Expert Insights
Rhode Island was the first state to legalize supervised drug consumption sites. Now, Providence is seeking to open the first of these. Some believe this site will reduce the number of drug overdoses in the area. I believe it will only encourage drug use and cause other problems for the city. How can we expect this to go anywhere good, when we make it easier for people to get high and continue their unhealthy patterns of substance abuse? Don’t we want to stop drug use, reduce crime, and free people from addiction? Instead, we’re building a place with the express purpose of getting high. Harm reduction, they say? I say harm-inflicting – to those who are struggling with addiction, and to the surrounding city.
~ Kerry Nenn
Cost of Drug Rehab in Providence
The cost of drug or alcohol rehab in Providence will depend on several factors, including:
Inpatient vs. outpatient
Amenities offered (luxury or standard rehab facility)
Length of program
Types of insurance accepted (Medicaid, Medicare, Private Insurance)
State/government funding
Traditionally, a residential program where you live full-time at the facility will cost more than an outpatient program where you live a home. Also, the longer the program, the more it will cost. If the program offers luxury amenities such as gourmet meals and spa treatments, it will be more expensive than a standard inpatient program.
Private insurance is required to cover at least part of any addiction treatment. However, you can’t just pick any facility. You’ll need to see which ones accept your insurance to keep costs down. You can contact your insurance provider to get a list of in-network facilities and the services that are covered.
A state-funded rehab receives money directly from the government to cover all or some of the cost of addiction treatment for residents who meet certain requirements.
Providence Drug and Alcohol Statistics
In 2021, 111 people in Providence died from a drug overdose, a slight increase from the previous year.1 When broken down further, the following statistics emerge:1

69% of Providence residents who died from a drug overdose were men.

31% of Providence residents who died from a drug overdose were women.

68% of Providence residents who died from a drug overdose were between the ages of 25 to 54.

54% of Providence residents who died from a drug overdose were White.
While the majority of overdose deaths happened among people who identify as White, 24% of the deaths occurred among the Hispanic or Latino population. This is a higher proportion than what was found in Providence County and the state.1
Any opioid, followed closely by fentanyl, contributed to the majority of fatal overdoses in Providence. Cocaine and alcohol were second and third.1 The percentage of overdose deaths involving alcohol in Providence was also slightly higher than in the county and statewide.1 Three Providence neighborhoods are considered overdose hotspots: Downtown, Olneyville, and the West End.2
From 2016 to 2019, Providence also had the most opioid overdose-related emergency department visits and EMS runs in the state.2 When seeking help for an opioid use disorder, between 2011 and 2017, 3,824 people in Providence entered treatment.3
Alcohol and Drug Laws in Providence
Rhode Island and Providence have laws in place to help people dealing with substance use disorders get the help they need and potentially avoid the criminal justice system. The state is also working to reduce the number of overdose deaths through several initiatives.
Uniform Controlled Substances Act: In 2021, Rhode Island’s governor signed legislation to amend to Uniform Controlled Substances Act. This reclassifies simple possession of 10 grams or less of certain controlled substances, such as cocaine or heroin, as a misdemeanor charge instead of a felony.5 Government officials say this change will help people suffering from addiction get treatment instead of prison time.
Good Samaritan Overdose Prevention Act: Rhode Island’s Good Samaritan Overdose Prevention Act provides limited protection from prosecution to people who call for help when witnessing an overdose. The person experiencing the overdose is also protected, as well as anyone who may administer opioid overdose-reversing drugs such as Narcan or Naloxone.
Naloxone Access: As part of its effort to reduce the number of opioid overdoses, people who live in Providence can obtain Naloxone or Narcan at any area pharmacy without a prescription. You can also request to have an opioid overdose reversal kit delivered to your home at no cost.
Adult and Veterans Drug Court: Rhode Island’s Adult and Veterans Drug Court was established to help people in the criminal justice system who have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder get treatment while under court supervision. Your charges do not need to be drug-related, but addiction must have played a role. If accepted into the program, you must plead guilty to the charges and agree to a pre-set sentence that will be served if the program is not completed. The program lasts for a year and upon completion, the charges can be dismissed. Veterans Court is dedicated to helping people who have served in the military get needed services. Programs vary from 9 to 18 months, depending on the person’s clinical needs and progress. Each participant gets a mentor who attends court sessions and is there to help with whatever is needed.
Resources
- FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov.
- Rhode Island Department of Health. (2022, August 4). Community-Level Overdose Surveillance Report- Providence July 2022.
- Rhode Island Public Health Institute. (2020). Report: Downtown Providence Overdose Hotspot Assessment & Plan.
- Rhode Island Governor’s Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force. (n.d.). Opioid Treatment Admissions Data.
- Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals, State of Rhode Island. (2022). Substance Use Conditions.
- State of Rhode Island. (2021, September 28). Governor McKee Signs Legislation to Reclassify Certain Drug Possession Charges.