Top 18 Alcohol & Drug Rehab Centers in Laredo, TX & Free Treatment Resources

Laredo is one of the most historic towns on the Southern border, home to one of the first crossing points on the Mexico-United States border. Unfortunately, it is affected by the alcohol and drug epidemics, just like many other towns in America. Government officials and local treatment centers are working to combat the epidemic, from introducing new services to outreach programs. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, there are more than 10 accredited alcohol and drug rehab centers in Laredo that can help put you on the path to recovery.¹

Drug-related deaths in Laredo decreased from 43 in 2017 to 27 in 2018.

Of the 219 overdose deaths between 2012 and 2018, 156 were related to opioids.

In 2018, the Laredo police made 1,073 arrests for possession of controlled substances

In 2018, emergency services in Laredo received a total of 122 calls for drug overdoses.¹

Webb County is in region 11 in South Texas. The 2020 Regional Needs Assessment discovered specific areas of concern for our county and the surrounding counties in region 11. For example,²

• 23% believed they could access alcohol, with 4.6% reporting they engaged in binge drinking in the month before the survey
• 19% said marijuana
• 6% said synthetic marijuana
• 19% said inhalants

Regarding region 11 arrests of minors and adults due to substance abuse in 2019,²

• 10 DUIs for minors and 5,320 DUIs for adults
• 44 for underage drunkenness and 8,420 for adults
• 1,946 alcohol-related car accidents.²

Drug rehabs in Laredo vary in cost. Some facilities are expensive and may cost hundreds of dollars a week, while others can offer free services to residents who meet their eligibility requirements. Amenities can increase costs as well. For example, if you want a private room, special meals, and access to electronics and television, the total cost increases.

The more it costs your Laredo alcohol rehabs of choice to accommodate you, the more it will cost you. Fortunately, many types of Laredo addiction treatment centers can create a custom plan to meet your financial and recovery needs.

State-funded drug and alcohol rehabs are for everyone, including those with financial barriers who cannot afford substance abuse treatment. Designated drug rehabs in Laredo are awarded funding from federal resources to provide screening, assessments, and inpatient and outpatient services at low or no cost to eligible recipients. They often require serving priority populations, including:³

• Drug users who use needles for injecting
• Pregnant people
• Pregnant people who inject drugs
• Women with dependent children

Your search for free or low-cost drug rehab in Laredo can begin by contacting your local Webb County mental health and substance abuse program. The people there can refer you for outreach, screening, assessment, and referral (OSAR) services in region 11. An example of a provider is the Tropical Texas Behavioral Health LMHA.⁴

Two significant acts allow insurance companies to cover Laredo drug rehabs. One is the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and the other is the Affordable Care Act. Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance must now expand coverage for substance abuse treatment, which must be equal to coverage provided for medical and surgical care.

Because plans vary by state and by individual choices of what to include in a plan, the best way to determine your coverage is to call your insurance company directly. On the back of your insurance card is a customer service number. Typically, someone is available to answer questions around the clock. You may also search the company’s website for more information.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides insurance coverage to residents of Laredo that meet eligibility requirements, such as having low or no income based on the size of your household. Other requirements include:⁵.

• Texas residency
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
• Child or children you are responsible for under 18
• Medical conditions such as pregnancy

To apply for Medicaid, contact the Texas Health and Human Services Department. You can also take an eligibility quiz on the department’s website before starting.⁵

Medicare

If you are over 65 or under 65 with a disability, you may qualify for Medicare insurance. You cannot receive Medicaid and Medicare at the same time. Most people are automatically switched to Medicare upon their 65th birthday. Income also plays a role in determining eligibility. For a single person, $1,529 is the monthly income eligibility, and for a couple, $2,060.⁶

Private Insurance

Laredo’s popular private insurance plans include Aetna, Ameri Plus, Magellan, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and United Healthcare.⁷ Each insurer offers unique plans that differ from the others. However, they all include substance abuse treatment services. To access these services, you may need to pay a copay, deductible, or both, on top of your monthly premium.

Inpatient drug rehabs in Laredo operate differently than outpatient programs. However, many of the services are the same.

Prior to getting placed into a specific level of care, you may first need to do a medical detox, depending on how severe your addiction is. A detox will clear your body of drugs and alcohol while managing painful and sometimes dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Inpatient, also referred to as residential care, means you will stay in a facility 24/7 so doctors and nurses can observe you and provide medical care if needed.

Outpatient drug rehabs in Laredo, on the other hand, can be attended part-time and are for patients who are more stable mentally and physically, meaning they don’t need medical supervision all the time.

Outpatient Laredo detox centers and rehabs have partial-hospitalization programs (PHPs), intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), and standard outpatient care. PHPs offer twenty or more hours each week of individual and group counseling. IOPs offer ten or more hours each week of individual and group counseling.

Finally, once you complete your program, you will follow an aftercare plan to help you maintain your sobriety. This may come in the form of 12-step meetings, non-12-step meetings, continued therapy, and transitional housing.

Take extra time to assess your needs. Ask yourself questions about the kind of drug rehabilitation that will work best for you.

There are different facilities that offer special services to help support you while in recovery:

Holistic

Holistic drug rehabs in Laredo offer alternative treatments to heal the whole person. A disconnection occurs in your mind, body, and spirit when misusing substances. Holistic programs assist in reconnecting these three so you can experience complete healing.

Christian and Faith-Based

If you believe in a higher power or want faith or religion to be a part of your recovery, choose a faith-based or Christian drug rehab in Laredo. Most programs incorporate Bible studies, prayer time, 12 Step facilitation, and volunteer work into recovery treatment plans.

Luxury

You don’t necessarily have to be wealthy to attend a luxury drug rehab in Laredo. Luxury typically refers to the amenities provided at the facility. Examples may include spa treatments, fitness activities, chef-cooked meals, private rooms, access to electronics, etc.

Executive

Executive drug and alcohol rehabs in Laredo are perfect for business professionals who cannot spend time away from their organizations. These people are usually important decision-makers for their companies. They provide substance abuse treatment and offer business amenities during the day.

Dual Diagnosis 
Much research has proven addiction and mental health go hand in hand. If your mental health is unstable, you also experience physical health problems. Similarly, if your physical health is impaired, your mental health may suffer.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a big part of inpatient and outpatient drug and alcohol rehab programs in Laredo. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved MAT for alcohol and opioid use disorders.

Too often, without MAT, people relapse to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. MAT is beneficial in easing withdrawal symptoms and cravings in early recovery so you can focus on learning the necessary skills for recovery. Each MAT-approved medicine has advantages.

Methadone: Methadone is a synthetic opioid to treat opioid use disorder. This prevents a person from getting high or experiencing euphoria while still averting the physical withdrawal symptoms.

Suboxone: Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone that treats opioid use disorders. Buprenorphine is a slow-release synthetic opioid. Naloxone does not become active unless someone tries to misuse Suboxone, like trying to inject it. Then, naloxone binds to opioid receptors in the brain and reverses the opioid effects, sending you into withdrawal.

Naltrexone: Naltrexone is the only MAT medicine approved by the FDA for opioid and alcohol use disorders. Naltrexone is not an opioid or sedative. It works by blocking the euphoric or sedative effects you feel when misusing opiates or alcohol. Naltrexone also reduces cravings for both substances.

Antabuse (Disulfiram): Antabuse is also called disulfiram and treats alcohol use disorders. As a MAT, Antabuse is prescribed by a licensed physician or psychiatrist. It comes in pill form. Suppose you choose to drink alcohol while taking Antabuse. In that case, you will experience an adverse reaction that may include nausea, vomiting, flu-like symptoms, flushing, blurred vision, breathing and heart rate problems, and chest pain, to name a few.

Acamprosate: To start taking the MAT known as acamprosate or Campral, your system must be free of alcohol for at least one week. Only a licensed physician can prescribe acamprosate, an excellent drug for restoring the neurotransmitters in the brain that alcohol misuse damages.

Laredo is a border town with Mexico, which means it is soaked in diverse cultures. Deciding to travel to Laredo drug rehabs must include factors that can aid in your recovery.

Successful recovery plans include full calendars with healthy activities that distract you from relapse triggers and replace substance abuse behaviors with other positive behaviors. Each Laredo neighborhood has its advantages for living a sober lifestyle.

If it’s history you want, you will not be disappointed in Laredo. For example, Old Mercado, St. Peter’s, San Augustin, El Azteca, and the Fort McIntosh Historic Districts are home to museums, galleries, expositions, and other cultural adventures.

The Rio Grande Valley is a great way to connect to the natural beauty of Laredo. Doing so helps you reconnect your mind, body, and spirit. Try the Lake Casa Blanca International State Park to receive nature’s benefits. You can fish, hike, bike, or enjoy the lake.

Downtown Laredo is one of two central business districts with streets named after American and Mexican generals. It offers a long list of recovery-positive activities, like attending classes at the Laredo Community College. It has modern aspects such as high-rise buildings and government offices and many properties on the national historic register. Plus, it has the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge for border crossing.

San Bernardo Avenue is 40 blocks of shopping. From local Mexican products to name-brand stores, you can find what you are looking for here. If you are in recovery, this may be a great place to pick up a part-time job to fill those times when you may feel bored, which can trigger a relapse. Working in the community is the best way to get involved and meet new people.

Wherever you stay in Laredo, you can access sporting events. It has minor league teams in numerous sports and collegiate sporting events. Playing and watching sports is a great distraction and stress reliever when you feel like drinking or misusing substances.

You will also find Spanish and English-speaking Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups in Laredo that meet every day.

Texas has several drug and alcohol laws protecting the people of Laredo.

House Bill 2174: House Bill 2174 requires physicians to write opioid prescriptions for no longer than ten days, and the prescriptions cannot have refills. The Sandra Bland Act requires jailers to assess mental health and substance use disorders and send inmates for treatment rather than keeping them in jail.

The Good Samaritan Act: The Good Samaritan Act in Texas protects you from being arrested or charged if you are in good faith trying to save another person’s life, even if you yourself are misusing alcohol or drugs at the time. For example, if you are misusing heroin with a friend and your friend overdoses, you can call 911 for help without the fear of being arrested or getting in trouble.

1. FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov. 
2. Laredo/ Webb County Drug and Alcohol Commission. (2018). Substance Use Services Directory.
3. Behavioral Health Solutions of South Texas Prevention Resource Center 11. (2020). Regional Needs Assessment.
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant.
5. Texas Health and Human Services. (2022). Outreach, Screening, Assessment, and Referral.
6. Texas Health and Human Services. (2022). What is Texas Medicaid?
7. Texas Health and Human Services. (2022). Medicare.
8. Texas Department of Insurance. (2020). Top 40 List of Insurers.