teens – Young people are not exempt from the struggle of addiction, and identifying the problem and finding help can be difficult. We have some resources which may help teens identify if they have a problem and some recommendations and resources on what to do from there.
- Seniors – Senior citizens may be especially susceptible to the dangers of drug withdrawal, as the process is extremely hard on both the mind and body.
- Veterans – Veterans have a higher rate of addiction than the general population and often struggle with conditions specific to the stresses involved in military service. The added stress of combat-induced mental health issues can make recovery more challenging, but luckily there are resources and help available.
Additional Reading:
- The Cost of Drug Addiction – While drug detox may seem expensive, it is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of continued addiction, including financial, physical, and social costs. Take a look at our comprehensive guide to get a better idea of the true cost of addiction.
Recovery resources for finding and paying for treatment
Emergencies and medical safety
If you’re having a medical emergency, call 911. Don’t wait for a treatment program to call you back.
Ask a licensed medical professional whether it’s safe for the person to stop drinking or using drugs without medical support. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) makes a related point in its 10 questions for alcohol treatment programs: only a medical doctor can fully assess a person’s physical health and any medical conditions. Detox Local’s Do I Need Detox? page is background reading, but it won’t replace an assessment.
Looking for a provider
To build a list of programs to call, start with Detox Local’s directory of detox centers or its page on free detox centers. Check each listing with the program directly. NIAAA cautions that online directories can be out of date and incomplete.
Questions for the first call, drawn from NIAAA’s list:
- Are you accepting new patients, and if you are, how soon could treatment begin?
- Does the program hold a state license, and who accredits it, if anyone?
- Does a professional clinician do a full assessment first?
- If you can’t meet a need onsite, will you refer the person to other qualified providers and help coordinate a full treatment plan?
After each call, NIAAA suggests writing down the answers you got and your overall impression. Those notes may help when you compare programs later. For more on choosing a program, see Detox Local’s 6 suggestions for finding the right addiction treatment.
Comparing treatment costs
NIAAA’s guide to costs and insurance lists what a provider should be able to help you understand:
- the cost of a typical course of treatment, and how long it might last
- which insurance plans it takes
- what insurance usually covers and what gets billed separately
- whether there’s a payment plan
Doctors and therapists usually bill per hour or visit, while programs may bill by the day, week or month, so put the numbers on the same basis before you compare them.
If you’re paying without insurance, CMS says a provider usually has to give you a good faith estimate of expected charges when you ask for one or schedule at least 3 business days ahead. Here’s the timing from the CMS good faith estimate guide:
| If you schedule care | Estimate deadline |
|---|---|
| 0 to 2 business days in advance | You’re not entitled to an estimate |
| 3 to 9 business days in advance | 1 business day |
| 10 or more business days in advance | 3 business days |
| Before scheduling, if you ask | 3 business days |
An estimate lists expected charges for one provider or facility only. It might not include services scheduled separately or provided by another provider or facility. Keep your copy, because CMS says you can’t dispute a bill without one. For questions about the No Surprises Act, call the No Surprises Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059. It offers help in English, Spanish and over 350 other languages.
Checking insurance coverage
Call the number on the insurance card or read the plan’s schedule of benefits. NIAAA notes that insurers may call coverage for alcohol or drug treatment “behavioral health” coverage. Ask about:
- how many inpatient days and outpatient sessions are covered
- which medications are covered, if any
- the copay for each kind of visit or stay
- whether you have to use in-network providers, and which programs near you are in the network
- whether the plan needs to authorize treatment before it starts
HealthCare.gov says insurance companies and job-based plans must provide a short, plain-language Summary of Benefits and Coverage and a Uniform Glossary of coverage terms. You can ask your insurance company or group health plan for a copy any time. You may also be able to get both in a language other than English on request. Marketplace plans also have parity protections. HealthCare.gov explains that, in general, a plan’s limits on substance use treatment can’t be more restrictive than its limits on medical and surgical care. Parity applies to financial limits such as deductibles and copays, to caps on how many days or visits are covered, and to requirements to get authorization before treatment.
For people with limited financial resources, NIAAA suggests checking Medicaid eligibility and says Medicaid will cover some form of addiction treatment in most states. It also points to local or state health departments and to programs with a sliding fee. A single assessment session with a health professional may cost up to a few hundred dollars. For related reading, see Detox Local’s page Does Insurance Cover Substance Abuse Detox?
Arranging a ride to treatment
Medicaid programs in some states offer free rides to covered appointments, including substance use treatment, through non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Colorado each handle booking a little differently:
| Program | Covered trips include | Book ahead | Who to contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC Medicaid NEMT | Mental health and substance use treatment appointments | At least 2 days (4 for NC Medicaid Direct); urgent pickups like leaving the hospital don’t need notice | The NEMT line for the health plan on your ID card (NC Medicaid Direct or EBCI Tribal Option: your local Department of Social Services) |
| Pennsylvania Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) | Any Medicaid-paid health care service, including appointments with drug and alcohol treatment providers | Not listed on the state MATP page, so ask how much notice is needed when you call | Your county MATP office, with your ACCESS card number ready |
| Health First Colorado NEMT | Substance use disorder visits and hospital discharges | At least 2 business days | The scheduling contact on Health First Colorado’s NEMT page |
Worth asking your plan or county office:
- Can a caregiver or support person come with me? In North Carolina a caregiver can ride along. Colorado may allow a support person when it’s medically necessary.
- Will other passengers be on the ride, and will I be picked up at the curb or the door? In Pennsylvania you’ll usually ride with other passengers and get picked up at the curb. If a disability or limitation keeps you from getting to the curb, MATP is required to provide door-to-door service when the need is medically verified.
- Should I tell you now if I need a wheelchair or walker, an escort, or a ride by myself? Pennsylvania asks you to tell the MATP office about these accommodations.
- If a friend or relative drives me, can I get money back for the trip? North Carolina’s rules vary by health plan. In Colorado, mileage reimbursement needs prior approval.
Getting ready for an intake callback
The intake person may ask about payment first, and NIAAA says not to be surprised or offended by that. It helps to have these on one sheet before the phone rings:
- the full name and date of birth of the person seeking care
- photos of every insurance card, front and back, or a note that you plan to self-pay
- a written list of the medications the person takes now
- a phone number someone will answer, and the hours they can talk
- if a ride has to be booked, the pickup address plus the program’s name, address and phone number
- notes from earlier calls: who had openings, what each program quoted, what the insurer said
Admission steps differ by program. As one example, Rochester Regional Health’s website describes an inpatient detoxification service at Gouverneur and Massena hospitals in Northern New York that starts with a phone screening. If the service can’t schedule admission right away, the person may go on a waiting list and is asked to call at least once a day to set a date and time. On admission day the service asks for valid, current insurance coverage with all the matching insurance cards, plus any medications being taken, and it says arrangements can be made for self-pay. Check-in and assessment take about an hour there.
Using the population-specific guides
The guides for specific groups on this hub are background reading. They may give you more questions for your call list. They aren’t a substitute for an assessment or a provider’s care, and they can’t say whether a program has openings or accepts your insurance. If the person needing treatment is a veteran or has veterans’ health benefits, NIAAA points to the VA Substance Use Disorder Program Locator for finding VA services nearby. Detox Local also publishes the Veteran Addiction Withdrawal and Detox Guide.
Frequently asked questions
Will Medicaid pay for a ride to addiction treatment?
In some states, yes. North Carolina’s NEMT program and Pennsylvania’s MATP both list substance use or drug and alcohol treatment as covered trips, and Health First Colorado includes substance use disorder visits. In Pennsylvania you can get rides while you’re completing the MATP application, but the county office has to receive your signed application within 30 days of eligibility verification. For the rules where you live, contact your state Medicaid program or your health plan.
How is a licensed treatment program different from an accredited one?
NIAAA says every treatment program is required to have a license from the state where it operates. States vary in how rigorous their licensing requirements are. An accredited program has gone through a rigorous review by an independent review board. According to NIAAA, this signals that the program meets widely accepted standards of clinical quality. About half of all U.S. treatment programs are accredited. The two most common types of accreditation for addiction treatment programs are issued by The Joint Commission and by CARF.
Does a Marketplace health plan cover substance use disorder treatment?
Yes. HealthCare.gov says all Marketplace plans cover substance use disorder treatment as an essential health benefit. Your specific benefits will depend on your state and the plan you pick. Marketplace plans can’t deny you coverage or charge you more just because you have a pre-existing condition, and that includes substance use disorders. Yearly and lifetime dollar limits on essential health benefits aren’t allowed either.
What should I do if I never got a good faith estimate or lost mine?
Ask the provider for an estimate, or for a new copy if you lost yours. If you didn’t get one and think you should have, CMS says you can submit a complaint. You’re still responsible for paying the bill, but the complaint helps make sure patients get estimates in the future.
Harm Reduction Resources
Even if someone is not ready to quit using, there are steps they can take to reduce the risks of continued drug use. This includes safer use habits, especially for IV drug users, and some precautions that may be taken to prevent overdose and deaths. Additionally, STDs and diseases are rampant in communities of those who use drugs, and there may be ways to minimize these risks as well.
Needle Exchanges
IV drug use is extremely dangerous, not only due to the fact that someone can inject a lethal amount of drugs in a second but also due to the risks presented by using dirty needles and needle sharing. Diseases can flourish in communities of drug users, and even if someone isn’t ready to quit, this doesn’t mean that they should expose themselves or others to potentially fatal diseases.
Needle exchanges are programs which will safely dispose of used needles and trade them out for clean ones. This not only reduces the risk of disease from people sharing needles but also the risk of infection due to old needles which are commonly reused for weeks by a single user.