Baltimore Alcohol/Drug Use Statistics
There is a growing substance abuse trend across the city and the state, especially with opioids and new substances, including powdered alcohol. Some statistics related to substance use in the city include:3,4

Overall, overdose deaths have increased across Maryland, but the rate of overdoses in the city of Baltimore increased by 225% between 2007 and 2016.

Half of Baltimore teens have used alcohol, with one in eight reporting binge drinking.

There were 761 deaths related to substance use in 2017 in the city, 692 of which were related to opioids.

In 2018, the city distributed 3,891 Naloxone kits and reversed 904 overdoses through the Staying Alive program.
Cost of Drug Rehab in Baltimore
Getting substance abuse help can range from very affordable or free to quite expensive. The costs depend on several factors:
- The location and type of facility you choose
- Whether you want private or shared accommodations in residential treatment
- What type of amenities are provided — for example, equine and neural imaging therapies might be exclusive to higher-end facilities
- Your health insurance coverage or budget if you’re paying out of pocket
Depending on your insurance, finances, and the type of program you need, you’re sure to find drug or alcohol rehabs in Baltimore that fit your needs, given the dozens of options available.
Low-Cost and Free Drug Rehab Centers in Baltimore
If you need assistance in paying for addiction treatment services, look to local nonprofits and religious organizations for help. If you find a center you’re particularly interested in, call and ask to speak to the financial counselor and ask if they offer a sliding-scale fee or scholarships.
To find free Baltimore drug rehabs, you can also call our helpline at
800-926-9037
(Who Answers?)
to speak to a treatment 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?
When looking for a treatment center, it’s critical to be aware of the total costs you’ll be responsible for when signing up. There are dozens of programs for people in any financial situation in the Baltimore area. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), there are:1
Once you’ve determined how you’ll pay for your care, you can begin researching accredited facilities and detox centers in Baltimore.
How Do You Pay for Addiction Treatment in Baltimore?
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria for free help in Baltimore, or if they do not have any openings, there are still options for affordable treatment services:
Choose a Program that Offers Payment Plans: This creates a contract that splits up the cost of care over an extended period, giving you a chance to make more manageable payments during and after finishing treatment.
Apply for a Scholarship: A scholarship can help low-income and uninsured clients with some or all of their costs. These scholarships are usually reserved for clients who don’t have access to any alternatives.
Find a Sliding-Scale Program: Sliding-scale programs allow clients to pay for care at a cost determined by their annual income and other factors. They typically base their qualifications on current federal income poverty guidelines.
Addiction Treatment Settings
When considering the type of rehabilitation you’ll need, take into account the amount of time each day you have to spend on treatment.
Medical detox is often the initial step, and it usually occurs in a hospital, inpatient, or outpatient setting. It is the process of safely clearing your system of all drugs and alcohol. Detox takes place in a supervised setting to safely manage withdrawal symptoms and allow you to move forward with recovery.
Inpatient treatment involves round-the-clock care. It’s the most intensive setting, offering constant supervision. In this setting, you will typically participate in individual, group, and family therapy sessions, and you may receive medication and additional recreational and holistic therapies.
Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are the most intensive, with several hours in an inpatient setting each day. Many people enter PHPs after finishing inpatient rehab or detox.
Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are more involved than the standard treatment, requiring a few hours of therapy several days a week.
Standard outpatient requires the least time commitment to participate, usually requiring only a few hours of meetings per week in individual therapy or support groups. This type of rehab is perfect for someone in long-term recovery who just needs ongoing counseling and life skills coaching to avoid relapsing.
Aftercare
The goal of aftercare is to provide ongoing counseling and drug education to help you or your loved one maintain sobriety, and community-based support groups, including 12-step programs, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous, can supplement your aftercare plan with extra social support.
If you need assistance in choosing a program, 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.
Specialized Drug Rehabs in Baltimore
Depending on your interests and background, a supportive environment that caters to your personal beliefs might be more fulfilling than a standard population rehab.
Holistic
A holistic center will focus more on natural surroundings and methods such as nutrition therapy and yoga to aid recovery. There may be experimental therapies, such as acupuncture and yoga, along with evidence-based treatments.
Christian and Faith-Based
If you’re a spiritual person, a religious environment might be helpful in your healing process. Faith-based drug rehabs in Baltimore incorporate pastoral counseling, group prayer sessions, and other religious activities with other addiction treatments to encourage sobriety.
Luxury
When you’re interested in the most serene environment possible with access to the highest-quality treatments and on-campus offerings, look for a luxury center. These facilities are usually equipped with anything you could want from a luxury hotel, including fine dining and on-site gyms with spas.
Executive
People in high-level professional positions often want to ensure their confidentiality while undergoing addiction treatment to avoid any backlash. Executive centers focus heavily on client confidentiality and offer a myriad of high-end therapies, amenities, places to gather, and office space to work in peace within the facility if needed.
Dual Diagnosis
When you find yourself struggling with both a mental health disorder and substance abuse, you likely have a dual diagnosis. Treatment centers that deal with dual diagnosis are staffed with a higher caliber of mental health care professionals than your standard facility to manage medication and therapy for those with mental health conditions.
Types of Addiction Therapy Used in Drug Rehab
Addiction is a complex disease that affects a person’s brain and behaviors. It is treatable, but there is no “one size fits all” approach that works for everyone. There are several types of evidence-based therapies that may be provided by drug rehab centers in Baltimore.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps people recognize, cope with, and/or avoid situations that are most likely to cause temptation to return to drug and alcohol use. This form of therapy analyzes thought and behavior patterns to address addictive behaviors.13
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is often used to treat people with a dual diagnosis. This form of therapy focuses on validating and accepting uncomfortable feelings rather than burying them or denying these feelings exist. Through DBT, you will learn to cope with difficult feelings healthily instead of using drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms.14
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
MET is designed to motivate people to engage with their addiction treatment program. Because it can be challenging to stop using drugs and alcohol, many people feel ambivalent about quitting. This therapeutic approach may help you become internally motivated and get you involved and committed to your recovery process.15
Contingency Management (CM)
CM programs provide tangible rewards, such as vouchers or gift cards, for abstaining from drug and alcohol use. Research shows that these are highly effective at increasing engagement and can truly help people abstain from drug and alcohol use.13
Group
Group therapy allows you to meet with others in the program for support, discussion, and camaraderie. It is often combined with individual therapies and is highly effective in helping people both make meaningful connections with peers and achieve long-term recovery.13
Family
Family therapy brings every member of a family together to address their interactions and improve their communication. If you and your family have been affected by addiction, this type of therapy can be very helpful in teaching you healthy communication strategies.13
Should You Travel for Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Baltimore?
If you love the convenience of the city, American history, and art galleries, consider a trip to Baltimore. The city is home to a variety of gorgeous natural attractions and fun activities, such as the National Aquarium and the various shopping centers along the harbor.
Baltimore has tons of gourmet dining, including world-famous crabcakes, and has a great public transit system. When thinking about moving for rehab, there are some questions to ask yourself:
- Do you have health insurance to cover the cost of treatment in the area, or do you need to look into alternative funding options?
- Do you know people in the area that can help support your sobriety?
- Does Baltimore sound like an ideal location in which to seek care?
- Are there programs in the city that interest you and fit your needs?
Alcohol & Drug Laws in Baltimore
There are several laws and policies enacted to combat the problem of substance abuse in the community:
Maryland Good Samaritan Overdose Prevention Law: In order to encourage people in the presence of overdoses who might be engaged in certain crimes, Maryland’s Good Samaritan law was enacted. Under this law, individuals who report a suspected drug overdose to police or emergency medical personnel will not be arrested or prosecuted for consumption or possession of illicit substances.10
Overdose Prevention Act: The Overdose Prevention Act, created under the Heroin and Opioid Prevention Effort (HOPE) and Treatment Act set of bills in 2017, provides access to naloxone (Narcan) kits for all Maryland citizens through any pharmacy in the state.11
The AIM to B’More Jail Diversion Program: For those convicted of low-level, non-violent crimes involving drug and alcohol use, the AIM program can redirect them to rehab instead of jail.13 This is designed to prevent a heavy impact on the future of individuals involved in petty crime due to substance abuse, instead offering a second chance at living healthily within society.
Resources
- Baltimore City Health Department. (2015, April). Baltimore City’s Response to the Opioid Epidemic.
- FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov.
- Baltimore City Health Department. (2017.) Community Health Assessment.
- Baltimore City Health Department. (2022). Baltimore Statement on Dangers of Powdered Alcohol.
- Baltimore City Health Department. (2022). Substance Use Disorder.
- National Library of Medicine. Tirado Muñoz J, Farré A, Mestre-Pintó J, Szerman N, Torrens M. (2018). Dual diagnosis in Depression: treatment recommendations.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (September, 2020). Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
- National Library of Medicine. Blanco, Laura et al. (August 6, 2020). Traumatic Events in Dual Disorders: Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics. Journal of clinical medicine 9,8 2553.
- National Library of Medicine, Arias F, Szerman N, Vega P, Mesías B, Basurte I, Rentero D. (2017). Bipolar disorder and substance use disorders. Madrid study on the prevalence of dual disorders/pathology.
- Parmar, A., & Kaloiya, G. (2018). Comorbidity of Personality Disorder among Substance Use Disorder Patients: A Narrative Review. Indian journal of psychological medicine, 40(6), 517–527.
- Maryland Department of Health. (2022). Good Samaritan Law.
- Maryland.Gov. (2022). New Law Expands Naloxone Access to All Marylanders
- Maryland Courts. (2022). Family Medical and Leave Act (FMLA).
- Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. (2022.) Aim to B’More.