Alcohol and Drug Rehab in North Carolina

North Carolina has a startlingly high number of addiction-related deaths, with over 2,200 overdose deaths in 2018.[1] In other words, six people die of a drug overdose every single day.

In fact, North Carolina has the tenth highest drug overdose rate of all 50 states. However, this is a tiny percentage of the total people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. About 500,000 people over 12 years are estimated to struggle with substance abuse in North Carolina. Unfortunately, the trend has stayed roughly the same over the past several years.[2]

While this is certainly discouraging, there are treatment centers available to help alleviate those struggling with addiction break free.

If you’ve ever wanted to quit your addiction but didn’t know where to start, this resource will walk you through the process step-by-step. From learning what kind of treatment you need and how to find the right program to affording treatment and getting help, this guide has everything you need to know.

Types of Rehab in North Carolina

Choosing the right addiction treatment style is a key indicator of how successful treatment will be for that person. For example, if a person with a strong addiction that has experienced multiple hospitalizations chooses a weekly meetup, it’s unlikely that the treatment will be successful.

There are various types of addiction treatment that may be offered by rehab centers in North Carolina. Some of these treatment types may include:

• Medical detoxification services, commonly known simply as detox, is the process during which the body rids itself of substances. Many prefer to undergo detox in a medical setting due to the potential of physical withdrawal symptoms.
• Inpatient and residential. Often considered the mainstay of addiction treatment, inpatient treatment will see a patient living at a facility and receiving around the clock addiction treatment and care. Inpatient treatment tends to last a few weeks, while residential treatment can last up to a year.
• Outpatient treatment. Normally considered a follow-up to a more intensive inpatient track, outpatient treatment allows one to live at home and participate in daily life while still receiving critical addiction care.

You can see a full breakdown of all the inpatient and outpatient treatment centers available here:

Type of Care, by number and percent
	Facilities
	No.	%
Outpatient	432	84.21%
Regular	398	77.58%
Intensive	201	39.18%
Day Treatment/Partial Hospitalization	63	12.28%
Detoxification	42	8.19%
Methadone/buprenorphine maintenance or naltrexone treatment	158	30.80%
Residential (non-hospital)	90	17.54%
Short Term	29	5.65%
Long Term	71	13.84%
Detoxification	18	3.51%
Hospital Inpatient	33	6.43%
Treatment	21	4.09%
Detoxification	30	5.85%
Total	513	100.00%

Cost of Rehab in North Carolina

The cost of rehab in North Carolina will vary greatly depending on a number of factors. Some of these factors may include:

• Where you choose to attend treatment.
• What insurance plan you have.
• Whether a rehab is in-network with your insurance.
• Intensity of treatment.
• Length of treatment.
• Accommodations and amenities offered by a rehab center.

It’s important to reach out to your insurance company and any potential rehabs before committing to treatment to determine the extent of your coverage.

Ways to Pay for Rehab in North Carolina

Once you’ve decided on a treatment program and have a list of qualified treatment centers, your next question is probably how you’ll afford addiction treatment in North Carolina. Fortunately, you don’t have to pay for everything out of pocket.

About 64 percent of North Carolina facilities accept private insurance, and your insurer is required to pay for some of the cost of treatment under the Affordable Healthcare Act.[9]

Unfortunately, North Carolina has one of the highest percentages of uninsured people at 11.3 percent. However, the good news is that you may qualify for Medicare or Medicaid if you don’t have private health insurance.

You can learn more about Medicaid eligibility in North Carolina here.[10] If you’re over the age of 65 or have a disability, you may be eligible for Medicare. You can read more about North Carolina Medicare qualifications here.[11]

If you qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, you should be able to find some affordable treatment as 44 percent of facilities in North Carolina accept Medicare, and 68 percent accept Medicaid. Some ways to potentially help cover the cost of treatment include:

• Private insurance.
• Public insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, VA insurance, TRICARE, etc.)
• Private pay.
• Loans.
• Scholarships and grants.

This table below breaks down the payment options available for North Carolinians and how withdrawal treatment centers in the state accept them.

Facility Payment Options, by Number and percent
	No.	%
Cash or self-payment	458	89.28%
Private Health Insurance	326	63.55%
Medicare	224	43.66%
Medicaid	349	68.03%
State-financed Health insurance	268	52.24%
Federal military insurance	214	41.72%
No payment accepted (free treatment for all clients)	16	3.12%
IHS/Tribal/Union (ITU) funds	26	5.07%
Other payments	3	0.58%
Sliding fee scale	244	47.56%
Treatment at no charge or minimal payment for clients who can’t pay	235	45.81%
Total	513	100.00%

 

Private & State-Funded Rehab in North Carolina

Addiction is a major economic cost to the government. In a single year, addiction cost the North Carolina government over $7 billion dollars.[12]

Unfortunately, jail time is minimally effective at stopping the problem. Rather than investing more money in incarcerating people, the government now funds treatment programs to eliminate the root of the problem.

Therefore, state-funded treatment facilities now exist for those in desperate situations. They are either free to attend or very low cost, though this also means that they usually have a long waitlist, and some are only available to those who have been court-ordered to attend.

The program quality is usually equal to that of a private paid treatment facility, though there is often a time limit on how long patients are allowed to stay.

Another option is a non-profit private treatment facility. These facilities are funded by taxes, charities, or donations and operate on either a sliding scale fee or are free to attend.

Non-profit private treatment facilities lack the amenities of private for-profit facilities, though you’ll be able to receive all of the basic care. Nevertheless, you may still have to apply to attend, given that these facilities are also competitive to enter.

For more information on the options available, see the table breaking down withdrawal treatment facility operations here.

Facility Operation, by number and percent
	Facilities
	No.	%
Private Non-Profit	196	38.21%
Private for Profit	279	54.39%
Local, county, or community government	13	2.53%
State government	12	2.34%
Federal Government	11	2.14%
Tribal Government	2	0.39%
Total	513	100.00%

Finding Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers in North Carolina

Once you’ve decided to commit to treatment in North Carolina, you’ll need to go about finding a rehab center that suits your needs. One of the first steps would be to reach out to your doctor or to a trusted medical professional. They may be able to help determine your needs and possibly refer you to a North Carolina Rehab. You may also consider visiting the SAMHSA treatment locator to find nearby NC facilities.

You may also consider reaching out to our addiction helpline. The American Addiction Centers (AAC) addiction helpline is staffed by professionals who can help guide you through the process of selecting the best treatment program, understanding treatment costs, and how you can move forward. Give us a call at or you can contact us through text.

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