Addiction Treatment Programs in Georgia

Georgia Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centers

Georgia has a relatively large number of drug rehab facilities available to its 10.79 million residents. As of March 2019, there were 358 substance abuse centers serving 23,465 patients, according to SAMHSA. These facilities can be broken down by type including, but not limited to,

Georgia's rehab programs can also be broken down by the demographics they serve. No fewer than 18 specific groups of people can receive tailored services in the state. These groups include everyone from adolescents to adults, pregnant and postpartum women to seniors, veterans to members of the LGBT community .

Georgia Drug Rehab Breakdown

• Demographic Breakdown (By percentage of drug rehab facilities):
• Patients with co-occurring mental health disorders: 50.6 percent
• Adult women: 47.2 percent
• Adult men: 44.1 percent
• Patients who have suffered domestic abuse: 33 percent
• Veterans: 27.7 percent
• Seniors: 22.1 percent
• LGBT community members: 22.6 percent
• Pregnant or postpartum women: 24 percent
• Adolescents: 22.9 percent
• Active duty military: 12.8 percent
• Payment Options Breakdown (By percentage of drug rehab facilities):
• Cash or self-payment: 91.1 percent
• Private insurance: 56.7 percent
• Medicaid: 53.9 percent
• Sliding fee: 48.9 percent
• Minimal charge or no-charge treatment for patients in need: 38.5 percent
• Federal military insurance: 36.9 percent
• Medicare: 34.4 percent
• ITU funds: 4.2 percent
• Free treatment: 3.6 percent

Because Georgia offers diverse services and accepts a wide variety of payment types, patients from many walks of life can find professional addiction treatment in the state.

Treatment Approaches in Georgia

12 Step

Since 1938, 12-step programs have provided a structured approach to achieving, and maintaining, recovery from addiction. These programs are based on 12 principles, including acknowledging the addiction and the need for help to overcome it, leaning on a higher power, and making amends. These programs are very effective. A study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse found that 49 percent of AA participants were abstinent after 8 years, while 46 percent of people who entered formal treatment centers reached the same level of abstinence. In Georgia, 67.3 percent of facilities provide 12-step facilitation.

Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring

Often, individuals suffer from both a mental illness and a substance use disorder. In fact, having a mental illness puts an individual at higher risk for having a substance use disorder, according to SAMHSA reporting. Many millions of Americans (about 9.5 million according to a 2019mSAMHSA report) suffer from this dual diagnosis. They often require specialized treatment in order to manage both disorders successfully. About half of all Georgia rehab facilities (181 in total) offer these services.

Detox

Instead of going through withdrawal on their own, which can be painful and dangerous, many patients choose to go to a detox facility instead. Here, they receive medical supervision to keep them safe and comfortable as the addictive substances leave their bodies. As the first step in rehab, detox is a critical step and often results in patients attending additional rehab once their detox is finished. In Georgia, most detox facilities (16.2 percent) exist in an outpatient setting, although they are also found in residential and hospital-based programs as well.

Short-Term Inpatient Rehab

Sometimes, patients benefit from living at the rehab facility, where they can receive intensive therapy and support as they pursue recovery. These types of programs are referred to as inpatient rehab, or residential rehab. Inpatient rehab programs that last less than 30 days are called short-term and in Georgia, 28 facilities, less than 8 percent, offer this type of support for patients.

Long-Term Residential Rehab

Inpatient rehab that lasts longer than 30 days is called long-term residential rehab and is often beneficial for patients who struggle with complex or longstanding addictions. In Georgia, long-term residential rehab facilities make up 15.6 percent (Totaling 56 treatment centers) of all rehab centers. Inpatient drug rehab that lasts longer than 30 days is referred to as long-term residential rehab. USed for the most severe addictions, these programs make up 19.7 percent of treatment facilities in Florida.

Rehab Costs In Georgia

Often, patients worry about how much their recovery will cost, and how they will pay for it. The reality is that rehab costs vary widely based on factors such as the following:

• Rehab program
• Therapy
• Aftercare
• Treatment approaches
• Insurance coverage
• And more

However, patients do not need to worry about how to pay for these expenses, because Georgia offers many payment options, including free and low-cost options for those who cannot otherwise afford their rehab.

Private Health Insurance for Addiction Rehab

Private health insurance plans are accepted in just over half (56.7 percent) of rehab facilities in Georgia. The exact coverage will depend upon the patient's plan, but a call to one's insurance company should provide insight into the co-pays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses one can expect. Private insurance is obtainable through employment or the Affordable Care Act's insurance exchange and provides specific coverage based on the plan's specifications.

Medicaid and Medicare for Addiction Rehab

The federal government provides healthcare for those who meet certain income thresholds. Called Medicaid and Medicare, these programs often cover the cost of rehab 100 percent so that patients do not have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses for their treatment. In Georgia, 53.9 percent of facilities accept Medicaid, while 34.4 percent of facilities accept Medicare.

Uninsured Addiction Rehab

Some patients have neither Medicare and Medicaid or private insurance. For these individuals, Georgia offers two primary means of accessing addiction recovery treatment.

Sliding Scale Payments

48.9 percent of drug rehab facilities in Georgia provide their services on a sliding scale basis. This means that the treatment center provides discounts on the cost of their services based on a patient's ability to pay. The lower a patient's income is, the less they will pay for their treatment. In Georgia, 48.9 percent of drug rehab centers offer their services on a sliding scale.

Free drug rehab

A total of 13 facilities in Georgia provide free treatment for all patients. In addition, 38.5 percent of facilities in the state provide treatment at no charge or at minimal charge for patients who cannot afford to pay. These facilities often provide these services due to resources such as donations that they can use to cover the cost of treatment for needy patients.

Patients looking for the right treatment program can contact addiction counselors at any of the drug rehab centers in the state. These counselors can provide evaluations and guidance regarding which programs will work best in light of each patient's unique needs.

Georgia Drug Treatment Overview

Georgia's drug rehab options provide both pros and cons for patients. Here are some of the most striking of each:

Pros

Georgia's designated bed utilization rate is only 85.2 percent. As a result, patients who need immediate services are more likely to find beds that are available to them.

The number of detox options within the state is relatively high, with 16.2 percent of outpatient facilities, 3.9 percent of residential programs, and 7.5 percent of hospital-based programs offering this service.

More than two-thirds (67.6 percent) of drug rehab programs offer mental health services, creating a welcoming environment for patients who have a dual diagnosis.

Cons

Most facilities in Georgia (55.6) are private, for-profit facilities, which can drive up costs and reduce payment options for patients.

The percentage of Georgia facilities that accept Medicare and Medicaid is low, at just over 50 percent for Medicaid and about 34 percent for Medicare.

There is also a low percentage of facilities that accept private insurance, which can make it harder for patients to find rehab services that they can afford.

Georgia Drug Use Statistics

Delaware struggles with a drug addiction problem, just as do many states throughout the country. Here is a look at some of its most important statistics:

From the National Institute on Drug Abuse:

• In 2018, 60 percent of drug overdose deaths involved opioids.
• Heroin deaths in 2018 were increasing, and that year occurred at a rate of 2.9 percent of all overdose deaths.

From the SAMHSA:

• 33,675 individuals over the age of 12 were admitted for substance abuse treatment in Georgia in 2020.
• 20.1 percent of these admissions were for amphetamines.
• 7.3 percent of these admissions were for other opiates.
• 5.3 percent of admissions were for heroin.