Expert Insights
As a pediatric nurse practitioner, I’ve witnessed the profound and often heartbreaking toll of drug use in Mississippi.
Drugs can lead to newborns in withdrawal, teens navigating the trauma of a parent’s addiction, and grandparents unexpectedly raising their grandchildren. I’ve seen how substance use breaks trust and places overwhelming strain on a child’s emotional and physical well-being. But recently, I’ve also noticed a tragic rise in addiction among older people as well.
The drug overdose deaths in Mississippi nearly doubled from 2019 to 2021. The state’s Department of Health reports that deaths from synthetic opioids spiked 51% from 2020-2021, and one of every three deaths in 2021 was in people younger than 35 years.
There is growing concern about polysubstance abuse across all age groups. Multiple-drug overdose deaths in the Magnolia State rose dramatically from 17.9% in 2011 to an all-time high of 53.1% in 2020.
~Gayle Morris, BSN, MSN
How Much Does Drug Rehab Cost in Mississippi?
Mississippi is ranked 6th nationwide in terms of addiction treatment affordability, with an average cost of drug and alcohol rehab of $54,805 (without insurance).
- Medical detox is the most expensive, with an average cost of $135,114
- Inpatient drug rehab in Mississippi costs an average of $48,362
- Outpatient addiction treatment in Mississippi costs an average of $8,036
- Outpatient methadone treatment is the most affordable, with an average cost of $7,140
The costs of addiction treatment centers in Mississippi depend on the type you attend (such as inpatient vs. outpatient), the duration of your stay during care, and the services you receive.
For example, an inpatient stay after a medical detox for 60 days would be more expensive than receiving weekly outpatient therapy sessions for 30 days. Ultimately, you can expect to pay between $0 (if you have insurance or attend a free facility) and tens of thousands of dollars (if you choose a luxury treatment center or attend long-term inpatient).
How to Pay for Drug Rehab in Mississippi
As of 2024, there were over 110 drug rehab facilities across the state of Mississippi. These facilities accept several payment methods. Of those treatment facilities, the following numbers reflect how many accept their respective payment methods:
99 accept self-payment or cash
65 offer sliding-scale fees for those without insurance
63 accept Medicaid insurance coverage
48 accept state funded insurance coverage
68 accept private health insurance
58 offer free or low-cost treatment
1 offer free treatment for all clients
6 accept tribal funding
Private Insurance Carriers
- Aetna
- Ambetter Health
- Blue Cross /Blue Shield
- Cigna
- Farmers Insurance
- Humana
- Magnolia Health
- Molina Healthcare
- UnitedHealthcare
- Vantage Plan of Mississippi
Medicaid
Mississippi’s government-funded Medicaid insurance is administered by the Mississippi
Division of Medicaid. They provide a Mississippi managed care program called
MississippiCAN. Mississippi’s Medicaid also offers the CHIP program for children.
Substance abuse treatment provided through Mississippi Medicaid programs includes services such as detox, medication assisted treatment, crisis care, treatment at inpatient or residential drug rehab facilities, outpatient drug rehab treatment (including intensive outpatient and regular outpatient services), 12-step programming, faith-based programming, gender-specific programs, LGBTQ+ programs, and special programs for pregnant women.
But not all services are available at all facilities. You’d need to check with your insurance provider to find out which facilities and programs are available through your insurance plan.
Medicare and Medicare Advantage
Medicare and Medicare Advantage insurance plans in Mississippi will cover mental health and/or substance abuse treatment if you are diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder. Services will vary by plan, but often include detox, medication assisted treatment, residential or inpatient care, outpatient treatment (including partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, and regular outpatient treatment, as well as individual, group, and/or family counseling. Diagnostic psychiatric or psychological evaluations and medication management are also typically covered.
It is important that you check with your insurance provider, however, to find out the exact details of your insurance plan’s substance abuse treatment coverage. Many policies have limits on the number of inpatient days they will pay for; and other fees may apply as well, such as deductibles and copays.
Military Insurance
Insurance coverage that is available to military and military veterans includes TriCare insurance and insurance benefits that are available through the Department of Veterans Affairs. TriCare insurance will cover substance abuse treatment for current and retired military personnel who are diagnosed with substance use disorder.
Services provided may include residential or inpatient care, opioid treatment, including detox and medication assisted treatment when needed, as well as outpatient treatment (intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs, and regular outpatient treatment). Policies vary, so the kinds of treatment services offered will differ, and not all services will be offered at all facilities. Some insurance policies place limitations on certain services.
Department of Veterans Affairs substance abuse treatment benefits for military veterans living in Mississippi are provided through the VA’s Substance Use Disorder program. This program covers inpatient/residential treatment, outpatient treatment, and opioid treatment services. But services vary according to VA facility locations.4 You can find a list of Mississippi VA clinics that have SUD programs on the VA website.
Tribal and Indigenous Peoples’ Programs
Choctaw Prevention Planning Coalition Activities
The Choctaw Indian tribe in Mississippi has been the recipient of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Drug Free Communities grants since 2014. A SAMHSA grant funded an education campaign to address an underage drinking problem among Choctaw Indians in Conehatta, Mississippi. They also funded a prevention-focused youth fair in that rural community.
Choctaw Alcohol and Substance Abuse Re-Education Program
The Mississippi Bureau of Justice has been awarding grants to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians since 2006. That year, the Bureau of Justice funded an Indian Alcohol and Substance Program to aid Mississippi Choctaw Indian and Alaska Native communities to reduce crime associated with distributing and using alcohol and other controlled substances within the native communities.
In 2019, the funding for these activities reached over $270,000. A portion of the 2019 funding was earmarked to support tribal youth intervention services and mentoring programs.
Other Low-Cost Options
Financial Assistance
To finance drug rehab, some people take out a loan from a bank, or from family members or friends. Others solicit funding assistance via a social media platform like GoFundMe, which lets people to try to raise funds for personal needs. For members of a group that may face discrimination, such as the LGBTQ+ community, or a racial or cultural minority group, advocacy groups sometimes offer scholarships to help the members of their community pay for substance abuse treatment.
Sliding Scale Payments
Many rehab facilities offer reduced payment options for potential clients who would not otherwise be able to afford treatment at the facility. For potential clients whose income falls below federal poverty level, the maximum amount of fee reduction offered by the facility would likely be available. But drug rehab costs vary greatly–such as when the facility it is a luxury vs. a state-funded facility. So, while a sliding fee scale discount reduces costs, it doesn’t guarantee that a particular facility will be an affordable option for every potential client.
Family Medical Leave Act
In 1993, the Family Medical Leave Act was enacted. It gives job security to employees when they are off work for mental health reasons, including seeking treatment for addiction. Because of FMLA, you can now take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period, and you won’t lose your job because of it. Also, during this leave time, your employer must continue to maintain your health insurance benefits.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Block Grants
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) distributes block grants to every state to be used by local government and non-governmental organizations to help pay for services such as mental health crisis services, inpatient or residential addiction treatment programs, and outpatient substance abuse treatment. In Mississippi, in 2023, a total of $16 million in SAMHSA block grants were awarded.
Check with all the rehab facilities you are considering. Ask them if they have SAMHSA grants available to help pay for your treatment.
Resources
- Opioids and Substance Use – Mississippi State Department of Health. (n.d.). MS Department of Health.
- HHS Publication No. SMA–20–Baro–19–MS. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2020. Behavioral Health Barometer: Mississippi, Volume 6: Indicators as measured through the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Screening and Assessment Tools Chart | National Institute on Drug Abuse. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
- de Andrade, Dominique; Elphinston, Rachel A.; Quinn, Catherine; Allan, Julaine; Hides, Leanne. 2019. The effectiveness of residential treatment services for individuals with substance use disorders: A systematic review. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 201, 227-235.
