New York (NY) Drug and Alcohol Abuse Rehab Center

Substance abuse issues are quite prevalent in New York. Both drug and alcohol abuse and dependence have had devastating consequences for many state residents. Consider that in New York:

• An average of about 1 million people suffer from an alcohol use disorder each year^.1
• In a single year, 87,000 people over 12 years old reported using heroin, making the state’s average percentage higher than the national average.²
• The number of people over 12 who used cocaine in the same year reached 425,000, almost half a million people.¹

Unfortunately, occasional drug use can very quickly lead to addiction, and overdose is a constant risk. In 2015, there were 2,754 drug overdose deaths in New York, an increase of about 400 deaths from 2014.³

With the rates of use and overdose deaths so high in the state, it’s no wonder that various New York cities are taking the initiative to combat the epidemic. The city of New York has invested $38 million a year to reduce the number of deaths from opioid overdoses.⁴ Part of the initiative includes increasing the availability of naloxone—an opioid overdose reversal medication—in pharmacies (including without a prescription) and providing naloxone kits to NYPD officers and homeless shelters.⁴ However, while naloxone may reverse the effects of an overdose, the best way to protect yourself if you’re dependent on and/or addicted to drugs is to get professional treatment.

If it’s your first time getting treatment at a rehab center, you may not know where to start. Rest assured, there are plenty of treatment support specialists that can help you choose a facility and guide you through the entire process.

Call to learn more about the treatment options available to you and to ask any questions you may have about rehab and the process of enrolling in a program.

Depending on your particular circumstance, an addiction treatment advisor may suggest a longer stay at the facility (e.g., 90 days) to give you the best chance of recovery. Don’t let the fear of being away from your normal life deter you from getting treatment. Rehab professionals want what’s best for you and will take your individual situation into account when giving recommendations.

If it’s the cost of drug or alcohol rehab that is delaying you from receiving treatment, know that there are options out there that may help:

• Insurance: Some rehab centers may accept Medicaid, Medicare, or private health insurance.
• Payment plans and sliding-scale fees: Individual facilities may offer options to either reduce the burden of paying or all at once or even reduce the total cost according to your ability to pay.
• Health care credit cards: Some companies provide credit cards specifically to cover health care costs. This may be an option for you if you think you’ll be able to pay off the credit card quickly after treatment.

Crowdfunding: You may be surprised just how many people are willing to help you on the road to sobriety. Setting up a crowdfunding account allows you to ask your friends and family (and even strangers) to support you in getting the care you need.

• Alcoholics Anonymous:
  • Find a meeting in New York.
  • Chat online through the Online Intergroup.
• SMART Recovery: Find an addiction recovery support group that uses the SMART Recovery 4-Point Program.
• Friends of Recovery, New York: A nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting recovery.
• SAMHSA National Helpline: (800) 662-4357.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255.
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Read more about alcohol and how it affects your health.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse: Learn more about the science of drugs and addiction.

If you are the loved one of someone suffering from addiction, some of these resources may help you:

• Al-Anon Family Groups: Learn more about how other people have dealt with drinking problems in their family or friends.
• Nar-Anon: A 12-step program that offers support for loved ones of individuals struggling with addiction.
• Adult Children of Alcoholics: A recovery program for those who grew up with an alcoholic parent.
• Partnership for Drug-Free Kids: A nonprofit that helps families deal with teenage substance abuse.

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2016). 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2017). Behavioral Health Barometer, New York, Volume 4.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016.) Drug Overdose Death Data.
4. NYC Office of the Mayor. (2017). HealingNYC: Preventing Overdoses, Saving Lives.