Top 19 Alcohol & Drug Rehab Centers in Lincoln, NE & Free Treatment Resources

The capital city and second-most populous city in Nebraska, Lincoln is home to more than 300,000 residents.¹ But like so many other cities in the U.S., Lincoln is no stranger to the opioid epidemic sweeping the country. In 2021, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Division, Lincoln Police Department, Omaha Police Department, and Nebraska State Patrol alerted the public to an increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths.² If you or someone you love is battling addiction, there are over 20 accredited alcohol and drug rehab centers in Lincoln that can help put you on the path to recovery.³

Lincoln is the county seat of Lancaster County, Nebraska, where 16% of the state’s opioid-related overdoses occurred in 2019.¹ Other drug and alcohol use statistics of note in the Lincoln area include:^{1, 2, 3, 4}

In 2015, roughly 24% of Lancaster County teens reported consuming alcohol at least once per month.

More than 17% of Lancaster County teens reported using marijuana at least once per month in 2015.

Between 2013 and 2015, nearly 10 out of every 10,000 Lancaster County residents were hospitalized for drug-related reasons.

In 2019, 35% of all heroin overdoses in the State of Nebraska took place in Lancaster County.

In 2019, there were 10 opioid-related fatalities in Lancaster County. In 2020, that number doubled to 20.

Between 2019 and 2020, 43% of the 600 people admitted to Lincoln’s mental health crisis center were diagnosed with co-occurring disorders.

Several variables affect the cost of going to alcohol or drug rehab in Lincoln. Some factors that will help determine your overall treatment costs include:

Treatment setting (outpatient is typically less costly than inpatient because it doesn’t involve room and board)

Rehab facility amenities (treatment centers that offer luxury accommodations/services typically cost more than those that provide standard amenities)

Program length (a 30-day program will generally be less expensive than a 90-day program)

Whether you have health insurance that partially or fully covers behavioral health care

The type of insurance a particular rehab facility accepts

Whether a particular facility receives donations or government funding, which may help reduce the cost of treatment

Type of care (dual-diagnosis treatment, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and other specialty services may increase the cost of your care)

Although many see the high cost as a barrier, finances shouldn’t stop you from getting the help you need. Several Lincoln drug rehabs offer various forms of financial assistance that can help cover your expenses. The city is also home to a few facilities that provide services at little to no cost for people with limited income.

Some Lincoln alcohol rehabs provide addiction treatment and mental health services at little to no cost for people in need. These facilities typically receive funding from the State of Nebraska and may also receive funding from local and federal governments, which pay for services.

To be eligible, you’ll need to show proof of your financial situation, as well as proof of your legal residency status. If accepted, be aware that you may need to wait to enroll because state-funded facilities often have limited availability.

If you carry health insurance–whether it’s private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare–your insurance can partially or fully cover the cost of care. The Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act require private and public insurers to provide coverage for behavioral health services. These services include addiction and mental health treatment.

If you don’t have insurance or don’t qualify for treatment at a free alcohol or drug rehab in Lincoln, you still have options for getting help. Often, non-profit facilities and faith-based addiction treatment centers offer reduced-cost services to help people in need. Many Lincoln drug rehabs also offer various forms of funding and financial assistance that can make care much more affordable. If you qualify for a scholarship or grant, your care may even end up being free.

Choose a Program That Offers Payment Plans: Some facilities and detox centers in Lincoln may offer to finance the full cost of your program if you cannot afford to pay for care upfront. To qualify for a payment plan, you’ll need to apply as you would for any other type of financing agreement. If you’re approved, you’ll sign a repayment contract, which will split the total cost of your program into several manageable payments over a predetermined time period.

Get a Scholarship: A scholarship can partially or fully cover the cost of your treatment, and you won’t be required to pay back the funding you receive. This type of financial assistance is typically reserved for people who cannot pay and is awarded on an as-needed basis. If you’re interested in applying for scholarships, you may be asked to demonstrate that you’ve exhausted all other means of getting funding.

Find a Sliding-Scale Program: According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, at least 10 Lincoln alcohol rehabs offer sliding fee payment assistance.⁷ These facilities base your out-of-pocket treatment costs on your monthly or annual income, allowing you to pay only what you can afford. Be aware that each facility may structure its sliding fee scale a bit differently, but in most cases, fees are based on federal poverty guidelines.

When searching for a drug or alcohol rehab in Lincoln, you should know what type of setting is the best fit for your needs.

If you live with severe alcohol and/or drug addiction or a mental health condition that has seriously impacted your life, you may benefit from inpatient. If you do not need highly intensive, structured treatment or cannot commit to an inpatient program because of life obligations, outpatient care may better suit your needs.

Inpatient

Inpatient treatment takes place in a residential facility where you’ll live throughout your program. This is the most intensive form of addiction rehab and provides a stable, immersive, and highly structured environment where recovery is the focus of everyday life. While engaged in a residential program, you’ll have access to addiction and medical professionals throughout your stay.

Depending on how severe your addiction is, you may benefit from a medical detox. Medical detoxification is often an important part of inpatient, too, as it provides a setting where you can withdraw from toxic substances as safely as possible. This may involve withdrawal medications, adjunctive medications, and supportive care like IV fluids.

Outpatient

Outpatient is available at three intensity levels: partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), and standard outpatient programs. PHPs provide five to seven days of treatment per week, and daily sessions typically last several hours. IOPs typically provide three to five days of weekly care, with each session lasting several hours. Standard outpatient programs typically provide five to 10 hours of care per week consisting of group and/or individual therapy and substance abuse education.

While enrolled in a PHP or IOP, you’ll participate in many of the same evidence-based addiction therapies provided in residential treatment. But rather than living at the rehabilitation facility, you’ll travel to and from each session and can live at home or in supportive housing.

Many outpatient programs, particularly IOPs and standard programs, offer flexible meeting times to accommodate work, school, or family care needs.

In addition to standard, evidence-based therapies for addiction and/or mental health conditions, many Lincoln detox centers and drug rehabs offer alternative approaches to care. Depending on your needs, belief system, and mental health status, you may benefit from one or more of the following special programs.

Holistic: Holistic programs use both evidence-based and alternative therapies in their whole-person addiction treatment approach. These programs focus on providing for your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs and aim to help you heal both your body and mind. Yoga, nature therapy, animal therapy, meditation, mindfulness training, acupuncture, and massage are a few of the more common alternative therapies offered in holistic programs.

Christian and Faith-Based: If faith is an important part of your life and could help with your recovery journey, you may benefit from a faith-based program. These programs typically incorporate spiritual practices, religious services, and prayer into their addiction treatment approach and use spiritual philosophies to facilitate healing. Many faith-based programs in the United States are Christian in nature, but programs that incorporate other religious philosophies are also available.

Luxury: Luxury alcohol rehabs in Lincoln spare no expense when it comes to providing an upscale, comfortable environment that encourages healing and recovery. These facilities often feel more like a resort than a treatment center and provide several high-end amenities as part of their model. Private accommodations, fitness training, concierge services, gourmet meals, highly individualized therapy, spa treatments, and holistic therapies are often included in luxury programs.

Executive: Executive programs are designed for working persons who hold high-level, professional positions. Individuals with high-level careers often cannot put their jobs on hold to enter into addiction treatment. These programs typically provide access to computers, internet, and private work areas to allow patients to continue working while in recovery.

Dual Diagnosis: If you live with addiction and have been diagnosed with or believe you have a mental health disorder, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD, you may benefit from dual-diagnosis rehab. A dual-diagnosis program provides simultaneous treatment for addiction and mental health concerns and can help improve your long-term recovery outcome.

Evidence-based behavioral therapies are an integral component of treatment at most drug and alcohol rehabs in Lincoln. These therapies not only help you identify beliefs and actions that may be harmful but also teach you to develop healthier, more constructive habits and coping mechanisms. Behavioral therapies can also help you develop strong motivation to change, which will serve you well in your long-term recovery journey.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of talk therapy that helps you identify problematic emotions and thoughts as well as how those thoughts motivate potentially harmful behaviors. In this type of therapy, you’ll engage in exercises and counseling to learn how to modify both your thoughts and the actions that result from them.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a form of talk therapy that focuses on helping you develop skills in mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and effective communication. In this type of therapy, you’ll work with a professional who will help you learn how to accept and validate uncomfortable emotions. You’ll also learn to manage those emotions in healthier, more constructive ways.16

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) is another form of talk therapy that helps you develop your intrinsic motivation to change and actively participate in treatment. You’ll work with a therapist who will help you outline a plan for change and develop self-motivating statements that can help you progress through recovery. You’ll also learn healthy coping strategies for high-risk situations and receive regular feedback on your progress.¹⁷

Contingency Management

Contingency management (CM) is a type of therapy that reinforces positive behavioral change with rewards. You may be given monetary rewards or gift cards for submitting substance-negative urine specimens or for repeatedly engaging in treatment sessions. Ultimately, CM aims to recondition your brain to associate abstinence rather than substance use with more positive outcomes.¹⁸

Group Therapy

Group therapy is often an important part of the addiction treatment process and can be highly beneficial for people in recovery. Typically a licensed counselor or therapist facilitates this type of therapy for small groups of people who share common problems and can support one another. As part of your group sessions, you may engage in behavioral therapies with your peers and may also receive education on drug and/or alcohol use.

Family Therapy

Family therapy engages your loved ones in your recovery process, taking the focus of you alone and teaching your family about the integral role they play in your healing. Often, substance abuse and/or mental health issues have roots in larger family issues. Family therapy aims to help the family identify such issues and grow stronger together by drawing on communal strength and resources that support healing.

The need to travel to Lincoln for care depends on several variables. Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself to determine if traveling is right for you:

• Do you have the financial means to travel?
• Does your day-to-day environment contain social situations, people, or other triggers that may slow your progress through recovery?
• Does your insurance cover care at facilities in Lincoln?
• Do you have loved ones in the area who can provide a support system for you as you work through recovery?

If your local area does not have the addiction treatment and/or mental health resources you need to jumpstart your recovery journey, traveling for rehab is likely in your best interest.

If you’re considering enrolling in a Lincoln treatment center, you may want to consider care in the downtown area. This part of town is known for its many entertainment opportunities, government buildings, museums, theaters, and innovative eateries.

Another area to think about is North Bottoms, which is adjacent to Oak Lake Park and known for its many trails, green spaces, the Nebraska State Museum of Natural History, and the Sheldon Museum of Art.

Eastridge, which lies on the eastern edge of the city, is known for its quiet, laid-back feel, many green spaces, proximity to Wedgewood Lake, and several public sports fields. There’s also South Salt Creek, which is a designated Lincoln historic district known for its parks, walking and biking trails, and many community events.

Nebraska Good Samaritan Law: Under Nebraska statute 28-472, if you call 911 for yourself or someone else during a suspected overdose, you have immunity from arrest or prosecution for drug-related charges. However, you must remain at the scene of the overdose until emergency medical personnel or police arrive. You must also cooperate with medical personnel or the authorities to maintain immunity from criminal liability.¹⁹

Naloxone Access: Under Nebraska statute 28-470, you may obtain naloxone from a health professional or a pharmacy if you may be in a position to assist a friend, family member, or other person during a suspected overdose. If you administer naloxone to someone experiencing an overdose, you cannot be arrested or prosecuted for doing so under this law.²⁰

With so many accredited alcohol and drug rehab centers in Lincoln to choose from, selecting the right program for your unique needs and budget can feel overwhelming. If you need assistance, call 800-681-1058 (Who Answers?) .

1. Lincoln, Nebraska Population 2021 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs). (n.d.). Worldpopulationreview.com.
2. Fentanyl Related Overdose Deaths Spike in Lincoln and Omaha. (n.d.). Www.dea.gov. 
3. FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov. 
4. City of Lincoln Nebraska. (n.d.). Overdose Prevention.
5. Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. (2015). Lancaster County, Community Health Profile 2015.
6. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. (2017, December). Substance Use, Mental Illness, and Associated Consequences in Nebraska.
7. Lancaster County Crisis Center. (2020, August 3). Mental Health Crisis Center of Lancaster County.
8. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.) What Does the Affordable Care Act Mean for Behavioral Health?
9. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA).
10. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Treatment Locator Map.
11. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019, January 17). Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction DrugFacts.
12. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition) Types of Treatment Programs.
13. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019, August). Key Substance use and Mental health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug use and Health.
14. Quello, S. B., Brady, K. T., & Sonne, S. C. (2005). Mood Disorders and Substance Use Disorder: A Complex Comorbidity. Science & Practice Perspectives, 3(1), 13-21.
15. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2008). Comorbidity: Addiction and Other Mental Illnesses.
16. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD. (n.d.). PTSD and Substance Abuse in Veterans.
17. Stokes, P. R. A., Kalk, N. J., & Young, A. H. (2017). Bipolar disorder and addictions: The elephant in the room. British Journal of Psychiatry, 211(3), 132-134. Cambridge University Press.
18. 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.
19. Chapman A. L. (2006). Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Current Indications and Unique Elements. Psychiatry (Edgmont), 3(9), 62-68.
20. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Motivational Enhancement Therapy (Alcohol, Marijuana, Nicotine).
21. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020, June 1). Contingency Management Interventions/Motivational Incentives (Alcohol, Stimulants, Opioids, Marijuana, Nicotine).
22. Nebraskalegislature.gov. (n.d.). Nebraska Revised Statute 28-472.
23. Nebraskalegislature.gov. (n.d.). Nebraska Revised Statute 28-470