Find the Best Drug & Alcohol Rehab Facilities in Alabama

Across the country, many states have recorded increases in drug overdose deaths from opioids such as oxycodone, heroin, and fentanyl. Alabama has seen a similar rise, which may be related to the rate of opioid prescriptions in the state. Not only can people overdose on prescription opioids, but they may also switch to heroin when they can no longer afford opioid medications.

Alabama has the highest level of prescription opioid use in the country. Doctors wrote 5.8 million prescriptions for opioids in 2015, which is equal to about 1.2 prescriptions per person (significantly higher than the national average, which is 0.71).¹

More than 730 people died from drug overdose in Alabama in 2015 alone.² In Madison County, a June 2017 statement from AL State Rep. Daniels stated there had been 306 overdoses already that year (almost 2 per day) and approximately 37 overdose deaths in the same period.¹ Jefferson County had 248 drug overdose deaths in 2016, which was a 12% increase from 2015. Heroin, fentanyl, or a combination of both were involved in 205 of those deaths.³

Alabama also has a high rate of heavy alcohol use, and few people get help for their drinking. From 2010-2014, Alabama’s annual average of past-month heavy alcohol use among adults 21 or older was above the national average (7.5% vs. 6.7%). During the same time period, only 5.3% of those aged 12 or older with alcohol dependence or abuse received treatment.⁴

Likewise, only 9.6% of those aged 12 or older who needed treatment for illicit drug dependence or abuse during 2010-2014 received it.⁴

The two main types of addiction treatment in Alabama are inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation.

• Inpatient programs require you to stay full-time at the center, where you receive 24-hour supervision.
• Outpatient programs only require you to visit the center on certain days of the week for individual or group therapy. This option lets you live at home but may not provide the safe and sober environment you need in the beginning of your recovery.

If you don’t have insurance, don’t dismiss the possibility of getting help; there are other ways to manage the cost of treatment. Many programs will work out a payment plan with you or adjust the cost of the program based on your ability to pay.

You can also see if you are eligible for public insurance programs such as Medicaid or Medicare. Many treatment programs accept these as forms of payment.

Another option is to use savings or health care credit cards or even utilize a crowdfunding site to raise money. You may be surprised how many people are willing to help you get the care you need.

Twelve-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous host free-to-attend meetings across the state. However, these programs do not offer medical care or detox services.

• Substance Abuse Services Provider Directory: The Alabama Department of Mental Health offers a list of drug and alcohol abuse treatment providers.
• Alcoholics Anonymous meetings: Find a local AA meeting.
• NA Birmingham meeting list. Find meetings in the Greater Birmingham area.
• Alabama 2-1-1: Call for help with food, clothing, shelter, health insurance, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and more.
• AIDS Alabama: This organization provides services to people who have HIV/AIDS in the state, including substance abuse programs.
• Buprenorphine treatment provider locator: Find doctors in the state who can prescribe buprenorphine, a drug that can help in the treatment of addiction to opioid drugs such as heroin and oxycodone.
• Alabama Medicaid: Get information about this federal-state insurance program that may cover treatment for drug abuse or mental health issues.
• Suicide prevention: The Alabama Department of Public Health has information on suicide in Alabama and how to get help.
• NAMI Alabama: The National Alliance on Mental Illness has resources, support, and treatment information for people who suffer from mental illness in the state.

Health Insurance Providers

• UnitedHealthcare
• Cigna
• Kaiser Permanente
• Humana
• Ambetter
• Aetna

1. Daniels, A. (2017). Opioid crisis a threat to all Alabamians. AL.com.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Drug Overdose Death Data.
3. Robinson, C. ‘A plague on society’: Fentanyl deaths in Jefferson County more than doubled in 2016. AL.com
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). Behavioral Health Barometer: Alabama, 2015.