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Nashville Alcohol Use Statistics

While Nashville is known for its many attractions, endless live music venues, and southern charm, it is also a hotspot for excessive drinking, leading to a high number of individuals seeking treatment at rehab programs each year. In 2025, the news media reported that Tennessee was the only state where people were drinking more despite dropping rates across the rest of the country.¹ More than 48% of adults in the state acknowledged drinking in 2023, which was a 7% rise from 2013. The whisky and craft moonshine drink industry in the state may have contributed to the rising number, while restaurants and bars are now offering more non-alcoholic beers, wines, and mocktails.

Nashville is also home to the national Dry January USA campaign that encourages residents to avoid alcohol for four weeks to improve their health. While these steps are important, Nashville ranks No. 4 for the most dangerous places for drunk driving across 100 major cities. The fatality rate is 92% higher than the national median and 32 times more dangerous than New York. While not everyone who participates in heavy drinking will develop alcohol use disorder and require rehab, it is a significant risk factor in the development of the disorder.

How Much Does Alcohol Rehab in Nashville Cost?

The cost of alcohol rehab in Nashville is going to depend on many different factors, including the type of rehab setting and the amenities offered, whether you have health insurance, your household income, and more. Services will range from free rehab programs for people under a certain income level to very expensive luxury rehab programs that boast the highest level of comfort and care.

Inpatient rehabs, with the added costs of housing, food, and 24/7 staffing needs, will tend to be more costly than outpatient rehabs, which require fewer resources and meet less frequently. To determine how much you will have to pay for rehab, you can consult with your health insurance carrier and the specific rehab you are considering to receive treatment. Most facilities will help to verify your insurance coverage and explain costs before starting treatment.

How to Find Low-Cost and Free Rehabs in Nashville

Low-cost and free rehab treatment facilities in Nashville operate with very low, or non-existent, costs to the patient, often supported by federal and state grants, as well as private donations. They are intended for people who are struggling with a substance use disorder and require treatment but are unable to afford it without financial assistance.

To determine eligibility, they often require your recent pay stubs or tax returns. Eligibility typically includes being below a certain income level or demonstrating financial need based on unusual expenses. When searching for alcohol treatment in Nashville, be sure to look for “low-cost” or free services listed in their descriptions. If you have more questions or need more help finding the right low-cost rehab, call us at 800-948-8417 Sponsored .

Do Medicare and Medicaid Cover Alcohol Rehab?

Medicare and Medicaid provide health insurance coverage to specific groups of people in the United States, and both offer some level of coverage for alcohol rehab services. The federal government provides Medicare funding. Medicare is typically available only to individuals who are 65 or older and people with certain types of disabilities.

Medicaid, known as TennCare in TN, is funded by the federal and state governments and is offered to state residents with low or very low income who meet certain specific criteria, such as being pregnant, caring for a child, or having a disability. While you are still expected to cover certain copays and other out-of-pocket costs, if you qualify for either TennCare or Medicare, these funding sources will help pay for alcohol rehab in Nashville.²

Does Private Insurance Cover Alcoholism Treatment?

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act and Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, private health insurance must meet federal requirements, including coverage for alcohol rehab treatments. The extent of coverage depends on where your insurance is accepted, the kind of plan you have, and the kind of treatment services you will be receiving. However, you can expect to have a portion of your rehab costs covered by your private health insurance. For more information, call the phone number on the back of your health insurance ID card, and call us at 800-948-8417 Sponsored for help.

Popular Alcohol Rehab Centers in Nashville

Vertava Health

Vertava Health provides a complete continuum of care based on the needs of its patients at different points in their recovery and wellness journey. They offer evidence-based therapies at each level of care, with an emphasis on digital health tools that improve and amplify treatment outcomes. They also provide specialized treatment programs for expectant mothers, adolescents, veterans, and the LGBTQ+ community. No matter what their client’s need, they are there to help.

Oxford House

Oxford House is a unique concept in alcohol addiction recovery. Described as a “democratically run, self-supporting and drug-free home,” this non-profit provides a low-cost, remarkable method of preventing relapse. With over 2,000 houses in the United States, the original is in Nashville, serving the local population in maintaining sobriety following recovery.

Cumberland Heights

Cumberland Heights is an outpatient facility in downtown Nashville, offering a range of alcohol use disorder treatments during flexible hours. They offer dual diagnosis services, providing individualized treatment plans based on the specific needs of each individual patient. With a strong belief in ongoing recovery support, their program includes relapse prevention tools, community support, and a continuum of care services to help you maintain recovery after your treatment is complete. They operate under a philosophy of a multi-faceted treatment plan that focuses on education about alcohol use disorder, progression of the disease, family involvement, and tools for recovery.

The Next Door

As a non-profit organization dedicated to serving women in crisis, The Next Door provides services to women who are impacted by addiction, trauma, mental illness, or incarceration. In recognition of the prevalence of dual diagnosis patients, they provide an integrated model to address all co-occurring disorders. A professional team of counselors, case managers, nurse practitioners, medical doctors, social workers, mentors, and job coaches provides comprehensive coverage to the needs of each resident.

The Alcohol Rehab Process: What to Expect

Many people think of alcohol rehab as a singular process where you go through recovery at a facility, get sober, and go on your way. In reality, treatment for alcohol use disorder exists on a continuum of care, ranging from intensive inpatient rehab to outpatient and aftercare programs. While some individuals start at different points on the continuum, many people start at the more intensive and structured end of the continuum and work their way toward less structure and decreasing frequency of treatments.

Most facilities evaluate your treatment progress and adjust the program as you build healthy coping and self-management skills. No matter where you begin the process, the plan will always be to move you toward greater independence while needing less clinical support, until you are at the point where you can truly stand on your own two feet and maintain sobriety in the long term.

Receiving an Alcohol Abuse Assessment

A substance abuse assessment is an extremely important step at the start of your alcohol recovery journey. This assessment is helpful to determine if you have a diagnosable alcohol use disorder, the severity of your alcohol dependence and if other co-occurring mental health issues may be contributing to your situation. Your physician, a mental health specialist or qualified medical professionals in an alcohol rehab program can perform the assessment. This is a valuable tool for rehab professionals because it allows them to determine what level of care you require, what kind of treatments you are likely to benefit from, and how to best address your alcohol use disorder in the context of your environment and overall mental health.

Medical Detox for Alcohol Withdrawal

Medical detox is the process of eliminating alcohol from your body after you have stopped drinking. You may experience significant, unpleasant effects as your body struggles to resume functioning without alcohol. If alcohol dependence is severe, there are serious health risks to stopping drinking without medical support. Medical detox is the safest approach to this process.

During detox, you receive round-the-clock medical monitoring and medications, which can help ease the withdrawal symptoms and stabilize your vital signs as you achieve a medically stable, alcohol-free state. While detox is often a vital step on the continuum of care in alcohol rehab, it is not a substitute for comprehensive treatment; it is simply one of the initial steps of the process.

Inpatient Alcohol Rehab in Nashville

Inpatient rehab is a residential treatment program where you live at the facility for the duration of your treatment. Of all treatment settings, it is the most intensive and structured, providing a highly supportive environment to support your recovery. Treatments generally last 30, 60, or 90 days, depending on a variety of factors unique to everyone, including treatment needs, the severity of alcohol dependence, and financial resources. Inpatient rehab in Nashville offers several key advantages over other treatment settings, including:

A high level of support from clinicians, staff and other patients
24-hour medical support
Heavily structured daily schedules to regain a sense of routine
Multiple types of available therapies and treatments
No access to alcohol for the entirety of your stay
A variety of resources and referrals provided to help you continue your recovery after discharge

Step-Down Care

For individuals who feel they need extra support between the switch from inpatient to outpatient treatment, there are various step-down care options to ease the transition. Treatment and recovery can be overwhelming. You may find it difficult to leave the supportive and structured inpatient setting and adjust to life outside of the facility, so step-down care builds your support network and coping skills as you readjust to normal life.

Partial Hospitalization Program

Otherwise known as day treatment programs, partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) deliver a high level of care with a structured daily routine, while allowing you to live at home between treatments. These rehab programs generally consist of four to six hours of treatment and education per day for five to seven days each week. This maintains a high level of clinical and peer support while helping you get used to living in your home environment again. This type of program is helpful for people who have gone through inpatient treatment, but still require a high level of care before they can proceed to a more independent recovery process.

Intensive Outpatient Programs

Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are the next step down from PHPs, meeting for two to four hours per day on multiple days of the week. They maintain a higher level of clinical support than standard outpatient programs, but begin to phase out the higher intensity of treatments seen with PHPs. By doing so, they allow you to begin adjusting to a less structured, more independent lifestyle around these treatments, so you can be more prepared for the transition to standard outpatient therapy. IOPs are a great option if you are still in need of some extra support but beginning to adapt to your new routines and strategies while living a more independent life.

Standard Outpatient Programs

One of the final steps in alcohol rehab is a standard or traditional outpatient program, where you live at home and travel to an outpatient facility to receive treatment, generally only for a few hours each week over one to two days. This setting is appropriate for individuals who can remain sober while living at home and receiving this less intensive treatment, but still require some assistance while they address lingering mental health issues, coping strategies, and readjust to normal life without alcohol.

While many people choose to begin treatment with inpatient or some level of step-down care, others with milder treatment needs and strong support systems can start their treatment with a standard outpatient program. For these individuals, standard outpatient treatment may be their first experience with substance use treatment, and with the right treatments and social support, they can be successful in their recovery without requiring more intensive settings.

Aftercare and Relapse Prevention

While treatment in inpatient and/or outpatient settings is a vital part of the process in your recovery from alcohol use disorder, it will be a short period compared to the many years of sobriety that follow. In short, recovery is a lifelong process and should be treated as such. That is why aftercare and relapse prevention plans are vital components of your post-discharge life management.

Aftercare provides you with continued peer support, education programs, and self-management strategies to ensure you stay on track and remain committed to your recovery journey. This can include programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and SMART Recovery and independent therapeutic approaches such as meditation, mindfulness, and exercise programs. According to research, aftercare programs can be highly effective in maintaining recovery and preventing relapses post-discharge.³

These programs, as well as the clinical staff at rehab programs, can help you form plans and strategies to mitigate relapses and ensure you can handle the challenges that life throws at you. Relapses, or “slips” in your recovery, are by no means an indication of failure; rather, it just means you need more support and/or strategies to get back on track. Aftercare and relapse prevention planning can help you manage and reduce these slips, but if you find yourself continuing to struggle, you may consider a return to more intensive treatment.

What to Consider When Choosing the Right Nashville Rehab for You

With a variety of alcohol rehabs in Nashville to choose from, there are many factors to consider when deciding which one is right for you. The first step is to use the information above to determine if you want to pursue treatment in an inpatient, IOP, PHP, or standard outpatient rehab program. Once you have established that, you can begin narrowing your choices based on certain criteria:

Cost: How much is the treatment? Is there any financial assistance?
Insurance: Do you have coverage? Does the facility accept your insurance plan?
Location: Is the facility near your home? Easily accessible? In the city, or the country?
Amenities: Do you want luxury accommodations? Pool access? Scenic retreats?
Treatment philosophy: Do you want a holistic (“whole-person”) approach? Or would you prefer a faith-based program that considers your religious views?
Aftercare options: Does the program provide aftercare training, education, and/or planning?

What to Look for in a Quality Alcohol Treatment Program

Not all alcohol rehabs are created equal, and several factors are important to consider when looking for a quality treatment program. Before committing to a rehab facility, look for these characteristics to ensure you are getting the high-quality care you need and deserve.

Individualized Treatment Plans

Every person who comes to alcohol rehab for treatment brings their background, experiences, wants, and needs. The hallmark of a high-quality treatment program considers all these factors to create a truly individualized treatment plan. You are a unique individual. Any rehab program that uses a standardized “cookie-cutter” approach for every patient will not be nearly as effective as one that takes an individualized approach. Your treatment plan should be developed following an initial assessment. You should consider avoiding any program that uses a standardized treatment plan for all patients.

Low Patient-to-Staff Ratio

Treatment programs with more available staff are often better equipped to provide consistent support and supervision. For this reason, it is important to consider the patient to staff ratio when evaluating a rehab program. Lower ratios generally allow for more individualized attention, stronger therapeutic relationships, and closer monitoring of progress during treatment. In contrast, higher ratios may limit the amount of direct interaction and support you receive. Many programs aim for ratios between 1:4 and 1:10 depending on the level of care. These ratios are commonly associated with more personalized care, regular clinical contact, and appropriate supervision throughout the recovery process.

Dual Diagnosis Alcohol Rehab

Dual diagnosis is the medical term for when a person is diagnosed both with alcohol use disorder and a co-occurring mental health disorder such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia. Research suggests that up to 40% of individuals with alcohol dependence also have a diagnosable mental health disorder. This means a high proportion of people attending rehab for alcohol use disorder are likely to have a co-occurring disorder.⁴

Dual diagnosis programs specialize in diagnosing associated mental health disorders and creating a treatment plan to address these conditions simultaneously, rather than focusing on the alcohol addiction or mental health disorder. If you believe you may have additional mental health treatment needs beyond alcohol dependence, look for a treatment program that offers dual diagnosis assessment and treatments, as this will give you the highest-quality treatment to fit your needs.

Evidence-Based Treatments

High-quality rehab programs stay current with the latest medical and psychological research to ensure their services reflect proven, evidence-based practices. Understanding of alcohol use disorder continues to grow, and new treatment methods are regularly developed and refined. For this reason, it is essential for treatment programs to use approaches grounded in scientific evidence, helping patients receive effective care and improving the likelihood of positive recovery outcomes.Examples of treatments that are currently best supported by evidence include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), medication-assisted therapy (MAT), and mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs).^5,6

Aftercare Planning

The best rehab program on the planet will not necessarily be effective long-term if it is not followed with good aftercare planning. You will spend far more time in recovery than in treatment, so it is important to have strategies and support systems in place to stay on track during your years in recovery. A high-quality program either provides aftercare planning in-house or has a network of community based providers that offers comprehensive aftercare planning. Consider looking for another center if a treatment program simply discharges patients with no post-discharge plan.

Should I Travel to Nashville for Alcohol Rehab?

Thousands of people travel to Nashville each year for alcohol rehab. They may choose this because they have nearby friends or family, their insurance is accepted at alcohol rehabs in Nashville, their current location does not offer the type of rehab they need, or they may simply want a change of scenery. Nashville is a city with a lot to offer, and one of the biggest benefits is that you can start your treatment free of past associations, triggers, and habits that may exist in your current environment.

Neighborhoods in Nashville to Consider for Treatment

Nashville is home to a wide variety of beautiful and interesting neighborhoods full of history, culture, and scenery. While there are many fantastic neighborhoods to choose from, here are a few of the more popular areas with some of the best amenities the city has to offer.

Belmont-Hillsboro

Historic Belmont-Hillsboro is a safe, family-friendly neighborhood with affordable housing options and proximity to shops, restaurants, and Belmont University. Offering multiple rehab options in the vicinity, including Cumberland Heights listed above, it can be a great location for your rehab needs if you are looking for a quiet, approachable neighborhood for your home base.

Buena Vista

Buena Vista is another affordable, family-friendly neighborhood, offering proximity to downtown Nashville along with a variety of green spaces, museums, and restaurants. It also sits near several popular alcohol rehabs in the downtown area, making it a great spot to consider for your rehab needs.

Green Hills

For a more suburban feel, Green Hills offers wide-open spaces south of downtown Nashville combined with amenities like restaurants, shopping centers, and outdoor recreation spaces. It stretches beyond the urban sprawl of the city, meaning access to a car is a must in this area. While it offers many desirable housing options and scenery, it is a farther distance from most alcohol rehabs in Nashville, which lie closer to the downtown.

Oak Hill

Oak Hill, situated north of downtown, offers another desirable suburban section of the city. The neighborhood is safe, welcoming, and full of amenities, including museums, sights, and outdoor recreation that offer another take on the city of Nashville. Much like Green Hills, access to a car is advised in this area of the city.

Downtown

No visit to Nashville is complete without checking out the downtown. It is the beating heart of the city, sprawling with shops, restaurants, music venues, and cultural and historic attractions. While it offers a highly walkable area and access to a variety of transportation options, its high desirability and concentration of amenities make housing and overall cost of living higher in this neighborhood compared to most.

Drug and Alcohol Laws in Tennessee

The Stopping Addiction and Fostering Excellence (SAFE) Act was signed into law to ensure consistent quality and reporting standards for rehab facilities, requiring facilities to become accredited with the state and provide consumer protections.
Unlike most other states, Tennessee does not have a Good Samaritan Law about alcohol or drug-related overdoses when calling emergency services; anyone associated with underage drinking or illegal drug use may face legal consequences when calling emergency services for an overdose.

Resources

The Tennessean. (2025). Tennessee only state that’s drinking more alcohol as rest of US sobers up
Tennessee State Government Division of TennCare. (2022). TennCare Medicaid.
Blevins, C. E., Abrantes, A. M., Kurth, M. E., Gordon, A. L., & Stein, M. D. (2017). Alcohol treatment outcomes following discharge from a partial hospital program. Journal of Substance Use, 22(6), 643–647.
Klimkiewicz, A., Klimkiewicz, J., Jakubczyk, A., Kieres-Salomoński, I., & Wojnar, M. (2015). Comorbidity of alcohol dependence with other psychiatric disorders, part I – epidemiology of dual diagnosis. Psychiatria Polska, 49, 265–275.
Reangsing, C., Wimolphan, P., Wongsuraprakit, S., & Oerther, S. (2021). Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on depressive symptoms and alcohol craving in individuals with comorbid alcohol use disorder and depression: a systematic review. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 59(12), 41–47.
Ray, L. A., Meredith, L. R., Kiluk, B. D., Walthers, J., Carroll, K. M., & Magill, M. (2020). Combined pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for adults with alcohol or substance use disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA, 3(6).