Expert Insights
Over the past two decades, overdose deaths in Tennessee have risen by 1,015%.
That’s not a typo.
The increase is more than one thousand percent. Numbers are just as alarming locally. In just one year, from 2021-2022, drug overdoses in Chattanooga increased by 28%. These staggering numbers demonstrate an urgent need for intervention in the Volunteer State.
Officials have focused efforts on naloxone availability, limits on opioid prescribing, and harm-reduction strategies such as fentanyl-testing strips. But substance abuse education and treatment must be the priorities. People need to understand more about addiction and have the resources available to help them break free. That’s how we’ll save lives in Chattanooga.
How We Rank Listings
Every facility on this page is a licensed drug and alcohol treatment provider serving the Chattanooga area. We organize listings to help you compare centers by the factors that matter most when choosing care: level of care offered, accepted insurance and payment options, specialty programs, and accreditation status.
Facilities that hold accreditation from independent bodies such as the Joint Commission or CARF, maintain current state licensure, and offer a documented continuum of care are given prominence because these signals reflect adherence to recognized clinical standards. We do not accept payment in exchange for a higher ranking. When you contact a center, we encourage you to verify its current licensure, ask about its approach to your specific situation, and confirm insurance coverage before admission.
Rehab in Chattanooga: What to Know
Chattanooga is the seat of Hamilton County and the urban center of southeast Tennessee, anchoring a metro area that draws people seeking care from surrounding communities including East Ridge, Red Bank, Hixson, Soddy-Daisy, and Signal Mountain. There are 31 treatment facilities in and around the city offering a range of options, from medical detox and residential care to outpatient counseling and medication-assisted treatment. You can compare Chattanooga programs above or browse the full Tennessee rehab directory to see options in nearby cities.
Local treatment is coordinated in part through the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS), which licenses and funds providers statewide, and through the Hamilton County Health Department, which runs overdose surveillance and prevention programming for the county. Among the longest-established local providers is the Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services (CADAS), a Chattanooga nonprofit operating since 1964 that offers a full continuum of care and serves individuals regardless of their ability to pay. These organizations, along with the region’s private and hospital-affiliated programs, form the backbone of the local addiction treatment options available to residents.
Substance use patterns in Hamilton County mirror the broader shift toward illicitly manufactured fentanyl. The county health department’s overdose surveillance found fentanyl was involved in the large majority of local overdose deaths in recent years, and county reporting has documented an increasing role for methamphetamine, frequently detected alongside fentanyl. That combination raises the risk of any single episode of use and is a central reason local officials have expanded naloxone distribution and fentanyl test strip access. For people whose use centers on opioids, understanding opioid use disorder and the treatment paths available is often the first practical step.
Because Hamilton County sits at the junction of Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama, some residents weigh crossing state lines for care. Staying in-state can simplify insurance coordination through TennCare and make family involvement and continuing care planning more practical, though the right choice depends on your level of care needs and coverage.
Cost of Rehab in Chattanooga
Chattanooga does not publish city-specific treatment pricing, so the most reliable way to estimate cost is to start from statewide averages and then adjust for the specific program, length of stay, and level of care you choose. Statewide figures for Tennessee show how sharply cost varies by setting, with intensive residential and detox care at the high end and outpatient services considerably lower. Most people do not pay these full sums out of pocket, because insurance, TennCare, and sliding-scale programs offset a large share of the cost for those who qualify.
Given Chattanooga’s position as a regional hub, local pricing generally tracks the statewide averages above rather than the higher figures seen in large coastal metros. Several factors move the final cost up or down, and understanding them ahead of time makes it easier to plan. Verifying your benefits before admission is the single most effective way to control what you actually pay; our guide to using insurance for rehab walks through how to do that.
How to Pay for Rehab in Chattanooga
Across the 31 facilities serving Chattanooga, most accept more than one form of payment, which means cost is rarely an absolute barrier to getting started. The counts below reflect how many local facilities accept each payment type. The most common routes are private insurance and self-payment, but TennCare, Medicare, TRICARE, and financial assistance programs each cover a meaningful share of local programs.
The right payment path depends on your coverage and eligibility. The sections below outline how the major options work for Chattanooga residents.
Medicare
Ten Chattanooga-area facilities accept Medicare, which covers medically necessary addiction treatment for eligible adults 65 and older and for some younger people with qualifying disabilities. Coverage typically includes inpatient care, outpatient services, and screening, though specific benefits and any cost sharing depend on your plan. Confirming your Medicare coverage with the facility before admission helps you understand what to expect before you enroll in a program.
Medicaid (TennCare)
Tennessee’s Medicaid program is called TennCare, and 14 local facilities accept it. TennCare is administered through managed care organizations including BlueCare, Wellpoint, and UnitedHealthcare, and its behavioral health benefits cover substance use disorder services such as detox, inpatient and outpatient treatment, and medication-assisted treatment. Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid, so eligibility is more restrictive than in some states and generally applies to children, pregnant women, parents of minor children, older adults, and people with qualifying disabilities. TennCare covers medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, which combines medications such as buprenorphine with counseling.
Military Benefits
Eight Chattanooga-area facilities accept TRICARE, the health program for active-duty service members, retirees, and their families. Veterans also have access to care through the VA, and the region is served by the Chattanooga VA Clinic. Additional rehab resources for veterans and military families outline how these benefits work alongside civilian treatment options.
Insurance and Private Pay
Private insurance is accepted at 28 local facilities and self-payment at 30, making these the two most widely accepted options in Chattanooga. Under federal parity rules, most private plans must cover substance use treatment comparable to other medical care, though deductibles, copays, and network status vary. Confirming your benefits directly with the facility before admission prevents surprise costs later.
Other Low-Cost Options
Nine Chattanooga facilities offer financial assistance and five provide sliding-scale fees that adjust to income, which can substantially lower out-of-pocket cost for those without full coverage. Scholarships and grants are another avenue worth exploring; our guide to rehab scholarships explains how to find and apply for them.
Levels of Care Available in Chattanooga
Chattanooga offers care across the full continuum, with 21 facilities providing medical detox, 21 offering inpatient rehab, 28 offering outpatient services, and 19 equipped for co-occurring mental health conditions. The cards below show how many local facilities provide each level of care.
Medical detox is often the first step for people with physical dependence, providing supervised withdrawal management to keep the process safe and as comfortable as possible. Learn more about supervised detox and when it is recommended.
Inpatient rehab provides 24-hour structured care in a residential setting, which suits people who need to step away from their environment to focus fully on early recovery. Our guide to residential treatment covers what a typical stay involves.
Outpatient rehab, the most widely available level in Chattanooga, lets people live at home while attending scheduled treatment. Intensive outpatient programs offer more structure than standard weekly sessions. See our overview of outpatient and intensive outpatient programs to compare formats.
Partial hospitalization sits between residential and outpatient care, offering full days of treatment with evenings at home. PHP treatment is a common step-down after detox or inpatient care.
With 19 facilities equipped for co-occurring disorders, people managing both a substance use disorder and a condition such as depression can find integrated treatment that addresses both at once. Sober living homes and structured rehab aftercare support the transition back to daily life after a program ends.
Specialty Programs in Chattanooga
Many Chattanooga facilities tailor treatment to specific populations and substances, recognizing that recovery looks different depending on someone’s background and what they are recovering from. The programs below meet the local thresholds for inclusion.
Alcohol remains the most commonly treated substance locally, with 25 programs addressing alcohol use disorder, while 15 focus on opioid use, reflecting the fentanyl-driven overdose trend in Hamilton County. Gender-specific programming is widely available for both women and men. Five programs serve veterans and military families, and three offer LGBTQ+ affirming addiction care. Programs for young adults and older adults round out the specialty options for those whose needs fall outside a general adult track.
Free and Low-Cost Rehab Resources in Chattanooga
Cost and insurance status should never be the reason someone goes without help. Chattanooga and the state of Tennessee maintain a network of free and low-cost resources, from 24-hour crisis and referral lines to harm reduction supplies and nonprofit treatment that serves people regardless of ability to pay. The resources below are verified and current.
Crisis and Referral Lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 for free, confidential support 24/7 for anyone in emotional distress or crisis. See our crisis support resources for more.
- Tennessee REDLINE — 800-889-9789. Call or text for free, confidential referrals to addiction treatment statewide, available 24/7/365 through TAADAS.
- SAMHSA National Helpline — 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information service.
- TDMHSAS Helpline — 800-560-5767. Assistance accessing behavioral health services in Tennessee, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
County and Nonprofit Services
- Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services (CADAS) — 423-756-7644, 314 Spears Avenue, Chattanooga. A nonprofit offering detox, residential, and outpatient care for adults and adolescents, serving individuals regardless of their ability to pay since 1964.
- Hamilton County Health Department — hamiltontn.gov/health. Runs overdose surveillance, prevention programming, and community health resources for the county.
Harm Reduction
- Tennessee Regional Overdose Prevention Specialists (ROPS) — Free naloxone (Narcan) and overdose prevention training distributed statewide; an interactive map at tn.gov locates the nearest ROPS.
- Tennessee Harm Reduction — Provides free naloxone kits by mail along with fentanyl test strips and safe-use supplies, plus a directory of syringe service programs across the state.
Veterans and Military
- Chattanooga VA Clinic — 423-893-6500, 6401 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga. Offers mental health care and same-day help for eligible veterans through the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System.
- Chattanooga Vet Center — 423-855-6570, 1300 Premier Drive, Suite 180, Chattanooga. Provides readjustment counseling and support.
Drug and Alcohol Use Statistics in Chattanooga
Hamilton County’s overdose picture is shaped overwhelmingly by illicitly manufactured fentanyl, with the county health department’s surveillance recording 205 suspected drug-related deaths in 2023 and fentanyl listed as the cause in 70 percent of them. The figures below summarize the most significant recent local data.
Beyond the fentanyl figures, county reporting has tracked a rising role for methamphetamine, which is frequently detected in combination with fentanyl and now accounts for a growing share of both fatal and non-fatal overdoses. Cocaine has been the second most-involved substance in local overdose deaths. These patterns underscore why the county has prioritized naloxone access and fentanyl testing, and why treatment for opioid use disorder remains a local priority. For national context on overdose and substance use trends, see our national substance use statistics.
Resources
- Hamilton County Health Department. (2024). 2023 Drug Overdose Surveillance Report. https://hamiltoncountyhealth.org/
- Hamilton County Public Health. (2024). Community Needs Assessment 2024: Overdose Surveillance. https://hamiltoncountyhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/HamiltonCountyCNA_2024.pdf
- Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. (2026). Tennessee REDLINE. https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/substance-abuse-services/prevention/tennessee-redline.html
- Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. (2026). Treatment and Recovery. https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/substance-abuse-services/treatment.html
- Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services (CADAS). (2026). About CADAS. https://www.cadas.org/
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2026). Chattanooga VA Clinic. https://www.va.gov/tennessee-valley-health-care/locations/chattanooga-va-clinic/
- Addictions.com. (2026). Alcohol and Drug Rehabs in Tennessee. https://www.addictions.com/rehabs/tennessee/
- Addictions.com. (2026). Alcohol and Drug Rehabs in Chattanooga, Tennessee. https://www.addictions.com/rehabs/tennessee/chattanooga/
