Expert Insights
Many people might think that Mardi Gras would be off limits to those who are in recovery, but thanks to a smart woman on a mission, that’s no longer the case. Elaine Tang, who is originally from Tennessee, says she had nothing but bad memories of Mardi Gras – she was usually blacked out or getting her stomach pumped at the local ER. After she got sober, she had an idea: why not get a large group of sober people together, hold each other accountable, and go to Mardi Gras sober? And that’s how Mardi Gras Sover Safe Spots were born. One “Safe Spot” is on the Orleans parade route on St. Charles and Napoleon, while the other is on the Jefferson parade route at Veterans and Causeway. This is a great example of how you can still go out and have fun without alcohol and drugs!
How We Rank Listings
Every rehab listing on Addictions.com is reviewed against a consistent set of criteria before it appears in local directory results. We look at state licensure status, accreditation from recognized bodies such as The Joint Commission and CARF, the treatment modalities offered, and the payment options accepted. Facilities that hold dual accreditation or accept Medicaid and Medicare receive additional weight because they demonstrate both accountability and accessibility.
We do not accept fees for placement, and facilities cannot pay to improve their position in results. If you spot a listing that appears inaccurate or outdated, use the feedback link on the facility profile to let our team know. Our goal is to give you the most accurate picture of what is available in New Orleans so you can make a confident, informed decision for yourself or someone you care about.
Rehab in New Orleans: What to Know
New Orleans sits in Orleans Parish on the southeastern tip of Louisiana, at the center of a metro area of roughly 1.3 million people that spans Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, and Plaquemines parishes. The 43 facilities listed in the Louisiana rehab directory for the city cover the full continuum of care, from hospital-based medical detox to outpatient counseling and sober living homes scattered across Uptown, Midtown, and New Orleans East. That concentration of providers is meaningful for people from surrounding parishes where options are far more limited.
The Metropolitan Human Services District (MHSD) is the publicly funded behavioral health authority for Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes. MHSD operates four behavioral health clinics within New Orleans city limits and accepts residents who are uninsured, enrolled in Medicaid, or dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. For anyone without private coverage, MHSD is typically the first point of entry into the public treatment system. Alongside MHSD, Tulane University Medical Center, LSU Health Sciences Center, and University Medical Center New Orleans maintain addiction medicine and behavioral health programs grounded in academic medicine.
New Orleans has faced a severe overdose crisis over the past decade. The Orleans Parish Coroner recorded 523 accidental drug-related deaths in 2023, the highest total since the office began tracking overdose data. In 2024, that number fell to 293 deaths, a 44% decline that followed a national trend, according to the New Orleans Health Department’s 2024 Annual Opioid Report. Even with that improvement, drug overdose deaths outpaced homicides in the city by more than 200% in 2024. Fentanyl contamination of the local drug supply remains widespread, and overdoses involving stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine are increasing. These patterns shape the treatment environment in New Orleans and underscore the importance of connecting with evidence-based addiction treatment options as early as possible.
Of the 43 facilities listed here, 23 specialize in treating co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions simultaneously, a higher proportion than in many similar-sized cities. Providers range from faith-based residential programs to clinically accredited outpatient centers holding Joint Commission and CARF certification.
How Much Does Rehab Cost in New Orleans?
The cost of addiction treatment in New Orleans varies widely by level of care, program length, and whether you are using insurance. No verified city-specific cost averages exist for New Orleans, but state-level figures from the Louisiana rehab directory serve as a practical starting point. Programs in an urban market like New Orleans often run at or above state averages, particularly at accredited facilities with specialized clinical staff. Verifying your insurance benefits before choosing a facility is the most reliable way to understand your out-of-pocket exposure before committing to a program.
How to Pay for Rehab in New Orleans
New Orleans has 43 listed treatment facilities, and most accept multiple payment types. Thirty-two accept self-payment or cash, and 26 work with private health insurance. For people with public benefits or limited income, Healthy Louisiana (the state Medicaid program) and Medicare together cover more than two-thirds of the city’s listed providers. Understanding which payment options a facility accepts is one of the most important early steps, and most admissions teams can walk you through your options over the phone before you commit to anything.
Medicare
Twelve New Orleans facilities accept Medicare, which can cover addiction treatment for adults 65 and older and certain younger adults with qualifying disabilities. Medicare Part A covers inpatient psychiatric and residential treatment stays, while Part B covers outpatient programs, individual counseling, and medication-assisted treatment services. For a full breakdown of how Medicare benefits apply to substance use disorder care, the insurance and rehab coverage guide on Addictions.com walks through deductibles, copays, and what to expect from the prior authorization process.
Healthy Louisiana (Medicaid)
Louisiana’s Medicaid program, Healthy Louisiana, covers a broad range of substance use disorder services including medical detox, residential treatment, outpatient programs, and medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine and methadone. Coverage is delivered through managed care organizations operating statewide, including Aetna Better Health of Louisiana, AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, Healthy Blue, Molina Healthcare of Louisiana, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. Nineteen New Orleans facilities accept Healthy Louisiana, making it a realistic pathway to care for uninsured and low-income residents. The Metropolitan Human Services District also operates publicly funded clinics that accept Medicaid for those who need behavioral health services but do not have a private provider relationship.
Military Benefits and TRICARE
Nine New Orleans facilities accept TRICARE, the federal health insurance program for active-duty service members, veterans, and their families. New Orleans has a notable military community connected to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, and the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System operates a VA Medical Center at 2400 Canal Street that provides substance use treatment for enrolled veterans. For a complete guide to addiction care options for service members and their families, the veterans and military substance use resources page covers VA services, TRICARE coverage rules, and community-based programs.
Insurance and Private Pay
Twenty-six New Orleans facilities accept private health insurance. Major carriers active in Louisiana include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Humana, and Cigna. Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, private insurers that cover mental health benefits must provide the same level of coverage for substance use disorder treatment as for other medical conditions. Eight facilities also offer payment financing for people who prefer to spread costs over time.
Major insurance carriers accepted at multiple New Orleans facilities:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana
- UnitedHealthcare
- Aetna
- Humana
- Cigna
- Ambetter
Sliding Scale and Financial Assistance
Seven facilities offer sliding-scale fees based on income, and another seven offer direct financial assistance. These options are most common at nonprofit and publicly funded programs. If cost is the primary barrier to seeking care, calling facilities directly to ask about income-based pricing is the most efficient first step.
Free Treatment Programs
Three New Orleans facilities offer treatment at no cost. These programs are typically grant-funded, faith-based, or supported by public appropriations, and some operate with waitlists. Rehab scholarships are another avenue worth exploring if free program availability is limited at the time you need care.
Levels of Care Available in New Orleans
New Orleans has 19 medical detox facilities, 28 inpatient rehab programs, 2 partial hospitalization programs, 31 standard outpatient clinics, 23 dual diagnosis programs, and 5 sober living homes.
Medical detox provides round-the-clock clinical monitoring during withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, and other substances. Many people need to complete supervised medical detox before moving into residential or outpatient treatment, because withdrawal from certain substances can be medically dangerous without proper oversight. New Orleans has 19 detox facilities, a meaningful supply given the city’s high overdose burden.
Inpatient rehab (also called residential treatment) places people on-site at a treatment facility for a structured period, typically 28 to 90 days. New Orleans has 28 programs at this level, giving residents real choice in provider. Residential treatment is generally recommended for moderate-to-severe substance use disorders, for people completing detox who need a structured bridge to recovery, or when a person’s home environment poses a significant relapse risk.
Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) provide an intensive daily schedule of clinical services without requiring overnight stays. New Orleans has only 2 PHP options, so demand can outpace availability. PHP treatment is commonly used as a step-down transition from inpatient care or as a high-intensity alternative to residential admission for people with stable housing and strong support networks.
Standard outpatient treatment is the most widely available option in New Orleans, with 31 clinics. Outpatient care involves a set number of therapy hours per week while the person continues living at home. The outpatient rehab guide breaks down what to expect at each intensity level and how to know whether outpatient care is the right fit for a given situation.
Dual diagnosis programs treat co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions at the same time rather than sequentially. Twenty-three New Orleans facilities offer this integrated approach. Given the city’s documented rates of trauma exposure and mood disorders, co-occurring mental health care is not a specialty niche here; it is a core clinical need. Co-occurring depression is among the most common conditions treated alongside substance use disorder, and integrated programs consistently produce better long-term outcomes than treating each condition separately.
Sober living homes offer structured, substance-free housing for people who have completed a residential or intensive program but are not yet ready to return to an unsupported living environment. New Orleans has 5 sober living options. The rehab aftercare guide covers what to look for in a sober living home and how to build a continuing care plan that supports long-term recovery.
If you are unsure which level of care fits your situation, a licensed assessment through one of the city’s intake programs can help clarify the right starting point. The addiction therapy guide covers the evidence-based clinical approaches used across all levels of care.
Specialty Programs in New Orleans
New Orleans facilities offer a range of programs designed for specific populations and substance types. Specialized programming can improve outcomes by addressing the clinical, cultural, and social factors that shape each person’s experience with addiction and recovery.
Free and Low-Cost Rehab Resources in New Orleans
If cost or insurance status is a barrier to seeking care, New Orleans has several public, nonprofit, and harm reduction programs available at low or no cost. Reach out to crisis support services first if you or someone you care about is in immediate danger, then use the resources below to connect with longer-term care.
Crisis Lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988. Free, confidential crisis support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for mental health and substance use emergencies, including referrals to local treatment resources.
- MHSD Metro Crisis Response Team — Call 844-568-MHSD (844-568-6473). The Metropolitan Human Services District’s 24-hour crisis line for mental health, addiction, and developmental disability crises in Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes.
- SAMHSA National Helpline — Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357). A free, confidential treatment referral and information service available 24/7 in English and Spanish. SAMHSA staff can help identify local facilities by payment type and specialty.
County Health and Public Programs
- Metropolitan Human Services District (MHSD) — (504) 568-3130 | mhsdla.org. MHSD operates four behavioral health clinics in New Orleans including locations in Central City, Chartres-Pontchartrain, Algiers, and New Orleans East. Services are available to uninsured and Medicaid-eligible residents of Orleans Parish at sliding-scale fees. Walk-in services are available at all clinic locations on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Louisiana 211 — Dial 211. Connects callers to social service programs across the state, including substance use treatment options, housing assistance, and financial support services in New Orleans and surrounding parishes.
Community and Nonprofit Programs
- Odyssey House Louisiana — ohlinc.org. A New Orleans-based nonprofit offering no-cost and low-cost inpatient residential treatment (approximately 28 days), an intensive outpatient program lasting three to six months, and sober living housing in the city. Accepts Medicaid. Open to Orleans Parish residents and those from neighboring parishes throughout southeastern Louisiana.
- CADA (Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse for Greater New Orleans) — (504) 821-2232 | cadagno.org. Founded in 1960 and located at 2601 Tulane Avenue, CADA provides prevention, education, and assessment services for substance use in English and Spanish for youth and adults across six parishes including Orleans.
Harm Reduction
- Trystereo New Orleans Harm Reduction Network — Text 504-535-4766 | trystereo.org. An all-volunteer mobile program distributing free sterile syringes, naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and wound care kits across New Orleans and into St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes. Operates two weekly drop-in locations and a text-based supply hotline. Annually distributes over 500,000 syringes and more than 30,000 doses of naloxone.
- CrescentCare Syringe Services — (504) 821-2601 | crescentcare.org. Provides free sterile syringes, safe disposal, naloxone, overdose prevention education, and referrals to medication-assisted treatment. Walk-in hours are Wednesday 12 to 4 p.m. and Friday 12 to 5 p.m.
Veterans and Military
- New Orleans VA Medical Center — (504) 507-2000 | va.gov/southeast-louisiana-health-care. Located at 2400 Canal Street, the VA medical center provides substance use treatment including intensive outpatient programs for enrolled veterans. The facility offers same-day appointments for urgent health needs and is open 24/7 for emergency care. Veterans not yet enrolled can contact the VA benefits line at 800-827-1000 to begin the enrollment process.
Drug and Alcohol Use Statistics in New Orleans
New Orleans has faced one of the highest overdose death rates of any American city in recent years. After reaching a record 523 accidental drug-related deaths in 2023, the city saw a meaningful turnaround: the Orleans Parish Coroner recorded 293 deaths in 2024, a 44% single-year decline, according to the New Orleans Health Department’s 2024 Annual Opioid Report released in June 2025. Fentanyl remains the substance most often detected in fatal overdoses, though its presence in deaths dropped from 86% in 2023 to 71% in 2024. At the same time, cocaine and methamphetamine are appearing in a growing share of overdose cases, signaling a shift in the substances driving the crisis that treatment providers and public health officials are actively tracking.
Resources
- New Orleans Health Department, Office of Behavioral Health. (2025, June). 2024 Annual Opioid Report. City of New Orleans. https://nola.gov/nola/media/Health-Department/2024-ANNUAL-Opioid-Report.pdf
- Metropolitan Human Services District. (n.d.). About MHSD: Services and programs. https://www.mhsdla.org
- Addictions.com. (n.d.). Drug and alcohol rehab cost in Louisiana. https://www.addictions.com/rehabs/louisiana/
- Odyssey House Louisiana. (n.d.). Programs and services. https://www.ohlinc.org
- Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse for Greater New Orleans (CADA). (n.d.). About CADA. https://www.cadagno.org
- Trystereo New Orleans Harm Reduction Network. (n.d.). Services. https://trystereo.org
- CrescentCare Health. (n.d.). Syringe services program. https://crescentcare.org
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). New Orleans VA Medical Center. https://www.va.gov/southeast-louisiana-health-care/locations/new-orleans-va-medical-center/
