Illinois Alcohol and Drug Use Statistics
In the 2017-2019 reporting period, 0.22% (approximately 23,000) of individuals aged 12 or older in Illinois reported heroin use.1 Here are some other eye-opening stats:1
Prescription pain medication abuse was reported by 2.7% (approximately 292,000) residents.
Opioid use was reported by 0.5% (approximately 57,000) of residents aged 12 or older.
Illicit drug use was reported by 3.0% (approximately 315,000) of residents aged 12 or older.
With alcohol use disorders, 6.0% (approximately 640,000) of residents aged 12 or older reported misusing alcohol.
In 2020, Illinois saw a total of 2,944 opioid overdose deaths, which was a 33% increase from 2019.2
How Much Does Drug Rehab in Illinois Cost?
Drug and alcohol rehab in Illinois is averagely priced, with the state ranking as the 24th cheapest state for residential drug rehab. On average, you can expect to pay $1,704 for outpatient drug rehab, whereas a residential rehab will cost an average of $56,666.3 However, many different factors affect cost, including location, features, amenities, insurance coverage, financing options, length of stay, and beyond.
How to Find Free Rehabs in Illinois
Free rehab centers in Illinois are always an option if you don’t have the financial resources to pay for alcohol and/or drug rehab. One option is a state-funded drug or alcohol rehab.
State-funded drug and alcohol rehab centers are treatment centers that use government money to help pay for rehab for people who are financially unable to afford treatment. This can be due to a lack of income or because of a lack of insurance coverage.
To get into an Illinois state-funded rehab, you can contact the Illinois Health and Human Services Department for assistance.
Does Insurance Cover Alcohol and Drug Rehab in Illinois?
If you have insurance, using it to pay for your alcohol or drug rehab in Illinois can help to reduce the cost of treatment. According to the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008, health insurers and group health plans are required to cover mental health and substance use treatments just like other medical conditions.
Private insurance: If you have private insurance through your employer, spouse, or a parent, your insurance will most likely cover payment for alcohol and/or drug rehab. Popular insurance providers that typically cover addiction treatment include Blue Cross and Blue Shield, United Health Care, Cigna, and Aetna. However, many other providers do as well, so make sure you call your insurance company to learn the details of your plan.
Medicaid: If you don’t have private insurance through an employer or a family member, you may qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid is a state and federally funded program that pays for medical services for eligible adults that fit into certain categories. These include having a low income, pregnant women, children, and people with disabilities. Medicaid often does cover alcohol and drug rehab programs. Due to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), Medicaid covers the cost of treatment for mental health disorders and substance use disorders.4 Medicaid may cover all or part of the expense of your alcohol or drug rehab.
Medicare: Medicare is federally funded health insurance for people 65 years of age and older and some younger individuals who have disabilities. Medicare will pay for your alcohol and/or drug rehab in both inpatient and outpatient programs. Medicare Part A pays for inpatient rehab, and copays are the same for any other type of inpatient hospitalization. Medicare Part B will pay for outpatient rehab services from a clinic or hospital outpatient department.5
Services that Medicare coverage includes:
- Follow-ups after a hospitalization
- Drugs that are prescribed in an inpatient setting like Methadone
- Patient education about your substance use or alcohol use disorder and treatment options available
- Follow-ups after a hospitalization
- Drugs that are prescribed in an outpatient setting through Medicare Part D
Does My Insurance Plan Cover Substance Addiction Treatment?
To find out if your insurance plan covers addiction treatment, call the 24/7 addiction hotline at
800-926-9037
(
Who Answers?)
to verify your insurance coverage. You can also receive help in finding the right alcohol and/or drug rehab for you in Illinois.
Remember, when using your private insurance for alcohol and/or drug rehab, you may have a deductible and/or copays, so it is best to contact your insurance provider directly by calling the number on the back of your insurance card and asking about the extent of your insurance coverage.
You can also ask for a list of preferred or in-network providers from your insurance company to prevent higher or unexpected costs.
How to Finance Addiction Treatment in Illinois
If you are unable to find a free rehab or you don’t have insurance to pay for private alcohol or drug rehab, there are alternatives available to you.
These alternatives include faith-based organizations, non-profit-run alcohol and drug rehab programs, and/or government-funded rehab programs. There are also medical loans or clinic-specific financing that you may qualify for to help pay for the cost of drug or alcohol rehab.
More than likely, you will be required to pay back any loans or financing that you use to pay for your drug and/or alcohol rehab. This usually isn’t the case for government, faith-based, and non-profit-run rehab programs.
Apply for a Rehab Scholarship: A rehab scholarship is a financial award that you can apply for if you don’t have the financial means to pay for rehab yourself. These scholarships usually do not have to be repaid.
Alcohol and/or drug rehab scholarships can pay for the full cost of rehab or help to pay for any costs of rehab that aren’t covered by your insurance.
Applying for rehab scholarships can be a challenge if you don’t know where to look. You can always look at organizations that offer rehab scholarships like 10,000 beds or contact the facility of your choice directly to ask about rehab scholarships since many facilities don’t openly advertise their scholarship options.
Find a Sliding Scale Rehab Program: One common method for paying for rehab involves a sliding scale fee. A sliding scale is a method of payment for alcohol and drug rehab programs that usually involve a fee schedule in which your payment amount varies based on your ability to pay.
To qualify for a sliding scale payment, you may have to show proof of income either in the form of tax returns or paystubs to your rehab. A sliding scale payment schedule will then be determined based on your ability to pay. If your income is below a certain level determined by the individual clinic, you will qualify for a lower payment.
Choose a Program that Offers Payment Plans: When it comes to paying for rehab, some drug and alcohol rehab centers in Illinois offer payment plans. Easy and convenient, payment plans are one option to get the rehab you need without having to pay for the cost of rehab upfront.
Payment plans break down the cost of treatment into affordable monthly payments that usually become payable after you complete treatment.
To receive a payment plan, you can contact your alcohol and/or drug rehab provider. Some rehab facilities offer payment plans based on whether you are using insurance or if you are paying for your treatment out-of-pocket.
Popular Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers in Illinois
When looking for local rehab programs, you should consider some options that include types of treatment, length of treatment, cost, insurance coverage, and inpatient or residential facilities vs. outpatient facilities.
Lake County Health Department North Chicago Health Center: North Chicago, Illinois
The Lake County Health Department North Chicago Health Center is an alcohol and drug rehab located in North Chicago. This rehab center offers treatment for adults, young adults, men, and women.
This treatment center offers outpatient rehab, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), aftercare support, and sober living homes. Amenities offered include a private setting and a meditation room.
The Lake County Health Department North Chicago Center is accredited by the Joint Commission.
Family Guidance Centers of Aurora: Aurora, Illinois
The Family Guidance Centers of Aurora is a drug and alcohol rehab located in Aurora, IL. This rehab offers rehab for both men and women as well as young adults and young adults.
The Family Guidance Centers of Aurora offer a detox program, outpatient rehab, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Rational Behavior Therapy (RBT), and aftercare support.
The Family Guidance Centers of Aurora is accredited by the Joint Commission and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMSHA).
Amita Health Saint Francis Hospital Evanston: Evanston, Illinois
The Amita Health Saint Francis Hospital Evanston is an alcohol and drug rehab in Evanston, IL. This treatment center offers rehab to both adults and younger adults as well as men and women.
Amita Health Saint Francis Hospital Evanston offers detox treatment, intervention services, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), sober living homes, and aftercare support.
Amenities include private rooms, a music room, art activities, a meditation and massage room, and WiFi.
Amita Health Saint Francis Hospital Evanston is accredited by the Joint Commission.
Health Care Alternative Systems Wheaton: Wheaton, Illinois
Health Care Alternative Systems Wheaton is a drug and alcohol rehab center in Wheaton, IL. This rehab offers treatment to a wide range of ages, from young adults to the elderly.
Health Care Alternatives Systems Wheaton offers outpatient rehab, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and aftercare support.
Amenities include a private setting. The Health Care Alternative Systems of Wheaton is accredited by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMSHA) and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
Drug Rehab Settings
Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment
An inpatient rehab is a facility that you live in for the duration of your treatment. These types of rehab centers are also called residential treatment centers. An inpatient alcohol and/or drug rehab can have several benefits that include:
- Longer course of treatment, ranging anywhere from 30 days to 1 year
- 24 hour 7 day a week assistance available to you
- Supervised Medical Detoxification can decrease your chances of suffering distressing drug and/or alcohol withdrawal symptoms
- In-depth help for those suffering from severe substance use disorders
- A supportive community
Partial Hospitalization Programs
Partial hospitalization alcohol and drug rehab programs offer comprehensive care and you are usually given the option to return to your own home each night after treatment. Partial hospitalization rehab programs usually offer the same type of intensity that an inpatient treatment programs offers. Most partial hospitalization programs offer a minimum of 20 hours of intensive therapy a week. Some of the benefits of Partial Hospitalization Programs include:
- Access to both individual and group therapy
- Ability to return home to your family each night
- A high level of support, especially if you live in an environment that increases the risk of alcohol misuse or drug use
- Increased motivation to continue in treatment
Intensive Outpatient Programs
Intensive Outpatient Programs might work best for you if you don’t meet the diagnostic criteria for residential or inpatient treatment as determined by a licensed health care provider. Intensive outpatient services usually offer a minimum of 9 hours of treatment a week. This occurs in three, 3-hour sessions. Benefits of Intensive Outpatient Programs include:
- Ability to go home every night
- A perception of increased support
- Longer treatment program than inpatient rehab
- A perception of more privacy than an inpatient or residential program
Standard Outpatient
Standard outpatient rehab programs involve treatment that doesn’t require overnight stays or residential living arrangements. With a standard outpatient program, you can still work or go to school while also receiving treatment. Most outpatient rehab programs offer fewer than nine hours of treatment per week for up to three months.
Benefits of outpatient treatment programs include:
- Weekend treatment options
- Effectiveness similar to inpatient treatment depending on the individual
- Flexible treatment options
- Lowered cost than residential rehab
Virtual Rehab and Telehealth
Telehealth and online rehab occur over a private communication device like your phone, tablet, or computer where you receive therapies in the comfort of your own home. This type of rehab is similar to an outpatient program. It offers many of the same therapies that an outpatient treatment program does. Benefits of a telehealth treatment program include:
- Ease of accessibility
- Therapy in the comfort of your own home as opposed to traveling to a center
- No travel time required
- Greater perception of privacy
- May have higher retention rates than an in-person outpatient programs
Medical Detox Treatment for Withdrawal
Medical detox is a treatment that helps you safely withdraw from a substance such as alcohol or drugs, under the care of trained professionals. It usually involves the administration of another type of substance, drug, or therapy to help reduce the severity of side effects that can often occur when going through alcohol or drug withdrawal.
Medical or Drug detox is not a substitute for treatment for a substance use disorder or alcohol misuse but rather a first step in getting you on the road to recovery. Substances that usually require a medical detox include prescription opioids, heroin, alcohol, and benzodiazepines.
Specialized Alcohol and Drug Rehab in Illinois
LGBTQ+ Rehab
Many drug and alcohol rehab centers in Illinois offer treatment options specifically to individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. These treatment programs recognize the unique concerns that come with having a substance use disorder or alcohol misuse while also being a part of the LGBTQ+ community.
These treatment programs will work with you to help you on the road to recovery while addressing issues specific to your needs. Some of these issues you may face as a member of the LGBTQ+ community include managing discrimination, dealing with hate crimes, depression, and managing rejection from family.
Veteran Rehab
In Illinois, specific drug and alcohol rehab programs are designed for veterans and those who have served in the military.
Programs that are specific to veterans often focus on specific challenges that you, as a veteran, may experience. Some uniques issues veterans face include PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder), anxiety, depression, and/or the struggles that can occur with transitioning back to life as a civilian.
Some Illinois alcohol and drug rehab centers even have programs developed by veterans themselves. This helps you to connect with the treatment program in a more meaningful way. This can help you to feel more understood and benefit you on your journey to long-term recovery.
Men-Only Rehab
In Illinois, certain drug and alcohol rehab centers are especially sensitive to the needs of men. These treatment programs understand the unique challenges that you may face as a man seeking rehab. Men face distinct societal challenges that can prevent them from seeking treatment. Some of these challenges may include the expectation to be strong, independent, and unemotional.
You may also have concerns about your privacy and you want to be certain that going into alcohol or drug rehab won’t pose a threat to your societal standing. You may also question whether the structure of a rehab group allows you to be an active part of your recovery or if it seems more like forcing treatment on you instead of working with you.
Drug and alcohol rehab centers focused on men recognize these unique concerns and work with you while helping to address your needs in a safe place with your peers.
Women-Only Rehab
In Illinois, some drug and alcohol rehab centers specifically focus on the needs of women in the community. These rehab programs emphasize challenges that you may have struggled with as a woman seeking to enter into rehab. Some of these challenges include sexual assault, domestic violence, childhood trauma, relationship concerns, and parenting issues.
Women-only treatment programs help you to address these issues in a sensitive respectful manner while also placing special importance on building relationships and interconnectedness with your peers.
Women’s alcohol and drug rehab programs can offer a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment to help encourage you on your road to long-term recovery.
Teen Rehab
Illinois offers several different choices to teenagers and young people seeking to enter into alcohol and/or drug rehab.
Often, being a teenager can be a challenging and confusing experience. Teen-centered alcohol and drug rehabs realize this and work with you to address the unique challenges that arise from being a teenager, like peer pressure, complex decision making, and overcoming struggles associated with your identity.
Teen-centered treatment programs can offer you a safe and understanding environment for you to start your journey to long-term recovery.
Should I Travel to Illinois for Drug and Alcohol Rehab?
You may wonder if you should travel to Illinois for drug or alcohol rehab. When choosing to travel to Illinois for rehab, you should consider whether you have a support system, the state of your current environment, and whether it encourages or discourages substance misuse or alcohol misuse.
You should also consider if you have the financial means to travel and whenever or not traveling to Illinois for drug and/or alcohol rehab would compromise or protect your privacy, and if it will be best for you as you start on your journey toward long-term recovery.
For example, if you live in a state that doesn’t have as many alcohol or drug rehab centers as Illinois, you may consider traveling for a broader range of rehab options. Conversely, you may live in a bustling metropolitan location and prefer to travel to a more serene part of Illinois for rehab to start on your road to recovery.
Regional Considerations in Illinois
Chicago and Chicagoland Region
When considering alcohol and/or drug rehab in Illinois, different locations can offer different experiences. For example, Chicago and the Chicagoland region offer a wide variety of drug and alcohol rehab options while also delivering a broad range of activities for you to experience. For example, Chicago has the world-famous Willis Tower, Millennium Park, and the family-friendly Navy Pier.
Southern Illinois
If you believe that being in nature is more important for your recovery than experiencing big-city attractions, then Southern Illinois has a wide range of drug and alcohol rehab options while offering natural beauty like the Shawnee National Forest. The Shawnee National Forest is home to the Garden of the Gods, a centuries-old sandstone rock formation with trails spanning 5.5 miles.
Northern Illinois
If being active is more important to you on your road to recovery, you can visit towns in Northwest Illinois like Galena, IL, that not only offer high-quality alcohol and drug rehab but also offer skiing at the Chestnut Mountain Resort. And you could explore the Horseshoe Mound Preserve, which offers views of three different states.
Overall, if you are looking for more of a metropolitan experience while going through your alcohol and/or drug rehab program of choice, the Chicagoland region is better suited for your needs while Southern Illinois offers more of a rural experience steeped in nature.
Alcohol and Drug Laws in Illinois
If you are caught with or using drugs or alcohol in Illinois illegally, the legal system will determine the trajectory of your case. Some of the outcomes could be court-ordered supervision for a DUI without a previous arrest, or court-ordered drug and/or alcohol rehab for nonviolent offenders.
Also, in Illinois, anyone arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs must undergo an alcohol or drug evaluation before sentencing for a DUI. This evaluation includes a review of your driving history, chemical test results, an interview with the evaluator, and taking an Objective Test.
Upon completion of the evaluation, you will then be assigned to undergo DUI Risk Education and/or rehab.
Illinois has also enacted a law called Good Samaritan Act. This law is designed to prevent deaths via overdose. The Good Samaritan Act allows those without a medical background to administer the drug overdose medication Naloxone to another individual to prevent an opioid and/or heroin overdose from becoming fatal.
Ongoing Support After Drug Rehab
Aftercare programs are programs that become available once you have completed an outpatient or inpatient rehab program. These programs are intended to help keep you from relapsing and offer you continued support as you journey towards long-term recovery.
Aftercare programs are often tailored to your specific needs and can include groups like 12-step programs and support groups like AA, NA, and SMART Recovery. Other options include group counseling, sober living homes, step-down care, and/or individual therapy.
Attending aftercare once your therapy has been completed can help you stay on the road to recovery.
If you are suffering from a substance use disorder or alcohol misuse, there is hope. With a wide range of high-quality drug and alcohol rehab centers in Illinois, you can find the resources you need to begin the road to recovery.
If you want more information on alcohol rehab or drug rehab in Illinois, call
800-926-9037
(Who Answers?)
to speak to an addiction treatment specialist.
Resources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Behavioral Health Barometer: Illinois, Volume 6: Indicators as measured through the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. HHS Publication No. SMA–20–Baro–19–IL. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Illinois Department of Public Health. (2020). Opioids: Illinois’ Other Epidemic.
- National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. (2022). Average Cost of Drug Rehab [2022]: by Type, State & More.
- Medicaid.gov. (2022). Parity/Medicaid.
- Center for Medicare Advocacy. (2022). Medicare Coverage of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services – Center for Medicare Advocacy.
