State-Funded Drug Rehabilitation Programs

There are many drug rehab facilities and detox centers in the country. Most of them provide high quality care with full medical staff on call to ensure patients have a smooth guide to a successful recovery.

Unfortunately, most recovery options cost a lot of money. Many people cannot afford the high cost, even with a loan or payment plan. Treatment can take several months to complete and you may not maintain your employment while in treatment. This is a problem we often see. An individual is struggling with a drug dependency and wants help, but cannot manage to save money because they are still spending on drugs and alcohol.

In this situation, there are state funded drug rehabilitation centers that you can attend.

These kind of facilities target people living in poverty, low-income housing and people that do not have health insurance or insurance plans that will cover private treatment and detox. If a person does not have the funds or insurance to attend a private rehab or detox center, these programs are in place for free. These state sponsored rehabs will not have all the same accommodations as the private rehab center will, but they will set you on the right path to start your road to recovery. The funding grants received by these programs vary from state to state. Nationwide these facilities will offer different treatment options depending on what kind of funding they are receiving.

There are definitely benefits for going to state funded drug rehab. Two of the most commonly reported by previous patients is the cost and the care.

• The cost. These facilities are free of charge to patients that meet the requirements. Even though the layout of the program may not be as up to date as a private center and the accommodations not as comfortable, some patients cannot afford to spend their limited income on treatment. It’s better for them to get help with their dependency through these kinds of facilities than not at all.
• The care. Even though they may not have the newest equipment or use the latest techniques, the staff that work at these rehabs still know what they are doing and just want to see the client succeed in their recovery. These facilities may not be as upscale, but you can still recover in a state sponsored program.

Every drug rehabilitation program has its challenges. The following are some of the more significant disadvantages when choosing a state funded facility to start your recovery process.

• The waiting list. Drug dependency is a serious issue; it causes you to distance yourself from friends and family that care about you the most. Most people do not start to try and find help until they are in a serious debt, have lost employment and place of residence, or are having health issues due to their drug and alcohol use. Some have even experienced a combination of all of the above. It is extremely important to move quickly when a long term user seeks out help for drug dependency. It is both physically and emotionally taxing to ask for help, so typically, those struggling with addiction need to be moved into treatment right away, before they change their mind. Some state facilities have a wait list of 6 months or longer to get in, which is an automatic drawback to this type of facility.
• The revolving door. Since these programs have limited amount of funds and capacity, they will sometimes release patients before their treatment plan is complete. This can cause the patient to feel alienated and will often make them not want to attend rehab again if they do, in fact, relapse after receiving treatment.
• Outdated techniques. Again, due to the limited amount of funds available to these facilities, they have to manage with what they have access to. Many facilities may be outdated and not as upscale as a private center. The science of addiction is constantly growing and new techniques are always being explored, but due to low funding, state facilities tend to rely on older research because they have more experience and success associated with these methods. State drug rehabilitation facilities often use NA or AA and other 12 step programs.
• Privacy.Some clients in facilities funded by the state don’t feel completely comfortable opening up about their drug dependency because it’s affiliated with the government. Many people would rather find an alternate route to go where they’re not so close to home and the people, places, and things they are used to being around.

In a private rehab or detox facility, you call and speak to admissions, show proof of insurance and that you can provide payment for treatment. At this time, you may also have any questions answered and then enroll in the program.

When entering state-run programs, the admission process varies from state to state. First, you should call the center and find out what different programs are offered. Ask if you have to send in financial records, and proof of lack of health insurance, to show that you cannot afford to pay for treatment. Most likely you will be admitted or put on a waiting list, but remember, every state is different so do your research.

If you decide to seek treatment through a state-run program, remember the grants used to fund client care are not always split equally among treatment centers, meaning one program might not offer the same accommodations as another.

If you need help looking for a state funded program in your area, give us a call and we would love to help you with the process. We could also help you establish a payment plan with a treatment center of your choosing, if that is what you decide is best. We are here to help you.