Kentucky Drug and Alcohol Use Statistics
According to Kentucky participants in the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), alcohol and drug abuse are prevalent across the state. The Kentucky counties with the highest number of overdose deaths include:2
- Knott with 121.69
- Clark with 104.3
- Bourbon with 98.43
- Henry with 87.87
- Carter with 82.34
Results of the survey show that in the year before the survey:1
A total of 557,000 residents misused marijuana (14.9%)
A total of 60,000 residents misused cocaine (1.62%)
A total of 24,000 residents misused heroin (1.26%)
A total of 48,000 residents misused methamphetamines (1.30%)
A total of 128,000 residents misused prescription pain relievers
A total of 224,000 residents had an illicit drug use disorder
A total of 39,000 residents had a prescription pain reliever use disorder
A total of 304,000 residents had an alcohol use disorder (8.12%)
Cost of Drug Rehab in Kentucky
Many factors determine the cost of attending addiction treatment centers, including location, amenities, funding sources, length of stay, and what percentage you or your insurance can pay. It may also depend on which type of facility you attend. For example, a faith-based program will be different than a public, state-funded program or a private luxury drug and alcohol rehab.
Recent reports prove there are programs available to meet everyone’s financial status. As of 2020, the following existed:3
447 facilities take cash or self-payment
190 facilities offer treatment free or low-cost for people who cannot pay
382 facilities accept Medicaid
219 facilities accept Medicare
357 facilities accept private health insurance
190 facilities offer treatment free or low-cost for people who cannot pay
189 facilities accept military health insurance
Low-Cost and Free Drug Rehab Centers in Kentucky
State-funded facilities receive money designated explicitly for providing treatment to no-income or low-income people with a substance use disorder.
To find a free Kentucky drug rehab, call our helpline at
800-926-9037
(
Who Answers?)
to speak to a support specialist who can assist you. Our helpline is confidential, and someone is available 24/7 to take your call.
Does Insurance Cover Rehab Center Costs?
Medicare and Medicaid are excellent funding sources that cover drug rehabilitation programs throughout the state.
Medicare
Medicare is a program for Kentucky residents 65 and older or younger than 65 with a disability. Medicare is divided into parts:5
- Part A pays for all inpatient services
- Part B pays for all outpatient services
- Part D pays for prescriptions, including medication-assisted treatment
Medicaid
Medicaid is a program for anyone under the age of 65 who meets the income eligibility criteria, typically a portion of the poverty level in Kentucky. Considerations include how many are in your household and how much you earn per year in income.5
Private Insurance
The Affordable Care Act applies to private insurance companies as well as state-funded companies. Private insurance providers can no longer deny you based on pre-existing conditions, including pregnancy. Your coverage must include services and resources such as hospitalization for detoxification, inpatient rehab, and all outpatient programs and follow-up care.6
Substance Abuse Assessment
The first step of the recovery process is receiving a substance abuse assessment given by your general practitioner or at your local mental health or drug and alcohol rehab in Kentucky.
A substance abuse assessment is a comprehensive analysis that will guide your team in creating the most effective plan. Assessments gather the following information:7
Current and past substance use
Family history of substance use
Mental health symptoms
Employment
Readiness for change
Legal issues
Physical health symptoms
Relationships that support or hinder recovery
Living environment
Insurance and how to pay for treatment
Treatment history and what has worked or not worked
Withdrawal symptoms
Addiction Treatment Settings
Upon completing the substance abuse assessment, you will be given a tentative diagnosis that allows a team of addiction specialists to formulate a treatment plan. Depending on your specific needs, you may be placed into one of the following levels of care:
Medical Detox is the first form of care you receive. Medical assistance is provided to those who experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop using drugs or alcohol.
Inpatient or residential treatment offers a highly structured and intensive program involving individual and group therapies in which you learn relapse prevention skills.
Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) offer twenty or more hours of individual and group therapies each week.
Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) offer nine or more hours of care each week at an addiction treatment center.
Standard outpatient involves meeting with a therapist once or twice a week to continue treatment and check your progress.
Aftercare and relapse prevention plans include local support groups, including AA, NA, SMART Recovery, or specific needs-based activities.
If you need assistance in choosing which level of care is best for you, we are here to help. Call our free and confidential helpline at
800-926-9037
(Who Answers?)
to speak to a support specialist at any time.
Choosing the Right Drug Rehab Center in Kentucky
Choosing the right Kentucky drug rehab can be challenging because each program has its benefits. It can be hard to narrow the list to just one.
There are questions you can ask yourself regarding specific factors important to recovery. For example:
- How much does care in Kentucky cost?
- Where is the facility located in Kentucky?
- Is it inpatient or outpatient?
- Are the staff qualified, or do they have specialty training?
- Is the facility accredited?
- Does the program offer holistic in addition to traditional therapies?
- Does it provide medication-assisted treatment?
- Does it offer aftercare planning?
- What are the rules?
Should You Travel to Kentucky for Alcohol and Drug Treatment?
Kentucky has international and domestic airlines, buses, and other transportation systems leading in and out of the state. Some Kentucky drug rehabs are even willing to pick you up at an airport or bus station and take you to treatment. If traveling is something you are considering, keep a few things in mind:
- Does your insurance cover care in Kentucky?
- What will the weather be like while you are there?
- Do you have friends or family in Kentucky?
- Are there more suitable facilities near you?
Drug and Alcohol Laws in Kentucky
Several initiatives regarding substance abuse are ongoing in Kentucky and affect treatment centers. House bills, laws, and state-wide programs are becoming more aggressive in combatting many Kentuckians’ drug and alcohol problems. Here’s an overview:
Casey’s Law: Casey’s Law took effect in 2004 and makes it possible for family members and loved ones to petition the courts for involuntary placement in drug rehab centers in Kentucky. The law is named after Matthew Casey Wethington, who overdosed on heroin and died at the age of 23.8 Casey’s parents had tried to force him into treatment, but they were unable to do so because he was an adult. This prompted Kentucky to create this law, so other family members can give their loved ones a chance at recovery even if they are not disposed to enter a program independently.
NPLEx: The NPLEx drug tracking program is making progress in tracing the ingredients used to manufacture methamphetamines, including pseudoephedrine, found in allergy and cold medicines. The National Precursor Log Exchange alerts pharmacists and law enforcement when someone is trying to purchase more than the legal limits of these products.9
KSP Angel Initiative: The Kentucky State Police’s Angel Initiative exists to encourage anyone seeking treatment for addiction to go to their state police barracks and ask for help. You can do so without the fear of getting in trouble, being arrested, or even being asked any questions.10
KORE: The Kentucky Opioid Response Effort (KORE) is a movement to improve outreach and provision of services in high-risk regions of Kentucky. Their focus is on better prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction programs in every area with a significant opioid problem.10
If you are considering alcohol and drug rehab centers in Kentucky and aren’t sure where to start, we can help. Call our confidential helpline at
800-926-9037
(Who Answers?)
. We have support specialists available to help you 24/7.
Resources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). 2019-2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health State-Specific Tables: Kentucky.
- FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov.
- Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. (2020). 2020 Overdose Fatality Report.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (NSSATS): 2020 Data on Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities.
- Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. (2022). Provider Directory.
- Benefits.gov. (2019). Medicare vs. Medicaid: What’s the Big Difference?
- U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2022). Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2020). Chapter 3—Identifying, Screening for, and Assessing Substance Abuse in Older Adults. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 26. Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults: UPDATED 2020. Rockville (MD).
- Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. (2020). Casey’s Law.
- Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. (2020). Cold-Allergy Medication Restrictions.
- Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. (2020). Treatment and Recovery Resources.
