Birmingham is having its annual CityWalk BHAM soon, and it’s for a great cause. In 2022, there were 418 confirmed overdose deaths in Jefferson County.An astounding 80% of those were related to fentanyl. By taking part in community Walks Like CityWalk BHAM, you can help make change happen. When you sign up, you can raise funds or simply show up to show your support. It helps to spread awareness about the serious drug epidemic in Birmingham and Alabama as a whole.
The money collected goes towards funding addiction treatment resources in the area, something that Birmingham desperately needs – especially in the rural areas of the city without access to vital treatment resources or clinics. I hope to see more of these community efforts pop up around the country.
How We Rank Listings
Our directory organizes drug and alcohol rehab centers in Birmingham to help you compare real options and take the next step with confidence. Listings reflect facilities that serve the Birmingham and Jefferson County area, drawn from public data and information reported by the providers themselves.
We prioritize facilities that hold recognized accreditation from the Joint Commission or CARF, carry a current state license, and offer the levels of care most people need, from medical detox through outpatient support. We also surface details that matter when you are choosing where to go, such as accepted insurance and payment options, specialty programs for specific populations, and whether a center treats co-occurring mental health conditions alongside substance use.
- Accreditation and state licensing status
- Levels of care offered, from detox to aftercare
- Accepted insurance and payment options
- Specialty programs and co-occurring care
Rehab in Birmingham: What to Know
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama and the center of a metro area with more than one million residents. It also has the state’s largest concentration of addiction treatment services. Our directory lists 33 drug and alcohol rehab centers in Birmingham, and you can compare them with programs throughout the Alabama rehab directory.
Treatment is coordinated in part by the Jefferson County Department of Health. The Recovery Resource Center, a free program of the Crisis Center, Inc., provides ASAM-based assessments and connects people with treatment regardless of their ability to pay.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham also offers addiction treatment and recovery services. Its emergency department connects patients with opioid use disorder to medication-assisted treatment. Learn more in our guide to addiction treatment options.
Opioids, especially fentanyl, continue to drive overdose deaths in the area. Jefferson County recorded about 483 to 494 accidental overdose deaths in 2023, with fentanyl involved in about 78% of them. Deaths have since declined, supported by wider naloxone distribution, legal fentanyl test strips, and real-time overdose data sharing.
If you or a loved one is living with opioid use disorder, effective treatment is available. The Alabama Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council, created in 2017, brings together state agencies, healthcare providers, and first responders. In Jefferson County, the council has supported naloxone and fentanyl test strip distribution, efforts credited with helping reduce overdose deaths in 2024 and 2025.
Cost of Rehab in Birmingham
Treatment costs in Birmingham are best understood against statewide averages, since most Alabama facilities set fees by level of care, length of stay, and the services included rather than by city.
As the state’s largest metro, Birmingham offers the widest span of options, from lower-cost outpatient and state-funded programs to private residential care at the higher end of the state range. The figures below reflect Alabama averages and give a realistic sense of what to expect.
Your actual cost depends on several factors, and insurance or state funding often reduces the out-of-pocket amount substantially. If cost feels like a barrier, our guide to choosing a rehab center covers how to compare programs on more than price alone.
How to Pay for Rehab in Birmingham
Across the 33 Birmingham facilities in our directory, most accept more than one form of payment, and many combine private insurance, public coverage, and income-based options so that cost is not the deciding factor in getting care. The counts below show how payment options break down among local centers.
The right payment path depends on your coverage and circumstances. Here is how the main options for treatment work in Birmingham.
Medicare
Nine Birmingham facilities in our directory accept Medicare. Medicare Part A covers inpatient care and Part B covers outpatient services, including treatment for substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions.
Many Alabama residents enrolled in Medicare carry a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, which may add behavioral health benefits. If you are unsure what your plan covers, our guide to using insurance for rehab walks through how to verify benefits before you enroll.
Medicaid
Sixteen Birmingham centers accept Alabama Medicaid. Substance use and mental health services are exempt from copays under Alabama Medicaid, which means eligible members typically pay nothing out of pocket for covered treatment.
Coverage includes outpatient care, intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization, and medication for opioid use disorder such as buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. If a medication-based approach is part of your plan, see our overview of medication-assisted treatment.
Note that Alabama did not expand Medicaid, so adult eligibility is limited; the Alabama Medicaid Recipient Call Center at (800) 362-1504 can confirm whether you qualify.
Military Benefits
Five Birmingham facilities accept TRICARE, and veterans can also access care through the Birmingham VA. The VA operates one of its four Alabama inpatient facilities in Birmingham, alongside outpatient and mental health services. Veterans and active-duty service members can find additional support through our rehab resources for veterans and military.
Insurance and Private Pay
Private insurance is the most widely accepted form of coverage among Birmingham centers, with 26 facilities taking commercial plans. Federal parity law requires most health plans to cover substance use treatment comparably to other medical care. Self-payment is accepted at 30 facilities, and 9 offer financing to spread costs over time.
Other Low-Cost Options
For those without robust coverage, 6 Birmingham facilities offer sliding-scale fees based on income and 6 offer financial assistance. Alabama’s state-funded providers, contracted through the Alabama Department of Mental Health, also use a sliding fee scale that can result in low or no-cost care for people with limited income.
Free Treatment Programs
Options exist even without insurance or income. Some nonprofit and faith-based providers in the Birmingham area serve clients regardless of their ability to pay, and grant funding supports several programs. Learn more about accessing care through rehab scholarships, and see the free and low-cost resources listed further down this page.
- Aetna
- Amerigroup
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
- Cigna
- Humana
- UnitedHealthcare
- TRICARE
- Medicaid
- Medicare
Levels of Care Available in Birmingham
Birmingham offers the full continuum of addiction care, with 16 medical detox facilities, 20 inpatient rehab programs, and 27 standard outpatient clinics among the 33 centers in our directory. The right starting point depends on the severity of use, whether withdrawal requires medical supervision, and personal responsibilities like work and family.
Medical detox is often the first step for people physically dependent on alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines, where stopping without supervision can be dangerous. A supervised medical detox manages withdrawal safely before ongoing treatment begins.
Inpatient and residential care provides 24-hour support in a structured setting, which suits people with severe use or an unstable home environment. Our guide to residential treatment explains what a typical stay involves.
Partial hospitalization and outpatient programs let people receive intensive treatment while living at home, and are common for those stepping down from residential care or balancing recovery with daily responsibilities. See our overview of outpatient rehab and intensive outpatient programs.
Dual diagnosis programs treat substance use and a co-occurring condition such as co-occurring depression or anxiety together, which improves outcomes when both are present. Twenty Birmingham facilities offer this integrated approach.
Sober living homes and continuing support help maintain progress after formal treatment ends. Our guide to rehab aftercare covers how to plan for the transition.
Specialty Programs in Birmingham
Many Birmingham centers tailor care to specific populations, which can make treatment feel more relevant and effective. The counts below reflect facilities in our directory offering each specialty focus.
Gender-specific programs let people focus on recovery in an environment shaped around shared experiences, and young adult tracks address the distinct pressures facing people early in adulthood. Alcohol remains the most commonly treated substance locally, and 24 facilities offer dedicated care for alcohol use disorder.
Given the county’s fentanyl-driven overdose picture, 16 centers focus on opioid use disorder. Three facilities offer LGBTQ+ affirming addiction care, and three provide programs geared toward veterans and military members.
Free and Low-Cost Rehab Resources in Birmingham
Cost should not stand between you and help. Birmingham and Jefferson County have a strong network of free assessments, crisis support, harm reduction, and public programs. The resources below can connect you to care whether or not you have insurance.
Crisis and Assessment
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for free, 24/7 support during a mental health or substance use crisis. See our crisis support and suicide prevention resources for more. https://988lifeline.org/
- Crisis Center of Jefferson County Crisis and Suicide Line: Local 24/7 line at (205) 323-7777. https://www.crisiscenterbham.org/
- Recovery Resource Center (Crisis Center, Inc.): Free ASAM assessments, peer support, and referrals to treatment; walk-ins welcome and no drug testing required. Cooper Green Mercy Health Services, 1515 6th Avenue South, 6th floor, Birmingham, AL 35233. Phone: (205) 458-3377. https://mh.alabama.gov/at_biz_dir/recovery-resource-center/
- SAMHSA National Helpline: Free, confidential treatment referral and information, 24/7, at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline
Public Health and Government
- Jefferson County Department of Health: Coordinates local substance use resources and naloxone distribution. Central Health Center, 1400 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233. Phone: (205) 588-5234. https://jchealth.com/
- Alabama Department of Mental Health, Substance Use Services: Contracts with community providers statewide; state-funded programs use a sliding fee scale for low or no-cost care. Find a provider at mh.alabama.gov.
- Alabama 211 (Connects Alabama): Dial 211 or visit 211connectsalabama.org for referrals to treatment, food, housing, and financial assistance. https://www.211connectsalabama.org/
Harm Reduction
- Free naloxone (Narcan) and fentanyl test strips: Distributed by the Jefferson County Department of Health and the Recovery Resource Center through walk-in pickup, community boxes, and mail order. Contact the RRC at (205) 458-3377. https://mh.alabama.gov/at_biz_dir/recovery-resource-center/
Community and Nonprofit
- Fellowship House: Long-standing Birmingham nonprofit offering residential and outpatient recovery services. Phone: (205) 933-2430. https://fshbhm.org/
- JBS Mental Health Authority: Serves Jefferson, Blount, and St. Clair counties with mental health and crisis services. Phone: (205) 595-4555. https://jbsmentalhealth.com/
- Aletheia House: Birmingham substance use treatment center offering residential care and MAT; accepts Medicaid. https://www.specialkindofcaring.org/
Drug and Alcohol Use Statistics in Birmingham
Jefferson County has been at the center of Alabama’s overdose crisis, but recent data shows meaningful progress. Accidental overdose deaths peaked in 2023 and then fell sharply as naloxone access and real-time overdose tracking expanded across the county.
The fentanyl surge reshaped who is affected: for the first time on record, overdose deaths in the Black community surpassed those among white residents in 2023, according to the coroner’s office.
The recent decline is credited to expanded naloxone distribution, the 2022 decriminalization of fentanyl test strips, and over-the-counter naloxone access beginning in 2023. If opioids or fentanyl are part of your situation, our guide to fentanyl addiction and overdose risk explains the risks and treatment options. For national context, see our national substance use statistics.
Resources
- Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama. (2025). Data-informed Decision Making Helps Drive Down Overdose Deaths in 2024. https://parcalabama.org/data-informed-decision-making-helps-drive-down-overdose-deaths-in-2024/
- Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner’s Office. (2024). 2023 Annual Report. https://www.jccal.org/
- WBRC. (2026). Jefferson County sees dramatic decline in overdose deaths after record high in 2023. https://www.wbrc.com/2026/01/09/jefferson-county-sees-dramatic-decline-overdose-deaths-after-record-high-2023/
- Addictions.com. (2025). Alcohol and Drug Rehabs in Alabama. https://www.addictions.com/rehabs/alabama/
- Alabama Department of Mental Health. Substance Use Services. https://mh.alabama.gov/division-of-mental-health-substance-abuse-services/substance-abuse-treatment-services/
- Alabama Medicaid Agency. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. https://medicaid.alabama.gov/
- Crisis Center, Inc. Recovery Resource Center. https://www.crisiscenterbham.org/recovery-resource-center/
- Jefferson County Department of Health. Substance Use and Addiction Recovery Resources. https://www.jcdh.org/
