Top 28 Alcohol & Drug Rehab Centers in South Dakota & Free Treatment Resources

South Dakota is ranked 9th nationwide in terms of addiction treatment affordability, with an average cost of drug and alcohol rehab of $56,108 (without insurance).

• Medical detox is the most expensive, with an average cost of $138,327
• Long-term inpatient drug rehab in South Dakota costs an average of $49,512
• Outpatient addiction treatment in South Dakota costs an average of $8,227
• Outpatient methadone treatment is the most affordable, with an average cost of $7,310

The cost of alcohol and drug rehab in South Dakota can vary greatly depending on the type of treatment you receive. From detox to residential inpatient and outpatient to ongoing counseling therapies, many elements factor into the total cost of rehab.⁴ South Dakota also offers free, low-cost, and luxury rehabs.

As of 2024, there were over 60 drug rehab facilities across the state of South Dakota. These facilities accept several payment methods. Of those treatment facilities, the following numbers reflect how many accept their respective payment methods:

51 accept self-payment or cash

34 offer sliding-scale fees for those without insurance

42 accept Medicaid insurance coverage

29 accept state funded insurance coverage

43 accept private health insurance

38 offer free or low-cost treatment

1 offer free treatment for all clients

23 accept tribal funding

Low-Cost & Free Treatment Options

State-funded rehabs can offer free or low-cost services since they receive funds from government. To see a list of these facilities in your area, you can visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website.⁵ In order to qualify for treatment, you will likely need to provide proof of residency and income. State-funded rehabs offer evidence-based treatment and professional care for all clients.

Insurance

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most insurance policies cover at least some – if not all – treatment costs. Medicaid and Medicare are also required to provide coverage for addiction treatment.⁶

To qualify for Medicaid, you must be part of an eligible group including low-income individuals, pregnant women, children, or those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI).⁷ To qualify for Medicare, you must be an American citizen over 65 years or have a qualifying disability.⁸

Private insurance policies are provided through employers or through the government Marketplace exchange website. Private insurance policies tend to offer out-of-pocket costs that include copays and coinsurance rates.

Scholarships & Sliding Scale Payment Options

If you don’t have insurance and you don’t qualify for state-funded treatment, there are still options available. Some programs offer scholarships that cover part or all of your treatment costs. These treatment scholarships are paid for by private donors or public funds.

Sliding-scale payment options offer more flexibility when it comes to paying for treatment. These plans allow you to make payments based on your income, financial resources, type of treatment you need, and your ability to make payments. In order to qualify, you will need to provide proof of income.

When it comes to alcohol use, residents of South Dakota report a higher average than America as a whole. Consider the following stats:^1,2

In 2020, 24% of adults engaged in binge or heavy drinking vs. the national average of 17.6%

Over 12% of South Dakota residents had an alcohol use disorder.

Over 12% of South Dakota residents had an alcohol use disorder.
17% of South Dakota residents had a substance use disorder.

Adults in South Dakota were more likely to use alcohol, including binge drinking, than to use illicit drugs.

For youth, the prevalence of alcohol and illicit drug use was about the same.

The Good Samaritan Law: The Good Samaritan statute provides immunity from civil damages for individuals who render emergency care, in good faith, for those in need. This includes helping someone from a drug or alcohol overdose.

Naloxone Access: According to South Dakota law, a prescriber may prescribe naloxone, directly or by standing order, to a person at risk of overdose or a family member, friend, or another person able to help someone experiencing an overdose.

Seeking treatment is important and shouldn’t be hindered by barriers such as the cost of treatment or fear of losing your job. Many programs can help you afford treatment, and laws exist to protect your job while you receive the care you need.

Is traveling to South Dakota for treatment the best choice for you? Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Is treatment offered near where you live?
• Does your insurance cover rehab in South Dakota?
• Would you like to attend a rehab away from where you live for privacy reasons?

South Dakota is divided into four tourism regions: the Black Hills & Badlands region in the west, the South Dakota Missouri River region in the center, the Glacial Lakes & Prairies region in the northeast, and the Southeast region in the southeast.

Some questions to ask include:⁹

What type of care is best for you?

Features and amenities (luxury or standard rehab facility)

Duration of program (30, 60, or 90 days)

Health insurance plan coverage

Choosing an in-network treatment facility

Government funding

Location (city vs. suburb)

Specialized care is also offered for those who prefer a treatment setting that’s tailored to a specific population such as veterans, LGBTQ+, teenagers, professionals and executives, or religions.

Different treatment settings are available based on what level of care you need. Treatment settings include inpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and standard outpatient.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient care provides around-the-clock care while you stay overnight at the facility. This is the highest level of care available, and inpatient stays range from weeks to months and sometimes even a year, depending on your situation.

The benefits of inpatient care include:¹⁰

Daily structure and routines that aid recovery

A safe, trigger-free environment

24/7 access to medical staff and detox medications

A consistent support system built with others at the inpatient level

Inpatient treatment is typically recommended when your substance use is severe and you do not have a good support system at home.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient care includes various levels of care. Often, a person leaving inpatient treatment will step down to an outpatient program.

Standard outpatient treatment: often involves just one or two sessions a week compared to the higher number of treatment appointments in other outpatient programs.

Intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment (IOPs): provide many of the same services as a PHP but on a less frequent basis.

Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs): look a lot like inpatient programs but without the overnight stay. You will still attend multiple treatment sessions per week.

There are some benefits to outpatient treatment over inpatient. One is that you get more flexibility in your daily schedule, and you get to return to the comfort of your own home at night. Costs are often lower for outpatient programs as well. You also get the chance to return to daily life in between treatment sessions, which allows you to put into practice what you are learning in rehab.

Outpatient is an appropriate treatment choice if your drug and alcohol addiction is not severe and if you have a good support system at home.

Not everyone starts with an inpatient program and then steps down to outpatient. You can be recommended for any level of care based on your assessment and what the professionals think you need.

Aftercare and Relapse Prevention

Completing your treatment program does not mean your recovery journey is over. Your team will work with you to create an aftercare plan that guides you through continued recovery. Your aftercare plan includes relapse prevention.

If you experience a relapse, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed at recovery. In fact, relapse is a normal part of addiction. As a chronic condition, relapse rates for addiction are similar to those of other chronic medical conditions.¹²

Relapse is a process that tends to unfold over time and in three stages:¹³

Emotional relapse: When you begin to ignore or bottle your feelings and do not express needs to those around you

Mental relapse: When you begin thinking about using the substance again, craving it, and minimizing the negative effects it had on you previously

Physical relapse: When you start using the substance again

Other activities included in an aftercare plan are things like attending Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings, staying in sober living, and continuing ongoing therapy.

How long you stay in rehab is dependent on many factors. Research shows that positive outcomes are dependent on staying in treatment longer and that participation for less than 90 days has limited effectiveness.¹¹

Even though the length of treatment varies widely, some of the typical time frames for inpatient treatment are around 30-90 days. Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) can range from 8-12 weeks long. Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) are typically 2-4 weeks long. Standard outpatient treatment can last anywhere from a few weeks to several years but usually involves just one therapy session a week.

Your treatment team will recommend the appropriate length of treatment that is specific to your needs. Following recommendations gives you the best chance for a positive outcome.

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). South Dakota State-Specific Tables.
2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2017). 2016-2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health National Maps of Prevalence Estimates, by State.
3. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Drinking Levels Defined | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (nih.gov). National Institutes of Health.
4. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Types of Treatment Programs.
5. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Single State Agency Directory.
6. Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). Mental health and substance abuse health coverage options.
7. Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Eligibility Medicaid.
8. Mentalhealth.gov. (n.d.). Health Insurance and Mental Health Services.
9. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2021). Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help. National Institutes of Health.
10. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2022, March 22). Treatment and Recovery. National Institutes of Health.
11. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). How long does drug addiction treatment usually last?. National Institutes of Health.
12. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2022, March 22). Treatment and Recovery. National Institutes of Health.
13. Melemis, S. M. (2015, September 3). Relapse Prevention and the Five Rules of Recovery. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 88(3), 325-332.
14. FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov. Retrieved January 19, 2023, from https://findtreatment.gov/locator