Tennessee Drug and Alcohol Treatment Facilities

Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Programs in Tennessee

Tennessee has a robust number of substance abuse treatment centers, which, as of March 2019, were serving 28,899 patients. The state's many treatment programs include 41 detox centers and 133 outpatient treatment programs. Other services patients can access include 41 long-term inpatient rehabs and 29 transitional living facilities.

Many facilities in Tennessee are also concerned with providing tailored treatment to patients who face unique circumstances. To that end, there are facilities in the state that serve 18 demographic groups, including the following:

• Active duty military members
• Pregnant and postpartum women
• Patients with co-occurring disorders
• Adolescents
• Members of the LGBT community.
• Tennessee Drug Rehab Breakdown
• Demographic Breakdown (By percentage of drug rehab facilities):
• Patients with co-occurring mental health disorders: 52.4 percent
• Adult women: 40.7 percent
• Adolescents: 40.7 percent
• Adult men: 37.3 percent
• Pregnant or postpartum women: 25.4 percent
• Patients who have suffered domestic abuse: 23.7 percent
• Veterans: 22 percent
• Seniors: 16.9 percent
• LGBT community members: 15.3 percent
• Active duty military: 15.3 percent
• Payment Options Breakdown (By percentage of drug rehab facilities):
• Cash or self-payment: 91.7 percent
• Private insurance: 74.4 percent
• Medicaid: 62 percent
• Sliding fee: 58.5 percent
• State-financed plans: 52.7 percent
• Minimal charge or no-charge treatment for patients in need: 46.6 percent
• Federal military insurance: 38 percent
• Medicare: 34.5 percent
• ITU funds: 4.5 percent
• Free treatment: 4.5 percent

South Dakota's many payment and treatment options empowers its residents to find treatment tailored to their specific recovery and financial needs.

Treatment Approaches in Tennessee

12 Step

12 step programs were founded in the 1930s as a way to provide a structured and faith-based approach to addiction recovery. Today, these programs encourage addicts to find and rely on their own higher power, while utilizing a set of 12 steps addicts can take throughout their recovery to improve their chances of long-term success. In addition to these 12 steps (e.g. Making amends, acknowledging the addiction as a problem), addicts meet regularly to support each other and often have a sponsor who helps them maintain their recovery. The effectiveness of these programs is widely acknowledged, and about 74 percent of drug rehab facilities nationwide use them on at least an occasional basis. In Tennessee, 73.5 percent of facilities provide 12-step facilitation for patients.

Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring

Mental illness and addiction often go hand-in-hand. As of 2020, 17 million Americans suffered from both a mental illness and a substance use disorder (SUD). Often, these two illnesses exist side-by-side because the patient turns to an addictive substance in order to manage the symptoms of their mental illness. This type of dual diagnosis can make recovery more complicated, requiring treatment of both illnesses to help the patient succeed at their recovery. In Tennessee, 52.4 percent of facilities offer this integrated approach to dual diagnosis illness.

Detox

Typically, a patient cannot begin a rehab program without going through withdrawal, the process by which the addictive substance leaves the patient's body. As an uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening process, withdrawal is best experienced in a medically supervised detox program. These programs provide 24/7 support and medical assistance, as well as help set patients up with additional rehab once withdrawal is finished. In Tennessee, detox programs are available in outpatient, inpatient, and hospital-based settings, allowing patients to access these services in the manner that works best for them.

Short-Term Inpatient Rehab

In order to facilitate recovery from severe addiction, many patients benefit from attending residential programs that provide them with round-the-clock support and treatment for their addiction. Residential programs that last less than 30 days are referred to as short-term inpatient rehab. In Tennessee, 17.9 percent of rehab facilities offer this type of service for patients.

Long-Term Residential Rehab

The National Institute on Drug Abuse recommends attending a rehab program of at least 90 days in length for the best chances of a successful recovery. Long-term residential rehab, inpatient programs that last longer than 30 days, are a patient's best chance of receiving this type of long-term addiction recovery support. In Tennessee, 24.3 percent of facilities provide this type of treatment program.

Rehab Costs In Tennessee

Rehab costs in Tennessee can vary widely from patient to patient, because costs depend upon the exact treatment the patient receives. The following factors can change how much a patient owes for their treatment:

• Type of program
• Medication received
• Services used
• Length of treatment

Patients seeking addiction rehab should consult with their preferred addiction rehab facility to get an accurate estimate of their recovery expenses and to receive help finding the best payment option for their financial circumstances.

Private Health Insurance for Addiction Rehab

In Tennessee, private health insurance is available through both employers and healthcare exchanges. 74.4 percent of Tennessee facilities accept some form of private health insurance, making it one of the most broadly accepted payment options in the state. Patients should consult with their insurance companies before attending treatment to determine the exact coverages they can expect. Insurance plans often vary in copays, deductibles, covered treatment programs, and other details. Patients will also need to find a rehab facility that accepts their specific insurance plan in order to receive the maximum benefits available from that plan.

Medicaid and Medicare for Addiction Rehab

Medicaid and Medicare are federal healthcare programs designed for individuals who may otherwise struggle to pay for healthcare coverage. Medicare is intended for patients who are at least 65 years old. Medicaid is designed for anyone who meets certain low-income requirements. Both of these programs cover drug rehab expenses in full, as long as patients attend a treatment facility that accepts Medicaid or Medicare. In Tennessee, about 32 percent of facilities accept Medicare, and 62 percent accept Medicaid, making it possible for these patients to receive the treatment they need.

Uninsured Addiction Rehab

In 2019, 10 percent of residents in Tennessee lacked insurance of any kind. These uninsured individuals still have addiction treatment options, however. Here are two ways that the drug rehab facilities in the state make treatment more affordable:

Sliding Scale Payments

In Tennessee, 58.5 percent of addiction rehab facilities provide their services on a sliding scale. This means that they charge less for patients who make less money, in order to make treatment available to more people.

Free drug rehab

Only 4.5 percent of drug rehab facilities in Tennessee provide free treatment to all of their patients. However, 46.6 percent of facilities provide treatment at no charge or minimal charge for patients who are otherwise unable to pay for their treatment.

Tennessee's multiple payment options and services for financially needy patients mean that no one should avoid rehab due to concerns about cost. Instead, they can consult with addiction counselors to find programs that fit both their recovery and their financial needs.

Tennessee Drug Treatment Overview

Here is a look at some of the most important pros and cons related to Tennessee's drug treatment programs:

Pros

62.3 percent of rehab facilities in the state are private, nonprofit organizations, which are more likely to provide treatment options for financially needy individuals.

Designated bed utilization rates in Tennessee are very low: 82.3 percent for residential beds and 62.5 percent for hospital beds. These low rates make it easier for patients to get the treatment they need without long waits for beds to open up.

24.3 percent of facilities in the state provide long-term residential rehab, which is a relatively high percentage and which makes this effective form of treatment available to more patients.

Cons

At 34.5 percent of facilities, the acceptance rate for Medicare is low, which could make it harder for Medicare recipients to access the addiction treatment they require.

Active duty military and military family members can only access specialized treatment at 11.5 and 13.1 percent of Tennessee facilities, respectively. As a result, treatment may be harder to get for these patients.

Tennessee Drug Use Statistics

Tennessee struggles with a drug abuse epidemic similar to that faced by the rest of the nation. Here is a look at some of the state's most important drug use statistics:

From the State of Tennessee:

• In 2019, 3,032 individuals died of drug overdoses in the state.
• In 2019, 16,670 nonfatal outpatient overdose visits occurred in Tennessee.
• Between 2017 and 2020, drug overdose fatalities almost doubled in Tennessee.

From the SAMHSA:

• 16,954 individuals over the age of 12 were admitted for substance abuse treatment in Tennessee in 2020.
• 20.2 percent of these admissions were for amphetamines.
• 18.6 percent of these admissions were for heroin.
• 16.7 percent of these admissions were for other opiates.