Louisiana Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs

Alcohol and Drug Rehabs in Louisiana

The southern state of Louisiana is home to 146 drug rehab facilities that were serving more than 10,000 patients in 2019, according to the SAMHSA. These patients could choose from a variety of treatment centers depending upon their recovery needs. Here are a just a few of the options that Louisiana provides for its patients, including

Louisiana's facilities also provide tailored treatment to at least 18 specific groups of people, such as active duty military, pregnant and postpartum women, patients with co-occurring disorders, adolescents, and members of the LGBT community. Thanks to this diversity and customized treatments, Louisiana allows patients to receive treatment in a way that is likely to benefit their recovery over the long term.

Louisiana Drug Rehab Breakdown

• Demographic Breakdown (By percentage of drug rehab facilities):
• Adult women: 50.7 percent
• Patients with co-occurring mental health disorders: 50 percent
• Adult men: 42.5 percent
• Patients who have suffered domestic abuse: 23.3 percent
• LGBT community members: 22.6 percent
• Pregnant or postpartum women: 21.2 percent
• Seniors: 20.5 percent
• Veterans: 19.9 percent
• Adolescents: 18.5 percent
• Active duty military: 13.7 percent
• Payment Options Breakdown (By percentage of drug rehab facilities):
• Cash or self-payment: 89.7 percent
• Private insurance: 71.9 percent
• Medicaid: 67.1 percent
• Minimal charge or no-charge treatment for patients in need: 50 percent
• Sliding fee: 42.5 percent
• Federal military insurance: 39 percent
• State-financed plans: 30.1 percent
• Medicare: 28.1 percent
• ITU funds: 8.9 percent
• Free treatment: 4.1 percent

Patients who fit into one of these specialized groups may benefit from the specialized treatment some of the state's rehab facilities have to offer, while affordable treatment may be available for needy patients through some of the state's centers that accept payments other than self-pay or private insurance.

Treatment Approaches in Louisiana

12 Step

In most communities throughout the United States, 12-step programs provide meetings, support, and structure to help addicts achieve, and maintain, sobriety from their addiction. Almost 90 years old, 12-step programs are centered on 12 principles, such as acknowledging the addiction and the problems it causes, relying on a higher power, and making amends, that participants are to implement in their daily lives. These programs are well-known for their effectiveness, either as a standalone treatment or in partnership with formal treatment centers. That is why, according to a 2013 survey, about 74 percent of facilities nationwide use the 12-step program on at least an occasional basis. Louisiana fits this average, with 74.7 percent of facilities offering 12-step facilitation for patients.

Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring

Individuals who suffer from a mental illness often turn to drugs or alcohol to help them cope with the symptoms of their disorder, according to NAMI. This tendency is one reason that so many people suffer from a dual diagnosis: Both a mental illness and a substance use disorder. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 17 million Americans in 2020 suffered from this kind of co-occurring illness. The most effective approach for these patients is treatment that simultaneously addresses both of their illnesses. In Louisiana, these integrated services are available at exactly half of all addiction treatment facilities in the state.

Detox

Patients often need to withdraw from the addictive substances in their bodies before they can begin rehab. While "cold turkey" quitting is a possibility, this approach can be dangerous, particularly when practiced alone. In order to provide a medically supervised and safe environment for withdrawal, many programs and standalone centers offer detox services. While not present in the majority of facilities in Louisiana, these services are available in a significant number of outpatient, inpatient, and hospital-based programs.

Short-Term Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient, or residential, rehab refers to centers where patients can live during their recovery. These centers usually provide daily intensive therapy for patients in order to encourage a long-lasting and successful recovery. When these programs last for less than 30 days, they are referred to as short-term inpatient rehab, and this type of rehab makes up 18.5 percent of facilities in Louisiana.

Long-Term Residential Rehab

Sometimes, patients require longer therapy from an inpatient facility. In order to support these patients in their recovery, some centers offer long-term residential rehab of longer than 30 days. 20.5 percent of facilities in Louisiana provide this type of rehab.

Rehab Costs In Louisiana

It is difficult to say how much rehab will cost for an individual patient, because treatment is often very individual and tailored to a patient's needs. The type of rehab center, the type of services, counseling, and medication required, the presence of detox or aftercare services, and the patient's own ability to pay often influence the total costs of recovery.

Individual rehab centers in Louisiana can help patients understand the costs of their rehab, as well as their payment options. As a result, no patient should avoid treatment because of concerns about cost.

Private Health Insurance for Addiction Rehab

Many of Louisiana's drug rehab facilities accept private health insurance as a form of payment for their services. However, patients who choose to use their insurance plan for their rehab expenses will need to check on the details of their coverage, because some plans will require to pay certain copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses.

Medicaid and Medicare for Addiction Rehab

The federal government provides healthcare coverage for individuals who meet certain low income thresholds in order to make healthcare accessible for patients who cannot otherwise afford it. Patients can usually expect to have their rehab costs covered in full, as long as they attend a rehab facility that accepts their Medicaid and Medicare. In Louisiana, 67.1 percent of facilities accept Medicaid and 28.1 percent accept Medicare.

Uninsured Addiction Rehab

Tens of millions of Americans lack insurance of any kind - One estimate places the number at 31.1 million. For uninsured individuals who require addiction treatment in Louisiana, the state's rehab centers make two main options available: Sliding scale fees and free drug rehab.

Sliding Scale Payments

42.5 percent of Louisiana's drug rehab facilities offer sliding scale fees for their services. This term refers to the practice of discounting fees based upon a patient's ability to pay. The lower their income, the lower the fees for the center's services. This approach ensures that a patient's lower income is not a barrier to receiving the treatment they need.

Free drug rehab

A relatively high number of facilities in Louisiana offer free services to all of their patients, but this number, just 6, still constitutes only 4.6 percent of the total number of addiction treatment centers in the state.

In order to provide care to financially needy patients, however, a full 50 percent of facilities in the state offer their services for free or for a minimal charge for patients who cannot pay. As a result, Louisiana makes it easier for low-income patients to afford the treatment they require.

The first step in paying for addiction services is to determine which services a patient needs. Addiction counselors at the state's rehab centers can help with this evaluation. Then patients can work with these counselors to find a program that meets both their recovery and their financial needs.

Louisiana Drug Treatment Overview

Louisiana's drug treatment programs have many valuable services to offer to patients, as well as some downsides of which patients should be aware. Here is a look at some of the most important pros and cons regarding the state's drug treatment options:

Pros

50 percent of Louisiana's facilities offer their services on a sliding scale, making it more likely that patients will be able to afford the drug treatment they need.

Louisiana has a greater percentage of detox facilities than do many other states. This prevalence of detox programs increases the likelihood that patients can safely take the first step toward a successful recovery.

Just over 53 percent of centers receive funds from federal, state, county, or local governments to support their programs, which could lead to more programs and more affordable programs for patients who need them.

Cons

Only 28 percent of the state's facilities offer services in a language other than English. As a result, non-native English speakers may struggle to find treatment in their preferred language.

Only 28.1 percent of facilities in Louisiana accept Medicare, which limits options for recipients of this program.

Louisiana Drug Use Statistics

Louisiana faces a drug epidemic that made it the leader in drug overdose deaths in 2020. Here is a look at some of the state's most significant drug use statistics:

From the National Institute on Drug Abuse:

40 percent of the state's drug overdose deaths in 2018 were opioid related.

Louisiana's rate of opioid prescriptions in 2018 was 79.4 for every 100 people, much higher than the national rate o 51.4 per 100 persons.

The state recently dedicated $4.6 million in grants to drug treatment and recovery services, especially those tailored to pregnant women and parenting women.

From the SAMHSA:

12,152 individuals over the age of 12 were admitted for substance abuse treatment in Louisiana in 2019.

18 percent of these admissions were for amphetamines.

12.2 percent of these admissions were for heroin.

5.9 percent of these admissions were for other opiates.