Top 33 Alcohol & Drug Rehab Centers in Kentucky & Free Treatment Resources

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%)

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 and detox centers receive money designated explicitly for providing treatment to no-income or low-income people with a substance use disorder.

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

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

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.

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?

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?

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

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). 2019-2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health State-Specific Tables: Kentucky.
2. FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov. 
3. Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. (2020). 2020 Overdose Fatality Report.
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (NSSATS): 2020 Data on Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities.
5. Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. (2022). Provider Directory.
6. Benefits.gov. (2019). Medicare vs. Medicaid: What’s the Big Difference?
7. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2022). Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service.
8. 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).
9. Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. (2020). Casey’s Law.
10. Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. (2020). Cold-Allergy Medication Restrictions.
11. Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. (2020). Treatment and Recovery Resources.