Top Drug Rehab Centers in Arizona & Free Treatment Resources

Arizona Substance Abuse Statistics

In 2020, nearly 15% of adults in Arizona reported illicit drug use, and close to 54% reported alcohol use.¹

A national survey on drug use and health revealed the following statistics among adults in Arizona:¹

Almost 19% reported using marijuana in the past year.

Nearly 1% reported heroin use in the past year.

Approximately 2% reported methamphetamine use in the past year.

About 24% reported binge drinking in the past month.

Rehab Admissions in Arizona

In 2019, the most commonly used substances in Arizona were: ²

Alcohol

Opioids

Stimulants

Marijuana

Cocaine

These substances made up 90% of all admission for substance use for people who are 12 years and older.²

Each year, thousands of people in Arizona are admitted for drug and alcohol use. In 2019, a national survey revealed the following rehab admission statistics in Arizona for people 12 years and older:²

Almost 11,000 were treated for alcohol use.²

About 7,200 were treated for heroin.

Nearly 9,000 were treated for methamphetamines.

Close to 5,000 were treated for marijuana.

About 1,000 were treated for cocaine.

The survey data showed that about 26% of the alcohol treatment admissions were American Indian or Alaskan natives, 67% were white, and close to 7% were Black or African American.²

What is the Cost of Drug Rehabs in Arizona?

The cost of rehab in Arizona will vary based on multiple factors including:

Setting (outpatient vs residential).

Funding or insurance type (Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, or self-payment).

Type organization (federal, state, private for-profit, or private nonprofit).

Length of stay.

You can expect to pay an average of $1,706 for outpatient rehab and $56,789 for residential treatment in Arizona.³

Compared to other states, the cost of rehab in Arizona is relatively high. Arizona was ranked the 31st state in a list of non-hospital rehab from least to most expensive.³ However, the average cost of outpatient drug and alcohol rehab in Arizona is the same as in New York, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.³

Low-Cost and Free Rehabs in Arizona

You can reduce the price of professional help by choosing a free drug and alcohol rehab center in Arizona.

State-Funded Rehabs 

Arizona’s Substance Abuse Block Grant (SABG) funds Arizona rehabs so that they can provide low-cost and free treatment to those with no health insurance and are unable to otherwise afford care.⁵

SABG funding is available for uninsured people in the following order of priority:⁵

• Teenagers of pregnant people who inject drugs
• People who use drugs by injection
• Women or teenagers with children who use drugs and alcohol
• Anyone who uses drugs and alcohol as funding is available

You have to show active drug or alcohol use in the last 12 months for SABG eligibility.⁵

Four Regional Behavioral Health Authorities (RBHAs) and three Tribal Regional Behavioral Health Authorities (TRBHAs) operate as state-managed care organizations throughout Arizona.⁶ You can find out about how to get into a state-funded rehab by contacting the RBHA or TRBHA in your area.

Does Insurance Cover Arizona Addiction Treatment Centers?

Yes, insurance typically covers Arizona drug rehab because of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity Act (MHPAE). The MHPAEA is a federal law that ensures your plan covers substance abuse treatment to the same extent it does medical and surgical care.⁷

Private Insurance

The benefits of the MHPAEA were extended by the ACA by adding drug and alcohol rehab as essential benefits for individual and small group insurance, meaning your private insurance plan should provide partial or full coverage.8 

Ultimately, the extent of insurance coverage may depend on many things, including the setting, length of care, your deductible, co-pay, and co-insurance. The specific substance you use may also affect your coverage. Marijuana use has been associated with the most coverage whereas heroin use has been linked with the least insurance coverage.8 

Please call our helpline 800-926-9037 (Who Answers?) to verify your insurance coverage and to find a quality drug rehab center in Arizona.

Medicaid

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCs), Arizona’s Medicaid program, is a government insurance program, and you can use it to pay for professional addiction treatment. 9,10

You may qualify for Medicaid in Arizona if you are a:⁹

• Low-income adult.
• Child
• Pregnant woman.
• Elderly adult.
• Person with disabilities.

The AHCCCS offers coverage for the following drug and alcohol rehab services:¹⁰

• Day programs
• Crisis services
• Prevention, education, and medication training
• Residential services
• Rehabilitation services, including living skills, supported employment, and education support

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are:⁹

• 65 years or older.
• Under 65 with certain disabilities.
• All ages with end-stage renal disease.

Medicare covers treatment services as long as they are reasonable and necessary. Medicare coverage for rehab services includes:¹¹

• Outpatient treatment
• Screening
• Partial hospitalization
• Inpatient treatment
• Brief interventions
• Referrals

How To Finance Alcohol and Drug Rehab in Arizona

Money should not be a barrier to receiving quality care. If the free rehabs are full, you don’t qualify for free rehab, or you don’t have insurance, you can consider plans that reduce the cost of care. Alternatives to free rehab include payment plans, sliding scale, and rehab scholarships.

Choose a Program That Offers Payment Plans: Payment plans allow you to pay for the rehab service in small amounts over time instead of one large amount. Many programs in Arizona offer financing plans to alleviate the financial burden of recovery.

Apply for a Rehab Scholarship: You may qualify for a rehab scholarship if you need financial assistance to pay for help. Rehab scholarships available in Arizona are typically offered by individual programs although you can also apply through third-party organizations, such as 10,000 Beds.

Find a Sliding Scale Rehab Program: You can find a sliding scale rehab program in Arizona to help pay for rehab if you have no or limited income and no health insurance. Sliding scale rehab programs modify their fees based on your ability to pay.⁴

Addiction Treatment Settings

With several hundred rehabs to choose from in Arizona, you have no shortage of options for quality care, with many different treatment settings available. You can help narrow down your selection by first considering which setting is best for your lifestyle, personal commitments, and needs.

Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient rehab is an intensive treatment setting that provides care 24 hours a day. This setting offers primary nursing and medical care as well as withdrawal management. A benefit of inpatient rehab is the availability of a multidisciplinary team to treat co-occurring mental health conditions and physical illness. This service setting will work well if you lack a stable living or work situation or family support in Arizona.3

Partial Hospitalization Programs

Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), also known as day treatment programs, are the most intensive form of outpatient care. You attend treatment for up to 30 hours per week and return home during non-treatment hours, typically the evening.

Intensive Outpatient Programs

Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), which is a step down from a PHP, provides anywhere from 9 to 20 hours of care per week, with patients returning home during non-treatment hours.

Standard Outpatient

The least intensive option, standard outpatient settings provide treatment and therapy for a few hours per week at a clinic or a psychologist’s office. This option is typically best for those with a mild addiction or those who have already completed an inpatient program.

Medical Detox Treatment

Medical detox involves 24/7 medical care to manage withdrawal symptoms and ensure a person’s comfort and safety. It’s not a substitute for addiction treatment but rather the initial step on the continuum of care. Withdrawal from large amounts of drugs and alcohol can be accompanied by severe symptoms, such as hallucinations, seizures, or other dangerous conditions.3

Medical detox promotes safety during withdrawal by preventing severe symptoms. It typically takes place in a hospital or special detox unit under close supervision for a few days to one week or more.3

Specialized Alcohol and Drug Rehab in Arizona for Various Populations

Rehabs in Arizona cater to the needs of a diverse population. You can find specialized rehab in Arizona for various populations, such as veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, teens, and more.

Veteran Drug Rehab

Veterans often struggle with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A veteran drug rehab provides trauma-informed care and trauma therapies to help veterans heal from combat and/or sexual assault experienced in active duty. Veterans may also feel comfortable sharing and opening up in an environment with those who understand what they’ve experienced.

LGBTQ+ Rehab

LGBTQ+ people tend to struggle with substance abuse more than their cisgender, heterosexual peers. This may be due to many reasons, such as systemic oppression, personal discrimination, family or religious rejection, sexual– and gender-based violence, and more. An LGBTQ+ treatment center contextualizes these experiences, provides trauma-informed care and a safe environment, and staffs compassionate, culturally responsive people, often LGBTQ+ themselves, so that patients can see themselves reflected in their care.

Men-Only Rehab

Men may have unique challenges when it comes to recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, such as difficulties with vulnerability and communication and shame related to seeking help. Many men find comfort and community in men-only drug rehabs where they feel safe to express themselves.

Women-Only Rehab

Women also may present with unique struggles during addiction recovery, such as sexual assault or sexual violence, domestic partner violence, co-occurring eating disorders, and beyond. A women-only rehab provides them with a safe and comfortable treatment setting to share their stories and learn from the stories of others.

Teen Rehab

Teens often have different needs than adults recovering from substance addiction. They may be struggling with peer pressure, bullying, grade-related stress, college applications, as well as navigating dating and sexuality. As such, they may not feel as open at an adult rehab, nor would they receive appropriate peer support. At a teen rehab, adolescents can form meaningful connections with those who understand their experiences.

Should I Travel to Arizona for Drug and Alcohol Rehab?

The reasons for traveling to Arizona include the following:

• You have friends and family in Arizona that can provide social support.
• You prefer a rehab far from your old environment.
• You prefer the Arizona weather.
• You want a resort with a view of the Arizona landscape.
• You can’t find your preferred rehab in your current state.

Regional Considerations in Arizona

Arizona consists of three major land regions from north to south: the Colorado plateau, the Transition Zone, and the Basin and Ridge Region.

The Colorado Plateau

The Colorado plateau is located in the northern 2/5 of Arizona. This region has broad, mostly flat, level land with occasional soaring mountains and deep canyons. This region is known for its beautiful canyons and the Colorado River. You may consider choosing a drug and alcohol rehab in this region because of the natural beauty of the area.

The Transition Zone

The transition zone is south of the Colorado Plateau and north of the Arizona Basin and Ridge Region. This region is known for its rugged mountain ranges and valleys. You may consider a drug and alcohol rehab in this region if you want to receive treatment in a scenic area with mountain views.

The Basin and Ridge Region

The Basin and Ridge region is south of the Transition Zone in Arizona and shares a western border with California. This region is known for mountain ranges running from the northwest in a southeasterly direction. You may consider this region if you want a program close to California.

Alcohol and Drug Laws in Arizona

Naloxone Standing Order: Arizona has a standing order that allows any licensed pharmacist to dispense naloxone to residents without a prescription, increasing access to this life-saving medication.¹²

Good Samaritan Law: The Arizona Good Samaritan law protects people from drug-related prosecution if they seek emergency medical care for someone who is overdosing.¹²

Court-Ordered Treatment: Under Arizona law, people who plead guilty to a drug offense have the option of court-ordered treatment instead of jail time.¹³

Health Insurance: Arizona law permits you to pay for drug and alcohol rehab out of pocket without getting penalized for not having health insurance. Article 27, section 2 of Arizona insurance law states that a person does not need to participate in any healthcare system and may pay for healthcare services directly.¹⁴

Aftercare Options and Mental Health Services

Aftercare refers to programs that provide you with support after you finish rehab to help reduce the risk of relapse.19

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) provides peer support and social networks for those recovering from alcoholism. This aftercare option uses the 12-Step model and welcomes members to discuss their experiences.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) also follows the 12-step model and provides peer support and guidance for those recovering from a drug addiction.

Sober Living Homes

Sober living homes are substance-free housing options with a set of rules you must follow, such as getting a job, attending 12-step meetings, taking urine tests, and more. A key benefit of sober living homes is that you are less likely to relapse because of the drug– and alcohol-free environment.

Step-Down Care

Step-down care provides a transition between residential treatment and post-rehab life. It refers to making your way through the continuum of care, starting with inpatient or residential care and making your way down to less intensive options so that you can slowly adjust to living at home again. Common step-down options include PHPs, IOPs, ongoing therapy, and more.

Individual Counseling

In individual counseling, you work together one-on-one with a therapist who helps you to achieve your post-rehab goals, build upon the skills you learned in rehab, problem-solve real-life issues, and more.

Group Counseling

Unlike AA and NA meetings, which are peer-run, group therapy is facilitated by a licensed counselor. Members may engage in role-play sessions, experiential therapies, talk sessions, and more.

SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery is self-management and recovery training that moves people from negative behavior to be willing to change. At SMART Recovery meetings, you will work with peers and professionals to build a healthy balanced life. SMART Recovery is designed to assist you in:15

• Living a positive, balanced, and healthy life
• Building and maintaining the motivation to change
• Coping with urges to use
• Managing feelings, thoughts, and behaviors 

If you think you need help in choosing an Arizona rehab program, we are available to assist you. Call our confidential and free helpline at 800-926-9037 (Who Answers?) and speak with a treatment support specialist.

Resources

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). 2019-2020 NSDUH state-specific tables.
2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Treatment episode data set (TEDS) 2019 (Revised). Admissions to and discharges from publicly funded substance use treatment.
3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019). Paying for treatment.
4. Freerehabcenters.org. (n.d.). Find rehab centers in your state.
5. Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. (2018). Substance Abuse Block Grant (SABG) and Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG).
6. Arizona Department of Health Services. (2015). Annual report on substance abuse programs.
7. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2021). Mental health and substance use insurance help.
8. Motbabai, R., Mauro, C., Wall. Barry. C. L., & Olfson, J. (2020). Private health insurance coverage of drug use disorder treatment: 2005-2018.
9. S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare f13program – General information.
10. Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. (2022). About the Arizona health care cost containment system (AHCCCS).
11. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2016). Medicare coverage of substance abuse services.
12. Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. (2022). Opioid use and disorder treatment.
13. Arizona Supreme Court. (2022). Specialty courts.
14. Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial institutions. (n.d.). Insurance laws and rules.
15. Smart Recovery. (2022). About SMART recovery