How to Find Detox in Alaska

Every year, thousands of people struggle with addiction in silence. Even the idea of seeking treatment is overwhelming, and most avoid thinking about it altogether.

However, you’re not alone in this struggle.

Addiction is a real disease, and it’s steadily increasing in Alaska. In 2018, Alaska’s drug overdose rate was 14 for every 100,000 people, though it increased to 18 per 100,000 people in 2019.[1]

Despite these numbers, there are effective treatment options available for addiction, just like most other diseases.

This guide will show you how you can find treatment for withdrawals and get your life back on track.

Treatment Accreditations in Alaska

A quick Google search will reveal plenty of treatment centers available, but which one should you choose?

Unfortunately, not all treatment centers offer the same quality level, and your chances of recovering are largely dependent on the program you choose.

Accreditation organizations are third parties that inspect and certify addiction treatment centers that wish to earn certification. The accreditation organization will send a professional to the treatment facility to evaluate the program, staff, success rate, and facility to determine whether it effectively treats patients.

A few of the top treatment accreditation organizations include:

• The Joint Commission
• Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
• National Committee for Quality Assurance
• Council on Accreditation (COA)

Below is a full breakdown of the percentage of Alaska facilities that have accreditation from the above organizations.[2]

Facility Licensing, Certification, or Accreditation, by number and percent
	No.	%
Any listed agency/organization	87	95.60%
State substance abuse agency	63	69.23%
State mental health department	51	56.04%
State department of health	43	47.25%
Hospital licensing authority	5	5.49%
The Joint Commission	30	32.97%
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)	39	42.86%
National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)	3	3.30%
Council on Accreditation (COA)	9	9.89%
Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP)	0	0.00%
Other national organization or federal, state or local agency	4	4.40%
Total	91	100.00%

To find a list of treatment facilities with accreditation, you can go to the individual websites of each accreditation organization. The best place to start is likely CARF as they are the largest accreditation organization and nearly 43 percent of organizations are accredited with them.[3]

You can also check the state department of health as they also inspect and accredit treatment facilities. Their website has a full list of recommended resources as well.[4]

Types of Rehab in Alaska

Now that you have a list of several accredited treatment facilities, your next step is to choose one that offers a treatment program appropriate for your situation. The first phase in any addiction treatment recovery program is detoxification.

The detoxification process removes all toxins from your system, though it doesn’t cure addiction. Addiction is a neurological issue, and treatment involves retraining your brain to live without substance.[4] Therefore, the treatment process can only begin once your system is clean.

Depending on your addiction level, the detoxification process can be dangerous and even deadly if medical assistance isn’t on standby. Therefore, talk to each addiction treatment provider about their detoxification options.

Once you have an idea of each treatment provider’s detoxification options, the next step is to decide whether you will undergo inpatient or outpatient treatment.

Inpatient treatment is generally more intense than outpatient treatment as you live at the facility 24/7. You won’t be able to work or see family during the process, though inpatient treatment is generally the most effective solution for addiction and only lasts for about 30 to 90 days.

However, if inpatient treatment isn’t an option or you don’t require the same level of intensity, outpatient treatment is a great option as well.

With outpatient rehab, you will attend daily or weekly sessions and customize your schedule based on your needs.

While inpatient rehab is generally thought to be the most successful treatment option, studies show that an intensive outpatient program can be just as effective.[5]

In addition, outpatient treatment programs are abundantly available, with 83 percent of Alaska facilities offering outpatient programs while only about 30 percent offer inpatient programs.

Type of Care, by number and percent
	Facilities
	No.	%
Outpatient	76	83.52%
Regular	76	83.52%
Intensive	48	52.75%
Day Treatment/Partial Hospitalization	11	12.09%
Detoxification	9	9.89%
Methadone/buprenorphine maintenance or naltrexone treatment	19	20.88%
Residential (non-hospital)	28	30.77%
Short Term	13	14.29%
Long Term	25	27.47%
Detoxification	4	4.40%
Hospital Inpatient	1	1.10%
Treatment	0	0.00%
Detoxification	1	1.10%
Total	91	100.00%

Before making a decision, speak to a licensed professional about the two options to decide which is best suited for your situation.

How to Pay for Rehab in Alaska

The first payment option you’ve probably considered is insurance. About 96 percent of treatment facilities in Alaska accept private insurance, so you will likely be able to use it if that is your preferred payment method.

However, if your insurance doesn’t cover enough or you don’t have insurance, there are other options available as well.

First, if you don’t have insurance, you may qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. Medicaid is a government-funded health insurance option available to those with low income, and Medicare is available to those over the age of 65. You can find a full list of income limits here.[6]

Medicare and Medicaid are also widely accepted by most Alaskan treatment providers, with 50 percent accepting Medicare and 85 percent accepting Medicaid. You can find a list of providers that accept Medicare and Medicaid on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website.[7]

If you aren’t eligible for either of these options or don’t have a great insurance plan, there are other options available.

Fortunately, some facilities operate on a sliding pay scale, and other private facilities operate on grants and additional support to treat patients for free.

Here is a list of the various payment options available in Alaska:

Facility Payment Options, by Number and percent
	No.	%
Cash or self-payment	86	94.51%
Private Health Insurance	87	95.60%
Medicare	46	50.55%
Medicaid	77	84.62%
State-financed Health insurance	54	59.34%
Federal military insurance	70	76.92%
No payment accepted (free treatment for all clients)	1	1.10%
IHS/Tribal/Union (ITU) funds	42	46.15%
Other payments	0	0.00%
Sliding fee scale	77	84.62%
Treatment at no charge or minimal payment for clients who can’t pay	54	59.84%
Total	91	100.00%

 

Private & State-Funded Rehab in Alaska

While some of the facilities that offer free or low-cost treatment are privately funded non-profit organizations, the government is also interested in supporting addiction treatment.

In fact, the total cost of drug-related crimes is nearly $200 billion, whereas treating addiction would cost an estimated $14 billion.[8]

Therefore, state-funded and other government-supported treatment facilities now exist at little or no cost to patients.

Here’s a full breakdown of government-funded and private treatment centers in Alaska:

Facility Operation, by number and percent
	Facilities
	No.	%
Private Non-Profit	53	58.24%
Private for Profit	10	10.99%
Local, county, or community government	4	4.40%
State government	0	0.00%
Federal Government	4	4.40%
Tribal Government	20	21.98%
Total	91	100.00%

While there are affordable options to attend both state-funded and private treatment facilities, what’s the difference between the two?

In terms of treatment quality, state-funded and accredited private treatment facilities both offer quality medical care. If you choose a for-profit private treatment facility, your amenities will likely be more luxurious. You may also have access to a broader range of therapies, including music therapy, yoga classes, and more.

In addition, a state-funded treatment facility may place a time limit on how long you can stay in the program, which may be problematic for some patients.

Nonetheless, both are quality options that will effectively enable you to achieve recovery.

Find Detox in Alaska Today

Freeing yourself from addiction isn’t impossible. Thousands of people have managed to achieve sobriety and pull their lives back together. From getting a job to mending relationships with friends and family, it’s all possible. To find the same freedom, all you have to do is take the leap and begin an addiction recovery program. If you’d like to speak confidentially with a professional today, call us at and we’ll be happy to walk you through the next steps.

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