Expert Insights
What happens after a state legalizes marijuana – does it help or hurt the community? Turns out the effects are rather surprising. In Arizona, throughout the year of 2020, 28% of all drug arrests were related to marijuana. A year later in 2021, after legalizing medical or recreational use of the drug, arrest numbers had gone down to just 7%. While that’s great news, it’s kind of the end of the good news when it comes to the impact of marijuana legalization.
According to therapists and addiction treatment specialists in Arizona, the use of pot has become so “normalized” that people who are actually addicted to it don’t even recognize that they have a problem. Clinics around the state are seeing more women than men enter treatment for marijuana addiction, most of them between 18 and 45 years of age. But it’s the psychological effects that are becoming much more prevalent – and much more concerning – in excessive users. People seem to think marijuana is a sure thing when they’re looking to calm down or cope with a stressful situation. However, many of them are coming in for addiction treatment and reporting severe cases of marijuana-related anxiety, depression, delusions, hallucinations, and mania.
~ Kerry Nenn
How Much Does Drug Rehab Cost in Arizona?
Arizona is ranked 32nd nationwide in terms of addiction treatment affordability, with an average cost of drug and alcohol rehab of $56,789 (without insurance).
- Medical detox is the most expensive, with an average cost of $140,006
- Long-term inpatient drug rehab in Arizona costs an average of $50,113
- Outpatient addiction treatment in Arizona costs an average of $8,327
- Outpatient methadone treatment is the most affordable, with an average cost of $7,398
How to Pay for Drug Rehab in Arizona
As of 2024, there were over 500 drug rehab facilities across the state of Arizona. These facilities accept several payment methods. Of those treatment facilities, the following numbers reflect how many accept their respective payment methods:
381 accept self-payment or cash
208 offer sliding-scale fees for those without insurance
334 accept Medicaid insurance coverage
219 accept state funded insurance coverage
296 accept private health insurance
161 offer free or low-cost treatment
1 offer free treatment for all clients
187 accept tribal funding
