Expert Insights
Tennessee isn’t called the Volunteer State for no reason. We believe in giving back, and I read a news article about a young man named Justin Biggs who embodied that spirit. Justin was someone who had struggled with opioid and meth addiction for the better part of a decade; he had also been homeless for nine years. But once he was able to enter a treatment program, he chased recovery with the same intensity he used to chase his drugs of choice. Last year, while living in a halfway house and working a full-time job, Justin realized it was time to pay it forward. He began collecting clothes for the homeless in August: gloves, coats, hoodies, sweatshirts and pants, thermals and any other items of clothing people were willing to donate. In October, when the East Tennessee weather began to turn cold, Justin went back to his old stomping grounds – the same streets he lived on during his own active addiction. In places that once held only bad memories, Justin was able to make a positive impact on the homeless population by handing out all the donated clothing items, which would help to keep people warm during the coming winter months. He called his clothing drive “Hoodies for the Homeless,” and he plans to do it again in 2023.
How We Rank Listings
Our directory is built to help you compare treatment providers in Nashville on the details that matter, not on who pays the most for placement. Listings are organized around verifiable facility information: the levels of care a program offers, the accreditations it holds, the populations it serves and the payment options it accepts.
When we evaluate and order the programs shown on this page, we prioritize a few core criteria:
- Accreditation and licensing. Programs accredited by the Joint Commission or CARF, and those licensed by the state of Tennessee, reflect an independent review of safety and quality.
- Level-of-care match. We surface facilities that offer the specific intensity of treatment you are searching for, from medical detox through outpatient counseling.
- Payment transparency. Programs that clearly accept insurance, TennCare or sliding-scale and financial-assistance arrangements are highlighted so you can filter by what you can realistically afford.
- Specialized services. Dual diagnosis capability and programming for specific populations help match people to care built for their situation.
Advertising relationships never determine clinical quality, and we work to keep facility information accurate and current.
Rehab in Nashville: What to Know
Nashville is the capital of Tennessee and shares a consolidated government with the surrounding county as the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, so the city and Davidson County are effectively the same jurisdiction for public-health and treatment purposes. Roughly 700,000 people live within Metro Nashville, part of a wider Middle Tennessee metro of close to two million. The area is also one of the country’s major healthcare hubs, which is part of why rehab centers across Tennessee cluster heavily here. Our directory currently lists 58 treatment facilities serving Nashville and Davidson County, spanning medical detox, residential care and every level of outpatient treatment.
The public system is anchored by the Metro Public Health Department, which runs free behavioral health screenings and counseling, and by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS), which funds the state’s publicly supported treatment network. Mental Health Cooperative operates the designated 24/7 crisis response for Davidson County and large health systems including Vanderbilt University Medical Center, TriStar Centennial (home to the Parthenon Pavilion behavioral health unit), Ascension Saint Thomas, Nashville General Hospital and the Nashville VA give the region a deep bench of hospital-based stabilization and dual diagnosis capacity. That breadth of addiction treatment options means most Nashville residents can find appropriate care locally rather than traveling out of the area.
One notable local initiative is the Community Overdose Response Team (CORT), a free and confidential Metro service that helps people at risk of overdose find the appropriate level of care regardless of insurance status. Nashville also participates in Tennessee’s statewide TN Together opioid-response strategy, which combines prescribing limits, a standing naloxone order and expanded medication access.
Nashville’s substance use picture is defined by the same synthetic-opioid crisis affecting the rest of the region. Davidson County recorded 513 suspected overdose deaths in 2024, and fentanyl’s overdose risk dominates the local data, with the synthetic opioid detected in roughly 70 percent of 2024 overdose deaths. Cocaine and methamphetamine frequently appear alongside it and the local medical examiner has flagged sharp increases in xylazine detections, underscoring how much of the local supply is now a polysubstance mix.
Cost of Rehab in Nashville
Treatment costs in Nashville track statewide Tennessee averages, which rank the state around the middle of the country for affordability. Actual out-of-pocket cost depends far more on your insurance, level of care and length of stay than on the specific facility, so the figures below are best used as planning anchors rather than quotes. Verifying your benefits before admission is the single most important step in understanding what you will actually pay, and most programs will check your insurance coverage at no cost.
Because Nashville sits in a higher-cost metro area than much of the state, private residential and luxury programs here can run at or above these statewide averages, while community-based and nonprofit programs can cost substantially less or nothing for those who qualify. Where a longer, more structured stay is clinically indicated, the gap between residential care and lower-intensity outpatient care is the biggest single driver of total cost. Understanding how to use insurance for rehab is the most reliable way to bring those numbers down.
How to Pay for Rehab in Nashville
Across the 58 facilities serving Nashville and Davidson County, payment options are broad. Most programs accept self-payment and private insurance, a meaningful share accept TennCare (Tennessee’s Medicaid program) and Medicare, and a number offer sliding-scale fees, financial assistance or free care for those who qualify. The counts below reflect how many local programs accept each payment type.
Which of these applies to you depends on your coverage and eligibility. The sections below break down the most common ways Nashville residents pay for treatment.
Medicare
Twelve Nashville-area programs accept Medicare, which covers medically necessary addiction treatment for people 65 and older and for some younger adults with qualifying disabilities. Medicare Part A helps with inpatient rehabilitation while Part B covers outpatient services and counseling, though deductibles, coinsurance and day limits apply. Because coverage rules and prior-authorization requirements can be detailed, it is worth confirming exactly how Medicare covers addiction treatment with any program before you enroll.
Medicaid (TennCare)
TennCare is Tennessee’s Medicaid program, and 15 Nashville-area facilities in our directory accept it. TennCare covers substance use disorder services including assessment, medical detox, residential treatment (with some limits), outpatient counseling and medication-assisted treatment. It operates through managed care organizations, primarily BlueCare Tennessee, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and Wellpoint/Amerigroup, so it is important to confirm a facility is in-network with the specific plan on your card. TennCare covers all three FDA-approved medications used in medication-assisted treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders and its BESMART program lets many members start buprenorphine on day one without waiting for prior authorization.
Military Benefits
Twelve local programs accept TRICARE, the health program for active-duty service members, retirees and their families. Nashville is also served by the Nashville VA Medical Center, which provides substance use and mental health care to enrolled veterans. Veterans and military families can find additional Nashville-specific support through our guide to rehab resources for veterans and military.
Insurance and Private Pay
Private insurance is accepted at 47 Nashville programs, and 55 accept self-payment. Under federal parity rules, most commercial plans must cover substance use treatment at a level comparable to other medical care, though the specifics of copays, deductibles and network requirements vary widely. Confirming benefits and in-network status before admission remains the best way to avoid surprise costs.
Other Low-Cost Options
Nine Nashville programs offer sliding-scale fees and 15 offer some form of financial assistance, which can bring treatment within reach for people who are uninsured or underinsured. Sliding-scale pricing adjusts the fee based on income and household size.
Free Treatment Programs
Three programs in the directory offer fully free treatment, and Nashville has additional grant-funded and faith-based options outside standard listings, described in the free and low-cost resources section below. People who cannot afford care may also qualify for state-funded treatment through TDMHSAS, and rehab scholarships are another route to reduced-cost care.
Major insurance carriers commonly accepted at Nashville facilities include:
- Aetna
- Amerigroup / Wellpoint
- BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
- BlueCare Tennessee
- Cigna
- Humana
- TRICARE
- UnitedHealthcare
Levels of Care Available in Nashville
Nashville offers the full continuum of addiction treatment. Our directory lists 35 programs with medical detox, 38 offering inpatient or residential care and 51 providing outpatient services, alongside partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, dual diagnosis and sober living options. The right starting point depends on the severity of the substance use, whether withdrawal requires medical supervision and any co-occurring conditions.
Medical detox is often the first step for people physically dependent on alcohol, opioids or benzodiazepines. Supervised medical detox manages withdrawal safely under clinical monitoring and is available at 35 Nashville facilities, including hospital-based units.
Inpatient and residential rehab provides 24-hour structured care in a live-in setting, which suits more severe substance use or unstable home environments. Nashville has 38 programs offering residential treatment, from short-term stays to longer therapeutic communities.
Partial hospitalization (PHP) delivers intensive daytime treatment while allowing people to return home in the evening, a middle step between residential and outpatient care available at 7 local programs offering PHP treatment.
Outpatient and intensive outpatient programs let people receive treatment while maintaining work and family responsibilities. With 51 standard outpatient clinics locally, outpatient and intensive outpatient programs are the most widely used level of care in Tennessee.
Dual diagnosis care treats a substance use disorder alongside a co-occurring mental health condition such as depression or an anxiety disorder. Because roughly half of people with a substance use disorder also experience a mental health condition, the 35 Nashville programs equipped for integrated care matter and Nashville’s hospital behavioral health units add capacity for treating co-occurring depression.
Sober living homes offer a structured, substance-free environment for people transitioning out of formal treatment. Nashville has 14 such homes, an important bridge into rehab aftercare and long-term recovery support.
Specialty Programs in Nashville
Many Nashville facilities tailor treatment to specific populations and substances. The programming below reflects how local providers organize care around the distinct needs of different groups, from gender-specific tracks to substance-focused treatment.
With 49 programs offering dedicated alcohol treatment, Nashville has substantial capacity for alcohol use disorder, which affects an estimated 7.2 percent of Tennessee adults. The 31 opioid-focused programs address the fentanyl-driven crisis that dominates local overdose data, providing medication-assisted treatment and counseling for opioid use disorder. Seven programs specifically welcome LGBTQ+ clients with LGBTQ+ affirming addiction care, and six offer programming built around the experiences of veterans and service members. Gender-specific and age-specific tracks round out the local options, with strong availability of both men’s and women’s programs and dedicated services for young adults and older adults.
Free and Low-Cost Rehab Resources in Nashville
Nashville has a substantial network of free and low-cost help, from 24/7 crisis lines to grant-funded residential programs and harm reduction services. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For urgent emotional or substance use crises, the resources below can connect you to crisis support and treatment navigation at no cost.
Crisis and Referral Lines
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988, available 24/7 for mental health and substance use crises.
- Tennessee Statewide Crisis Line. 855-274-7471 (1-855-CRISIS-1). Free, confidential, 24/7 crisis counseling and connection to local mobile crisis teams.
- Tennessee REDLINE. 800-889-9789. Statewide 24/7 alcohol, drug and gambling treatment referral line; callers receive at least three referral sources when possible.
- Community Overdose Response Team (CORT). 615-687-1701. Free, confidential Metro service that helps people at risk of overdose find detox, residential or outpatient care regardless of insurance status.
- SAMHSA National Helpline. 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information service.
County Health Department
- Metro Public Health Department, Behavioral Health Services. 615-340-2172. Free mental health counseling and substance use screenings by appointment at the Lentz, East and Woodbine public health centers; no insurance required, sessions available in English and Spanish. Nashville.gov
Community and Nonprofit Programs
- Samaritan Recovery Community. 319 South 4th Street, Nashville, TN 37206. 615-244-4802. A nonprofit serving adults since 1964, offering no-cost residential, intensive outpatient and transitional living for people with substance use and co-occurring disorders; accepts TennCare. https://samctr.org/
- Mending Hearts. 4305 Albion Street, Nashville, TN 37228. 615-385-1696. Accredited nonprofit providing residential and outpatient recovery services for women, including pregnant and postpartum women, with grant support and sliding-fee access. https://mendingheartsinc.org/
- Renewal House. 615-255-5222. Middle Tennessee’s long-term, family-centered residential program allowing mothers to live with their children during treatment. https://renewalhouse.org/
- Mental Health Cooperative Crisis Treatment Center. 250 Cumberland Bend, Nashville, TN 37228. 615-726-0125. The designated 24/7 walk-in crisis center for Davidson County, offering free crisis assessment, stabilization and mobile crisis outreach; accepts all TennCare plans. https://mhc-tn.com/
- Centerstone. 888-291-4357. Community behavioral health provider with multiple Nashville locations offering outpatient counseling, psychiatric care, mobile crisis response and addiction recovery services. https://centerstone.org/locations/tennessee/
Harm Reduction
- Nashville CARES DART Program. 24-hour hotline 615-761-4474. Provides free sterile syringes, fentanyl test strips and naloxone (Narcan/Kloxxado) through a mobile unit serving Davidson and surrounding counties, plus linkage to treatment. https://www.nashvillecares.org/
- Davidson County Sheriff’s Office Narcan vending machines. Free naloxone available at Sheriff’s Office locations to reverse suspected opioid overdoses. https://sheriff.nashville.gov/narcan-vending-services/
- Tennessee statewide naloxone access. Naloxone is available without a prescription at pharmacies across Tennessee under a standing order and TennCare covers the cost.
Veterans and Military
- Nashville VA Medical Center (Tennessee Valley Healthcare System). 615-327-4751. Substance use and mental health treatment for enrolled veterans. https://www.va.gov/tennessee-valley-health-care/locations/nashville-va-medical-center/
- Veterans Crisis Line. Dial 988 then press 1, or text 838255, for 24/7 confidential support. https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
Faith-Based Programs
- Nashville Rescue Mission Life Recovery Program. 615-255-2475. A free, long-term, Christ-centered residential recovery program for adults facing addiction and homelessness, combining counseling, recovery classes and job readiness. https://nashvillerescuemission.org/services/life-recovery-program/
Drug and Alcohol Use Statistics in Nashville
Davidson County has been among the hardest-hit areas in the country for overdose deaths, though the most recent local data shows meaningful improvement. According to the Metro Public Health Department, the county recorded 513 suspected overdose deaths in 2024, a 26 percent decline from the same period in 2023, a drop officials attribute in part to widespread naloxone distribution. Fentanyl remains the dominant driver of fentanyl overdose risk in the local drug supply.
Alcohol also drives significant harm across Tennessee: an estimated 7.2 percent of Tennessee adults have an alcohol use disorder and about 16.4 percent report binge drinking at least once a month, according to state health data compiled from the CDC and NSDUH. Statewide, Tennessee recorded roughly 2,499 overdose deaths in 2024, and the crisis has increasingly become a polysubstance one, with cocaine and methamphetamine frequently detected alongside fentanyl. For national context on how these patterns compare, see our overview of national substance use statistics.
Resources
- Metro Public Health Department of Nashville/Davidson County. (2025). Quarterly Drug Overdose Surveillance Update, End of 4th Quarter 2024. https://www.nashville.gov/departments/health
- Metro Public Health Department of Nashville/Davidson County. (2025). Overdose Response Data Brief, August 2025. https://www.nashville.gov/
- Addiction Resource. (2026). Average Cost of Addiction Treatment in Tennessee. https://www.addictionresource.net/cost-of-rehab/tennessee/
- Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. (2026). Substance Abuse Services and Data Resources. https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/
- Tennessee Department of Health. (2026). Syringe Services Program Directory. https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/std/std/syringe-services-program.html
- Nashville CARES. (2026). Harm Reduction and Syringe Exchange (DART Program). https://www.nashvillecares.org/harm-reduction-and-syringe-exchange/
- Metro Public Health Department. (2026). Behavioral Health and Wellness Services. https://www.nashville.gov/departments/health/clinical-health-services/behavioral-health-services
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Survey on Drug Use and Health. (2024). Tennessee Alcohol and Substance Use Indicators. https://www.cdc.gov/
