Tucson Drug and Alcohol Use Statistics
Local emergency responders, emergency rooms, and other public health entities compile data from around the county to give an accurate snapshot of the area’s current public health status. These reports show that the community has a dire problem with substance misuse, particularly opioids and fentanyl. Some statistics of note include:2,3
- The rate of overdoses increased 34% between 2019 and 2020, with most deaths attributed to fentanyl.
- One in five adults had reported binge drinking at least once in the past 30 days of being surveyed.
- The drugs that most contributed to overdose deaths in 2019 were methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin.
While the problem of addiction and its far-reaching effects continues to grow across the Arizona and the nation, many organizations are dedicated to fighting this trend and supporting those affected with flexible treatment options.
Cost of Rehab in Arizona
The cost of rehab has multiple variables, such as the type of housing available in your chosen program, the level of amenities, and what kind of insurance and state financial assistance you can obtain. If you need help paying for treatment, call us at (800) 662-HELP (4357) for assistance finding low-income Tucson drug rehabs.
Low-Cost and Free Rehabs in Tucson
If you have a low income and no health insurance, fear not. In Tucson, 16 state-funded programs and groups receive the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) block grant to provide services to those without the funds to finance treatment.1 You can find resources and referrals by reaching out to your local social services programs or the rehab facilities directly.
How Do I Pay for Addiction Treatment in Tucson?
If you have no access to private or publicly funded health insurance, there are still other options to consider. For example, friends and family may be able to help you come up with funds. You can also try crowdsourcing or fundraising online. There are still several other ways to make rehab more affordable to ease the financial burden of treatment.
Choose a Program that Offers Payment Plans
A rehab payment plan splits up the cost of treatment into manageable portions you can pay after treatment, usually on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. These plans include a repayment contract with any applicable interest rate. Ask your chosen rehab if this is an option to help pay for rehab in Tucson.
Apply for a Rehab Scholarship
A scholarship may be available as the rehab’s financial assistance to pay for part or all of your care. This option is generally reserved for people who need addiction support and who have no access to self-pay funding or state or private insurance. Call your desired rehab to ask if it offers rehab scholarships.
Find a Sliding-Scale Rehab Program
Sliding-scale programs calculate the fee for service based on your income. Program requirements may vary, but these calculations are typically based on federal poverty guidelines.
Popular Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers in Tucson
Here are a few well-known rehab options to get you started on your hunt for the best alcohol or drug rehab in Tucson.
Sabino Recovery
This gorgeous pueblo-style campus is on a large slice of open land in the desert between Encanto and Bear canyons. Sabino Recovery offers treatment programs for those living with addiction as well as dual diagnosis disorders. Residential programs start at 35 days and go up to 90 days. This co-ed facility offers private and shared rooms plus fine dining courtesy of a gourmet chef who meets with residents within two days of admittance to discuss dietary requirements.
CODAC at Country Club
This low-income rehab clinic offers outpatient treatment as well as medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs for groups, including pregnant people. The CODAC at Country Club accepts many types of insurance programs, including Medicaid and Medicare. It has nine locations across the state for residential, outpatient, transitional care, and primary care services.
Palo Verde Behavioral Health
The Palo Verde Behavioral Health full-service addiction treatment center offers a continuum of care program for those dealing with substance misuse and/or mental health issues. The inpatient treatment programs for both adults and adolescents include family integration, group therapy, and yoga and motion therapy. It also provides telehealth services and a teen rehab program.
Burning Tree West Tucson
The Burning Tree West Tucson drug and alcohol rehab has four main recovery programs: an inpatient Clinical Program, the Life Skills House, the Advanced Skills House, and the Sober Skills House. The range of treatment offered here includes eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, yoga, equine therapy, and behavioral therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy.
Inpatient vs. Outpatient Rehab in Tucson, AZ
Your experience at a drug or alcohol rehab in Tucson will vary depending on factors such as what programs are nearby and what you can afford. Whether you need detox services, an inpatient program, or outpatient rehab, there are many options to choose from for drug and alcohol rehab in Tucson.
Substance use treatment programs are always designed with the clients in mind to keep them comfortable and focused on their recovery. The amount of time you spend in your chosen treatment program depends on:
- The length of your substance use
- How much of a substance you use
- Your physiology
- Your mental and physical health and any pre-existing conditions
- How you administer substances (i.e., snorting or injecting)
- The type of substance to which you’re addicted
- The type of rehab you need
There are three main types of addiction programs: detox, which helps you maintain comfort and safety while ridding a substance from your body, and inpatient and outpatient rehabs.
Benefits of Inpatient Addiction Treatment
Inpatient rehab programs are great for when you can take several weeks or months away from your normal life to fully focus on your recovery. While program length varies depending on your treatment needs and wishes, studies from the National Institute on Drug Abuse show that 90 days is the optimal length of time to spend in an inpatient rehab center, with longer periods providing better results.4
These programs include lodging—sometimes shared rooms and sometimes private, depending on the facility—as well as meals and daily activities. Clients of inpatient rehabilitation centers in Tucson receive medication management, counseling (including community support groups), and evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy.
Benefits of Outpatient Addiction Treatment
If you have a supportive home environment or are unable to attend inpatient rehab, consider one of the 44 outpatient treatment programs in Tucson. Outpatient rehab programs involve treatment that doesn’t require overnight stays. With an outpatient program, you could still work or go to school and receive treatment.
These programs include services such as support groups, peer counseling, medication management, and regularly scheduled visits with one-on-one counseling. There are three main categories of outpatient rehab:
- Standard outpatient treatment—Standard outpatient care requires only a few hours of therapy a week, whether it be in-person group therapy sessions or telehealth meetings with a doctor or counselor.
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs)—PHPs can often fill the gap between inpatient and outpatient rehab. These intensive programs typically require daily participation for several hours.
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) —An IOP usually requires nine or more hours a week of treatment, which can be broken up into meetings several days a week.
Further, those participating in methadone maintenance programs can expect to spend 12 months or longer, while those in methadone-based opioid recovery programs may need to stay enrolled for years.4
Types of Drug and Alcohol Rehabs in Tucson
It might be beneficial to your recovery to engage with therapies in a program specific to your demographic and values. A variety of treatment programs in the Tucson area cater to specific groups of people.
Holistic Rehab
The term holistic can mean a dedication to natural means. It also applies to looking at the bigger picture in terms of the sum of all its interlocking systems. A holistic drug or alcohol rehab in Tucson can follow one or both definitions. It will offer a range of programs designed to benefit the body, mind, and spirit. This can include daily yoga practice, mindfulness training, nature hikes, and other therapies.
Christian and Faith-Based Rehab
Faith-based counseling relies heavily on fellowship and the guidance of a higher power to encourage participants to remain sober. These facilities may also offer 12-step-type programming and community outreach to help you reconnect to your calling.
Luxury Rehab
Luxury rehab facilities provide the highest levels of comfort to facilitate recovery from addiction. These accommodations tend to be resort-like; large, private rooms have features such as personal patio space and gourmet dining options. Luxury rehabs also offer evidence-based and alternative therapies, such as equine and art therapy.
Executive Rehab
Executive rehab, or professional rehab, is designed for people in high-level careers and industries who want to maintain their confidentiality. You may be allowed to work while at these facilities, and some will even let you take business trips. Participating in these programs and therapies with a like-minded community can support you without fearing that your job may be on the line. These facilities also tend to have higher-end amenities, activities, and therapies, as well as plush accommodations.
Dual Diagnosis Rehab
Dealing with addiction alongside mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress, insomnia, and disorders such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be extremely difficult. As a result, many people experiencing these issues turn to alcohol and drugs to cope. This poses a special threat to residents of Pima County, where about one in eight adults report experiencing poor mental health days at least half of the month.3
If you are having a hard time with your mental health and addiction, look for a dual diagnosis rehab center that can help you manage both problems at once. Traditionally, mental health treatment centers would often turn away people with a substance use disorder. This is because it can be difficult to manage the effects of mental illness, withdrawal symptoms, and the treatment required to manage both issues.
Dual diagnosis rehabs are available in Tucson, and they have the clinical expertise and compassion needed to help you through your detox and recovery process as comfortably as possible. These facilities provide evidence-based therapies, including dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and group therapy, along with peer support and medication management.
Depression and Addiction
While few recent studies exist on depression and substance misuse, studies from 2010 show it is among the most common dual diagnosis, with a prevalence of up to 80%.5 It’s important to treat both issues together, as they can affect one another if not.
Alcohol and drug rehabs that offer dual diagnosis treatment are keen to focus on helping you develop coping strategies for negative emotions, helping you understand your addiction and depression and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Anxiety and Addiction
Studies show that nearly one in five people with an anxiety disorder has a substance dependency, with about 15% abusing marijuana.6
It’s important to note that many anxiety medications, including benzodiazepines, are highly addictive on chemical and behavioral levels. There are also dangerous consequences when combining anxiety medication with opioid-based medications, which can further complicate medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Recovery from pharmaceutical addiction with an anxiety diagnosis is possible; a dual diagnosis center can treat the underlying causes of your stress along with any chemical dependency you have.
PTSD and Addiction
Nearly half of people with PTSD also have a substance use disorder (SUD). Studies report men experience this dual diagnosis twice as often as women.7 Veterans are at extreme risk of developing both disorders. Studies also show that people with PTSD are more than 90% more likely to have experienced psychological trauma.8 Medications to treat the symptoms of PTSD and anxiety can make substance use particularly dangerous, as benzodiazepines, which are sometimes prescribed for PTSD, can exacerbate the suppression of the sympathetic nervous system, leading to an exaggerated risk of overdose.
Bipolar Disorder and Addiction
One recent study showed that in a dual diagnosis facility setting, 61.9% of people with bipolar disorder also had a substance misuse disorder. About one-quarter of those in treatment have bipolar disorder.9 The most commonly used substances were cocaine and alcohol.
Personality Disorders and Addiction
Those with personality disorders tend to have a much higher rate of addiction than people without these disorders. Recent studies show that up to 73% of those treated for addiction have a co-occurring personality disorder, such as borderline personality disorder (BPD) and antisocial personality disorder (APD).10
Types of Addiction Therapy Used in Rehab
Rehabs all vary in their practices, but they tend to provide a combination of evidence-based therapies that can help you address addictive behaviors and thoughts.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches you how to analyze and rethink harmful thoughts, reorganizing your thought and behavior patterns. This type of therapy can include such techniques as:
- Guided imagery
- Roleplaying
- Journaling and recording thoughts
- Cognitive reframing of troublesome thoughts
- Learning relaxation and stress reduction
CBT is classically offered privately with an individual counselor, but many support groups have been evolving the practice to fit a group setting.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) works off of CBT by restructuring models for repurposing negative self-talk and thoughts into something positive. However, DBT focuses more on changing negative behavior patterns, such as self-harm. As a result, it helps people manage debilitating emotions, feel safe, and find healthy ways to connect with others.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy
If you’re hesitant to enter treatment due to a lack of faith in the process, going through rehab programming against your will can be counterproductive. Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) focuses on re-programming your internal dialogue regarding your therapy journey. The goal is to help you realign your life goals with your current circumstances to encourage you to participate fully in treatment.
Contingency Management
Contingency management (CM) rewards those undergoing addiction treatment for meeting certain goals. For example, a gift card may be given in exchange for a negative drug test. This can be helpful in encouraging ongoing sobriety, particularly for those who have fewer financial resources. Contingency management may also have negative consequences for those who fail to adhere to their addiction treatment plan.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is the foundation of many addiction treatment options. It creates an environment that fosters telling your truth and taking control of your life after the consequences you’ve faced while living with addiction. In group therapy, you will receive education, support, and motivation from your peers as you move toward long-term recovery.
Family Therapy
A strong support system is vital to anyone’s recovery from addiction. Family can be a great source of support when relationships are healthy and constructive. Family therapy can help repair stressful family environments and help everyone recognize their contributions to their relationships.
Family therapy also teaches participants about relationship patterns that contribute to addiction along with the medical and psychological impact of substance misuse.
Should I Travel to Tucson for Drug and Alcohol Rehab?
Arizona is famous for its hot, arid climate. Many people claim that the dry heat is great for their health, helping clear the lungs and keeping them comfortable year-round. If you’re considering a trip to the Copper State, you wouldn’t be alone—more than 1 million people visit every year.11
Some popular attractions around Tucson include golfing, shopping, hiking, stargazing at places like the Colossal Cave Mountain Park, and horseback riding through the desert and canyons. When considering moving to attend a drug or alcohol rehab in Tucson, consider the following questions:
- Do you have friends or family in the area to help you through recovery?
- Does your insurance cover the cost of treatment at the center you’re considering?
- What will your out-of-pocket costs be, including the cost of travel and accommodations, if you choose a drug rehab in Tucson?
- Would a change of scenery and a fresh start be beneficial to your recovery?
If you’re tempted by Tucson’s beautiful scenery, easy access to the Saguaro National Park and the Sonoran desert, and year-round sunny weather, look into the neighborhoods of Tucson as well as the laws and regulations in the area to see if a Tucson alcohol rehab program would be a good fit for you.
Neighborhoods in Tucson to Consider for Treatment
It can be difficult to choose the best place to stay while seeking drug rehab in Tucson, Arizona. There are several great neighborhoods. The Sam Hughes area by the University of Arizona is an ideal spot for students. The area is home to many dining establishments, cycling paths, and natural spaces.
Several rehabs are located in Hedrick Acres and Balboa Heights, neighboring communities in the northern part of Tucson. Both feature shopping centers and restaurants. This might be a good candidate for a location if your focus is convenience.
Another highly esteemed area is the Civano neighborhood, named a must-see in the area for its brightly colored homes, its plethora of paved and dirt bike paths, and its beautiful mountain views. This place has a community garden and the Fantasy Island Mountain Bike Park for outdoor enthusiasts.
Wherever you choose to attend drug or alcohol rehab in Tucson, there are facilities that can help.
Alcohol and Drug Laws in Arizona
Multiple laws and bills have been enacted in response to the opioid crisis and other substance misuse issues in Arizona.
Arizona Marchman’s Act
When a family member or loved one is suspected of having a life-threatening addiction, it is possible to forcibly commit the individual into a rehab program in Arizona under the Marchman’s Act.12 This controversial law states that if a person presents a threat to himself or herself, or to others; has a disability related to the substance use; or refuses to enter substance misuse treatment, a concerned party over age 18 may apply to have the person placed into a court-ordered rehab program.
Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act
This multi-bill act created a series of opioid use interventions. These include providing naloxone (Narcan) to first responders to prevent overdoses and limiting how much and how often opiates can be prescribed.13
Arizona Good Samaritan Overdose Prevention Law
Arizona enacted overdose prevention measures in the form of a Good Samaritan law as part of the Opioid Epidemic Act. This law encourages people to call 911 if they’re in the vicinity of an overdose without fear of prosecution for doing so.
A similar law, the Angel Initiative, allows drug users to turn themselves and any paraphernalia in at a police station to be admitted into rehab services without fear of being incarcerated for possession.13
Parents’ Rights in Arizona
No statutes dictate a minor over the age of 12 needs parental permission to undergo any medical treatment. However, a bill was passed that allows for minors to seek substance misuse treatment without parental consent if a doctor confirms the minor is under the influence of a narcotic.14
Arizona Family Medical Leave
Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Arizona companies with more than 50 employees must offer unpaid time off to any employee in a medical crisis, including the need for addiction treatment. Employers may not discriminate against employees who enter rehab and must provide them the same or a similar position when they return.15
Searching for “drug rehab(s) near me” or “alcohol rehab(s) near me” can be an overwhelming process. Give our addiction specialists a call (800) 662-HELP (4357) any time if you need help figuring out your next steps.
Resources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. (2022). Treatment Locator Map.
- Pima County Data and Reporting. (2019). Pima County Overdose Fatality Review Annual Report 2019.
- Pima County Health Department. (2021). 2021 Pima County Community Health Needs Assessment Fact Sheet.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2022). How long does drug addiction treatment usually last?
- National Library of Medicine. (2018). Dual Diagnosis in Depression: Treatment Recommendations.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2010). Comorbidity: Addiction and Other Mental Illnesses.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022). Treatment of Co-Occurring PTSD and Substance Use Disorder in VA.
- National Institute of Health. (2020). Traumatic Events in Dual Disorders: Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics.
- National Library of Medicine. (2017). Bipolar disorder and substance use disorders.
- National Library of Medicine. (2018). Comorbidity of Personality Disorder among Substance Use Disorder Patients: A Narrative Review.
- Tucson Conventions and Visitors Bureau. (2022). Research and Data.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2022). Involuntary Treatment Process.
- Arizona Office of the Governor. (2018). Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act.
- Arizona State Legislature. (2022). 44-133.01. The capacity of a minor to consent to treatment for use of a dangerous drug or narcotic.
- U.S. Department of Labor. (2022). Family and Medical Leave Act.