Get Help With Alcohol Addiction
- Find meetings near you
- Discover online or in person meetings
- Get 24 hour information on addiction
If you are searching for the best alcohol rehab in Tennessee, there are many factors to consider. Tennessee offers state-funded centers, private rehabs, and inpatient and outpatient care options. Tennessee alcohol rehabs provide different amenities and specialized care, so learning more about your own recovery needs will be helpful in your decision-making process. You can find alcohol rehabs all over the state, in Memphis, Nashville, and beyond.
Tennessee Alcohol Use Statistics
Research shows that alcohol use in Tennessee is higher than the national average.
In 2020, a survey found that 21% of Tennessee adults reported binge drinking at least once in the last 30 days, compared to the national average of 16.9%.1 According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks in one sitting for men and four or more drinks for women.2
Binge drinking does not mean that you have an alcohol use disorder (AUD), but engaging in heavy drinking can lead to developing an AUD. The same survey found that 8% of Tennessee residents had an AUD in 2020.1
How Much Does Alcohol Rehab in Tennessee Cost?
The cost of rehab varies greatly from zero dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on several factors. Some rehabs offer free treatment because they receive funds from private donors or the government. Other facilities offer resort-like amenities and come with a significant price tag.
Other factors that may determine your treatment costs are:3
- The type of insurance policy you have
- The location of the Tennessee rehab center (some remote locations may cost more)
- How long you stay at the rehab facility
- The type of care you receive (such as inpatient vs. outpatient)
- Whether it is a state-funded or private rehab facility
- The types of amenities the facility offers (such as gourmet foods and private rooms)
Typically, inpatient rehab will cost more than outpatient treatment. The longer you stay in treatment, the more it will cost. If your facility has a lower staff-to-patient ratio or offers private rooms and more amenities, you can expect it to cost more than a facility with shared living spaces and limited staff.
How to Find Low-Cost and Free Rehabs in Tennessee
The cost of a Tennessee alcohol rehab may feel like a barrier to receiving treatment, but several options can help you cover the cost of alcohol rehab. Luckily, Tennessee provides state-funded rehabs that use government money to run alcohol rehabs so you can receive free care if you need it.
If you are searching for “alcohol rehabs near me,” you will find that some are state-funded while others require private pay or insurance coverage. If you want to find free facilities, in particular, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a directory of Tennessee’s free agencies on its website.4
Not everyone is approved to receive free treatment. You may be asked to provide information about your residency in Tennessee or your income to qualify.
Do Medicare and Medicaid Cover Alcohol Rehab?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates that insurance policies issued under the state health exchanges and through Medicaid programs provide coverage for addiction treatment. The services that are covered includes5
- Therapeutic interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy
- Inpatient services
- Outpatient care
- Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment
Medicaid
Medicaid is a state-funded program that provides health insurance to more than 72.5 million Americans.6 Many Tennessee alcohol rehabs take Medicaid as a form of payment for treatment. However, you must meet some qualifications to be eligible for the program. Groups that usually qualify include low-income individuals, pregnant women, children, and those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI).6
All Medicaid programs in Tennessee provide mental health services, including treatment for alcohol addiction. These treatment programs usually provide counseling, medication management, social work services, and peer support.
Medicare
Medicare is also funded by the government, but only at the federal level, which means it remains consistent from state to state. This program provides health insurance to Americans older than 65 and younger people with disabilities. Medicaid covers a wide range of healthcare, including alcohol rehab inpatient care and medical detox.7
Does Private Insurance Cover Alcohol Addiction Treatment?
Many private insurance plans pay for part or all of your treatment costs for alcohol addiction. Insurance plans often use various methods of copayments to help you cover costs.
Co-pays
Co-pays are a determined amount of money that insurance companies require you to pay when making a doctor’s visit.
Deductible
A deductible is the amount of money you have to reach in out-of-pocket costs before the insurance company begins to cover portions of the price.
Co-insurance
Co-insurance is usually a percentage amount that your insurance company will pay once you reach the deductible amount.
Out-of-pocket Maximum
The out-of-pocket maximum is the limit you need to reach in expenses you pay before your insurance plan pays for 100% of continued costs.
You may be unsure what your insurance plan covers. If you want to verify your health insurance coverage, please call 800-948-8417 Sponsored to speak to a specialist who will help you find a Tennessee alcohol rehab in your network.
If you have an insurance card, you can also call the number on the back to speak to your insurance provider directly about your plan details and rehab costs.
Popular Alcohol Rehab Centers in Tennessee
Cumberland Mountain Mental Health in Crossville, TN
This private, residential rehab center accepts several types of payments, including Medicaid, Medicare, military insurance, self-pay, and private insurance. It also offers financial aid and payment plans. Cumberland Mountain Mental Health is CARF accredited and offers programs for men, women, young adults, and military members.
Quinco Mental Health McNairy County Center in Selmer, TN
This private rehab is on a farm, providing an idyllic setting for your recovery. It is SAMHSA accredited and provides rehab services as well as aftercare support for young adults, men, women, and the elderly. Quinco Mental Health accepts several ways to pay for services, including Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, sliding-scale assistance, and financial assistance.
Lakeside Behavioral Health System in Memphis, TN
This private, luxury rehab center offers many attractive amenities, including basketball courts, a music room, massages, art activities, a meditation room, acupuncture, and a gym. Lakeside provides inpatient and outpatient services as well as specialized services such as hypnotherapy and EMDR therapy. This center is SAMHSA accredited and only accepts private insurance or self-pay.
Tulip Hill Recovery in Murfreesboro, TN
This private rehab offers an array of amenities including a yoga studio, meditation room, day school for children, and art activities. It also has access to hiking trails and a private gym. Tulip Hill is LGBTQ-friendly and provides inpatient services, outpatient care, fitness therapy, and sober living homes. They accept private insurance and self-pay. Financial assistance is also available.
The Alcohol Rehab Process: What to Expect
Treating alcohol addiction is a lengthy process that often begins with detox and moves through various stages of healing and recovery. Your journey will be unique to you, as each individual moves through recovery in various ways. However, there are some typical things to expect when you start the rehab process.
Alcohol Addiction Assessment
A helpful first step in recovery is receiving a substance abuse assessment from your doctor or rehab staff. This assessment allows the professionals to understand your treatment needs and make appropriate recommendations.
A substance misuse assessment uses the criteria for substance misuse as laid out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The DSM-5 assesses for 11 criteria:8
- Do you drink alcohol in larger amounts or for longer than you’re meant to?
- Do you want to stop drinking but are unable to?
- Do you spend a lot of time drinking or recovering from drinking?
- Do you have cravings and urges to drink?
- Is your drinking causing issues at work, school, or home?
- Do you continue to drink, even when it causes problems in relationships?
- Have you given up important activities to drink?
- Do you continue drinking even when it puts you in danger?
- Do you continue drinking even when you know you have a physical or psychological problem that could have been caused or made worse by alcohol?
- Do you need to drink more to get the effect you want?
- Do you experience withdrawal symptoms that are relieved by drinking more alcohol?
The assessment will also determine the severity at which you meet certain criteria to recommend the best level of care. You will also be assessed for dual diagnoses, such as anxiety or depression that accompanies — and should be treated alongside — the alcohol abuse.
Medical Detox for Alcohol Withdrawal
Medical detox is often the first step in rehab. When you detox, your body is ridding itself of the alcohol in your system, as well as the lasting side effects known as withdrawal symptoms. Some medications help alleviate withdrawal symptoms, and they are used during medical detox.
Common withdrawal symptoms you may experience during a detox include:9
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Shaking or having tremors
- Nightmares
- Confusion or not thinking clearly
- Sweating
- Headaches
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Rapid heart rate
- Loss of appetite
To treat alcohol withdrawal and alcohol use disorder, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved three medications: acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone.10
Inpatient Alcohol Rehab in Tennessee
The highest level of care given is at an inpatient rehab. These programs require that you stay overnight at the rehab facility so that you have 24-hour access to your treatment team. The length of time you spend in an inpatient program will depend on your assessment and what the treatment team recommends. Shorter inpatient programs may last around three weeks, while long-term programs can be as long as a year in treatment.
Inpatient care has many benefits, including:11
- A highly structured schedule
- Consistency in establishing daily routines
- An environment away from triggers that influence you to drink alcohol
- Around-the-clock access to medical professionals
- Support and community amongst others in recovery
Step-Down Care
There are lower levels of care that do not provide the same intensity as an inpatient. After you leave an inpatient program, the treatment team often recommends engaging in step-down care. This is where you step down through the levels of care so that you have time to adjust to not having around-the-clock support. The step-down levels of care include Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Intensive Outpatient (IOP), or standard outpatient. All of these programs allow you to return to your own home at the end of treatment each day, but they differ in the amount of time spent from week to week attending treatment appointments.
Engaging in step-down care is helpful because it allows you access to professional help as you re-enter your normal life. As you progress through recovery, your number of treatment sessions will decrease.
Not everyone starts with an inpatient program and then steps down to outpatient care. Depending on what is found in your assessment, you will be given a recommendation of what level of care is best for you.
Aftercare and Relapse Prevention
Aftercare and relapse prevention plans are essential to the rehab process. Alcohol addiction is considered a chronic condition, much like asthma or hypertension. The relapse rate for substance use is around 40 to 60%, which is similar to the relapse rates of both asthma and hypertension.12 This means that relapse should be considered a normal part of recovery and does not mean that you have failed. Better understanding of how relapse works helps to reduce your risks. Relapse does not happen in one moment or even one day, but rather is a gradual process that can take place over time. Relapse has three stages:13
- Emotional relapse, which includes bottling your feelings and not taking care of yourself or expressing needs to others
- Mental relapse, when you begin craving alcohol, think about drinking again, and minimize the consequences of drinking
- Physical relapse, when you start drinking again
Having a relapse prevention plan helps you understand the early signs of relapse and seek treatment sooner.
Your treatment team will work with you to create a relapse prevention plan that may include Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, sober living, and ongoing therapy.
What to Consider When Choosing the Right Tennessee Rehab for You
There are many things to consider when deciding which Tennessee alcohol rehab is right for you. Some of the questions you can ask are:14
- What kind of treatment does the program offer?
- Is the treatment tailored to your specific needs?
- How does the rehab measure success?
- How does the rehab handle relapse?
- Where is the rehab located in Tennessee?
- What amenities does it offer?
- What are the program rules regarding visitors?
What to Look for in a Quality Treatment Program
Program Accreditation
If you want to know whether a rehab center has a quality treatment program, you can look at its accreditations. The two most prominent accrediting organizations for addiction rehab programs are the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and the Joint Commission, previously known as JCAHO.
Credentialing of Staff
You will also want to make sure the staff members are appropriately credentialed in the work they are performing. This means medical professionals and mental health professionals must have the proper training for a rehab center.
Individualized Treatment Plans
Your recovery process is unique, and treatment plans should reflect that. If the rehab center does not use individualized treatment plans, it could indicate that the care provided there is not high-quality.
Low Staff-to-Patient Ratios
Some rehab centers will have lower staff-to-patient ratios, which means you get more personalized attention from treatment team members. If the ratios are higher, you may not get the care you need promptly.
Aftercare Planning
Since relapse is a real part of the recovery process, having an aftercare plan in your rehab treatment is important. Quality centers will make this a part of their program for all clients.
Should I Travel to Tennessee for Alcohol Abuse Treatment?
Is traveling to Tennessee for alcohol treatment best for you? Some of these factors may influence your decision:
- The place where you live does not offer the treatment you need.
- You want to be in a different environment for recovery.
- You have family or friends in Tennessee that you want to be near during your treatment.
- Your insurance covers rehab in Tennessee.
Regional Considerations in Tennessee: North vs. South and City vs. Rural
Tennessee is officially divided into three regions. This is known as The three Grand Divisions, as formally defined in Tennessee state law. The regions are labeled as Eastern, Middle, and Western.
Eastern Tennessee
East Tennessee’s landscape is dominated by the Appalachian mountain chain, including the Great Smoky Mountains on the eastern border of the state, the ridge-and-valley region where East Tennessee’s principal cities are located, and the rugged Cumberland Mountains.
Middle Tennessee
East and Middle Tennessee are separated along the Cumberland Plateau. Middle Tennessee, which includes the state’s capital city of Nashville, is dominated by rolling hills and fertile stream valleys.
Western Tennessee
West Tennessee, located between the Tennessee and the Mississippi Rivers, is the lowest-lying of the three Grand Divisions. It is part of the Gulf Coastal Plain, characterized by relatively flat terrain. Except for the Memphis metropolitan area, land use in this region is mostly agricultural.
Alcohol Laws in Tennessee
Family Leave and Medical Act (FMLA)
Employees who voluntarily seek alcohol and drug treatment may be able to receive time off work under the federal Family Leave and Medical Act (FLMA). The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) also provides certain protections for Tennessee employees who stop using illicit substances and seek addiction treatment.
Good Samaritan Law
Tennessee law states that anyone in good faith seeking medical assistance for a person experiencing a drug overdose shall not be arrested, charged, or prosecuted for a drug violation if the evidence resulted from seeking such medical assistance.
Recovery Courts
In Tennessee recovery courts, non-violent individuals with substance use disorders participate in treatment while under close legal and clinical supervision.
Seeking help can feel like a daunting task. Trying to find the right place and cover the costs of treatment may be difficult at times, but any treatment is better than no treatment. If you or someone you know is addicted to alcohol, please call 800-948-8417 Sponsored for help. They will discuss your options and help you find the treatment you need.
Resources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Tennessee State-Specific Tables.
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Drinking Levels Defined | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (nih.gov). National Institutes of Health.
- Broome KM, Knight DK, Joe GW, Flynn PM. (2012). Treatment program operations and costs. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 42(2):125-133.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Single State Agency Directory.
- Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). Mental health and substance abuse health coverage options.
- Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Eligibility Medicaid.
- Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Mental health and substance use disorder services.
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association Publishing.
- National Library of Medicine. (2021). Alcohol withdrawal.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022, March 30). Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). United States Department of Health and Human Services.
- National Institutes on Drug Abuse. (2018). Types of Treatment Programs. National Institutes of Health.
- National Institutes on Drug Abuse. (2020). Treatment and Recovery. National Institutes of Health.
- Melemis, S. M. (2015). Relapse Prevention and the Five Rules of Recovery. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 88(3), 325-332.
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2021). Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help. National Institutes of Health.