San Antonio Alcohol and Drug Use Statistics
Drug and alcohol statistics for the San Antonio region for people 18 years and older from 2018 to 2020 were as follows:1
Less than 1% reported use of methamphetamines in the past year
About 3% reported prescription pain reliever misuse in the past year
About 52% reported alcohol use in the past month
Nearly 27% reported binge alcohol use in the past month
Close to 10% of San Antonio residents reported illicit drug use in the past month.
Almost 13% of San Antonio residents reported marijuana use in the past year
About 1% of San Antonio residents reported cocaine use in the past year.
From 2018 to 2020, national data showed that less than 1% of people between 15 and 25 in the region of San Antonio, TX, reported heroin use in the past year.1
What Is the Cost of Rehab in San Antonio?
The cost of rehab in San Antonio varies depending on several factors. The cost will increase for each additional substance use that you need to address. You may also pay more for rehab for alcohol than for inhalant-related disorders.2 Your decision to choose a rehab in a high-socioeconomic status neighborhood or location with high real estate values can increase the cost of rehab.3 The type of medications you receive during rehab may influence the cost since some medications are more cost-effective than others.4
How To Find Free Rehabs in San Antonio
State-funded rehabs in Texas receive public health funds to deliver rehab services to residents with drug and alcohol use disorders.5 The Texas Health and Human Services work with two behavioral health and 37 local mental health organizations to deliver rehab services in communities in Texas. You can contact your county’s mental health or behavioral health authority for recommendations for the most appropriate services available. You can also explore the Addictions.com website to find low-cost and free rehabs in San Antonio.
Does Insurance Cover Rehab in San Antonio?
Yes, insurance will typically cover at least some of the cost of rehab in San Antonio, Texas, because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA).
Private Insurance
Private insurance, like employer-based insurance and individual health plans, is required to cover rehab under the ACA and MHPAEA. You can expect your group health plan from work to provide insurance to the same extent as medical or surgical coverage.6 If you have individual insurance, you can also expect equal coverage for rehab as for medical or surgical conditions because of the requirements of the ACA.6 However, the extent of private insurance coverage will depend on the insurance provider and your plan. Popular providers include Anthem, Kaiser, UnitedHealth Group, Cigna, and Aetna.7
Medicaid
Medicaid is a state- and federally funded program that provides medical coverage for people with low income. Medicaid in Texas aims to increase health care access for Texans who might not use medical services for themselves and their children without state assistance.8 Texas Medicaid covers the following outpatient rehab services:9
- Assessment
- Outpatient group and individual therapy
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Outpatient withdrawal management
Additionally, Texas Medicaid covers residential withdrawal management and residential treatment.9
Medicare
Medicare is a federal insurance program for people who are 65 years or older. People with disabilities, ALS, or end-stage renal disease may qualify for Medicare before turning 65. Medicare covers the following rehab services:10
- Screening
- Inpatient treatment
- Outpatient treatment
- Partial hospitalization
- Brief interventions
- Referrals
Does My Insurance Plan Cover Addiction Treatment?
Your insurance plan is likely to cover addiction treatment to some extent because of the ACA and MHPAEA. You can call the Addictions.com helpline at
800-926-9037
(
Who Answers?)
to verify your insurance coverage and find a rehab in San Antonio. You can also call the number on the back of your insurance card to speak to your provider directly about the details of your insurance plan.
How To Finance Addiction Treatment in San Antonio
There are alternative ways to finance rehab in San Antonio, if you don’t qualify for a free rehab, find that free rehabs are full, or you don’t have insurance. If your income is on the lower end, your financing options include a rehab scholarship, sliding scale rehab program, or a payment plan.
Find a Program That Offers Payment Plans: Rehab scholarships are funding programs that pay for part or all of the cost of your treatment. Some rehabs have special scholarships or grants to help people who cannot afford to pay for rehab costs.11 But it’s important to note that if you don’t finish their program, many rehabs will retract the scholarship, and you’ll be financially responsible for your time there.11 You should ask questions about the terms of a rehab grant or scholarship before accepting their money. You can contact rehabs directly to find out if they have suitable rehab scholarships.
Apply for a Rehab Scholarship: You can find a sliding scale rehab program to help with the cost of rehab if you have no insurance and limited financial resources. A sliding scale rehab will adjust the cost of your rehab and charge a discount fee based on your ability to pay. Your eligibility for the sliding scale will depend on your income and other factors.12
Sliding Scale Rehab Program: Some rehabs offer payment plans to people with low income and no insurance. If you choose a program with a payment plan, you can expect to make payments toward the rehab costs over a period instead of paying one large amount.
You can find a rehab in San Antonio, TX, that offers payment plans and different financing options by using Addictions.com’s state resource guide or by calling the rehab facility directly and asking about your options.
Popular Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers in San Antonio, TX
Alpha Home
Alpha Home is a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)-accredited private nonprofit rehab located in San Antonio. Most funding sources are accepted, including:
- Federal, or any government funding for substance use treatment programs
- Medicaid
- Private health insurance
- Cash or self-payment
- SAMHSA funding/block grants
You have the option of making payment plans with Alpha Home if you have none of their accepted options. You can expect to receive substance use treatment and dual diagnosis treatment. Alpha House delivers rehab in multiple service settings, such as:
- Outpatient
- Residential/24-hour residential
- Intensive outpatient treatment
- Regular outpatient treatment
- Long-term residential
- Short-term residential
Elite Counseling Deborah Judith Inc
Elite Counseling is a private for-profit rehab in San Antonio. This rehab is financially accessible, with many funding options, including:
- Federal, or any government funding for substance use treatment programs
- Medicaid
- Cash or self-payment
- State-financed health insurance plan other than Medicaid
- SAMHSA funding/block grants
You can still fund treatment at Elite Counseling if you lack the accepted funding options. Elite Counseling has payment assistance and a sliding fee scale, based on income and other factors, to help you pay for rehab.You can receive treatment from several service settings, including outpatient, intensive outpatient treatment, and regular outpatient treatment settings. You can expect a smooth transition between the different levels of care because Elite Counseling provides the following transitional services:
- Aftercare/continuing care
- Discharge planning
- Outcome follow-up after discharge
Laurel Ridge Treatment Center
Laurel Ridge Treatment Center is a private for-profit rehab located in San Antonio. Cost shouldn’t be a barrier to rehab at Laurel Ridge since they accept most funding options, including:
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Federal military insurance
- Private health insurance
- Cash or self-payment
- State-financed health insurance plan other than Medicaid
Laurel Ridge offers substance use treatment, detox, and dual diagnosis treatment. You can expect detox services for many substances, including:
- Alcohol detox
- Benzodiazepine detox
- Cocaine detox
- Methamphetamine detox
- Opioid medications routinely used in detoxification
Lifetime Recovery Treatment Center
Lifetime Recovery Treatment Center is a private nonprofit organization in San Antonio. This facility offers substance use treatment and dual diagnosis rehab. You may receive treatment in one of several settings, including outpatient, outpatient intensive, and regular outpatient treatment. Lifetime Recovery accepts multiple funding types, including:
- Federal, or any government funding for substance use treatment programs
- Medicaid
- Private health insurance
- Cash or self-payment
- State-financed health insurance plan other than Medicaid
Payment assistance services are available at Lifetime Recovery if you don’t have any of the accepted funding types. You can expect support during transitions between care settings from their aftercare/continuing care, discharge planning, naloxone and overdose education, and outcome follow-up after discharge.
Addiction Treatment Settings
Addiction treatment is a continuum of care, and you can expect to move from one treatment setting to another during rehab. Common service settings in rehab include inpatient rehab, partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, and standard outpatient settings.12 The level of care may be determined by the severity of your substance use disorder and your need for a structured environment.
Standard Outpatient: Standard outpatient rehabs offer treatment during the day, in the evenings, before or after school or work, and on the weekends.13 You may receive standard outpatient rehab as an initial level of care if you have mild to moderate addiction. Standard outpatient rehab may also be appropriate after you complete a more intensive treatment.13 The flexible schedule can be beneficial, especially if you want to continue with work or school or have other personal commitments during rehab.
Intensive Outpatient Programs: Intensive outpatient programs are similar to residential programs in their intensity. However, treatment is delivered in an outpatient setting.13 A benefit of the intensive outpatient program is that you do not have to stay overnight at the rehab facility.
Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs): Partial hospitalization programs provide a step-down treatment option after you complete residential treatment.13 You can expect to receive treatment for six to eight hours on weekdays. A partial hospitalization program may be appropriate if your home environment supports recovery but you need some structure to prevent relapse.13 A benefit of the partial hospitalization program is that you do not spend the entire day at the rehab.
Inpatient Reha
Inpatient rehab is an intensive addiction treatment delivered in an acute, inpatient hospital setting. You can expect to stay in inpatient rehab for one to three months or more. Inpatient rehab offers 24-hour access to an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals who can attend to your medical and nursing needs.13 The benefits of inpatient rehab include 24-hour care from the interdisciplinary team, a structured environment, and the absence of a stressful and distracting home environment.
Telehealth and Online Addiction Treatment
Telehealth and online addiction treatment rely on electronic methods to coordinate your care and interact with providers. You can use video calls, telephone, web-conferencing, email, text, and mobile applications in telehealth to connect and interact with your provider.13 An important benefit of telehealth and online addiction treatment is that you do not have to be in the same location as the provider to receive care. You can receive care from your home or any location of your convenience.
Medical Detox Services
Medical detox is a treatment for addressing withdrawal symptoms during rehab. Medical detox does not replace addiction treatment. However, it is the initial step on the rehab continuum of care. You can expect medical detox to help you during rehab by preventing the serious physical and emotional symptoms that you experience when you stop using drugs and alcohol.13
Specialized Rehab in San Antonio for Various Populations
Veteran Rehab
Veterans have special rehab needs because of their unique way of life with sacrifices and military experiences. Research has shown that veterans with dual diagnoses have better outcomes when they receive care from veteran rehabs.13 You may need services from a veteran rehab if you or your family members are veterans. You may want to consider Alpha Home for drug and alcohol treatment if you need a veteran rehab in San Antonio.
LGBTQ+ Rehab
Access to LGBTQ+ friendly rehab programs is critical because of the increased risk of substance misuse problems in this population. Research has shown that the LGBTQ+ community has more severe substance use disorder and a higher risk of substance use disorder.13 Additionally, LGBTQ+ people start using drugs and alcohol earlier than non-LGBTQ+ people.13 Rehab programs for LGBTQ+ focus on the needs and concerns of the LGBTQ+ community. Positive Recovery San Antonio is an LGBTQ+ rehab in San Antonio and may be a good option for those within the LGBTQ+ community.
Faith-Based Rehab
Faith-based rehab programs offer a spiritual approach to addiction recovery, integrating prayer groups and literature studies into treatment plans. If your religion is important to you, you may want to consider finding a spiritual rehab.
Men-Only Rehab
Men-only rehabs are designed to cater to the rehab needs of men. You can expect to receive rehab in a men-only environment with providers who understand and focus on specific rehab issues that affect men. The Soba Texas DBA Soba Recovery Center is a men-only rehab center in San Antonio, Texas. Soba Texas may be a good option to consider if you need a rehab that caters to the needs of men.
Women-Only Rehab
Women-only rehabs provide unique services to cater to the needs of women. For example, pregnant and postpartum women may have special needs because of the effect of medications on pregnancy and breastfeeding. Center for Healthcare Services is a women-only rehab in San Antonio, with services that cater to the unique needs of women. You can expect residential beds for children and childcare at the Center for Healthcare Services. The Center for Healthcare Services in San Antonio may be a good option if a women-only rehab program appeals to you.
Teen Rehab
Teen rehabs understand the importance of adolescents and teens having their own space for addiction recovery in which they can support one another from an understanding and empathetic place. Teens may have different treatment needs than adults, such as help with family dynamics, co-occurring mental health disorders, and education.
Young Adult Rehab
Teen rehabs provide services that cater to the unique developmental needs of teens. Emotional distress, “difficult” temperament, and aggressiveness in teens are risk factors for drug and alcohol use.13 A teen rehab should address the unique risk factors linked to teen substance use. Laurel Ridge Treatment Center in San Antonio, provides teen rehab services. You should consider Laurel Ridge if you are looking for a rehab in San Antonio that caters to the unique needs of teens.
Should I Travel to San Antonio, TX, for Drug and Alcohol Rehab?
Your decision to travel to San Antonio may be influenced by several factors, such as:
- Your desire to move away from your current environment
- Your need for support from friends and family living in San Antonio
- Your desire to live in San Antonio during rehab
- A lower cost of living in San Antonio compared to your current residence
H2: Neighborhoods in San Antonio To Consider for Treatment
Downtown is a vibrant San Antonio neighborhood with restaurants, shops, theaters, museums, and public artwork. This neighborhood is famous for the River Walk.15 You should consider Downtown if you are a foodie and enjoy shopping.
The Northwest neighborhood of San Antonio is a booming neighborhood with bowling alleys, roller coasters, arcades, and country music shows. This neighborhood is famous for the popular SeaWorld San Antonio. This area is a great option to consider if you want a rehab experience in a neighborhood with many fun activities.
The Northeast neighborhood of San Antonio has many trails and parks. Northeast is famous for the Comanche Lookout Park and the Randolph Airforce Base.15 Consider looking here if you are an outdoor enthusiast.
The Westside is famous for Tex-Mex cuisine and unique art exhibits.15 This neighborhood displays San Antonio’s Mexican-American heritage in Spanish-style homes and spectacular murals. You should consider the Westside if you want to enjoy San Antonio’s Mexican-American culture during rehab.
Alcohol and Drug Laws in San Antonio, TX
Overdose Protection Laws: Texas has two overdose protection laws. Minors do not commit an offense when they possess or consume alcohol if they are seeking medical assistance and meet certain conditions. You do not have to fear legal repercussions from helping your friends or loved ones during an overdose. You can also expect protection from prosecution or civil liability if you give or fail to give someone overdose medication because of the Good Samaritan Law.15
Court-Ordered Rehab: Court-ordered rehab in San Antonio, TX, is a substance use disorder treatment for prison inmates with a history of substance use.17 Texas laws provide rehab from a judge as a condition of community supervision instead of jail for offenders. You can expect to go to rehab for 60-90 days or for 90-120 days after an assessment to determine the severity of your substance use.17
Aftercare Options for Post-Rehab Success
Recovery is a process that continues after you complete intensive rehab from a residential program or intensive outpatient facility. Aftercare is necessary for relapse prevention because it provides the support you need to help you stay on track after you complete the intensive treatment. Aftercare options for post-rehab success include sober homes, step-down care, individual and group counseling, SMART Recovery, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
Sober Living Homes
Sober living homes provide housing in an environment with no substance use. You are required to attend a 12-step program when you stay in a sober living home. These aftercare homes have house managers or leaders who provide guidance and support for the residents.
Step-Down Care
Step-down care is an intermediate care level that you enter after completing residential treatment. This level of care may be as intensive as the residential program but less restrictive. You can expect to spend 6 to 8 hours a day on weekdays at a step-down care program.
Individual and Group Counseling
Individual and group counseling are aftercare interventions that help you become aware of the influence of your behaviors around substance use and recovery. You can expect to be the only person with the counselor during individual counseling. However, there will be other people in the room during group counseling sessions. Your response to stress and interactions in interpersonal relationships may affect your recovery. Individual and group counseling teach and equip you to change your behaviors to control substance misuse and promote post-rehab success.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
AA is an aftercare support group self-led by people with chronic alcohol use. At AA meetings, members talk about their experiences, problems, and status. You can expect to receive insight and support from your peers in an AA group. AA membership is voluntary, and you do not have to pay to be a part of this organization.
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
NA is an aftercare support group for people with narcotic use disorder. Members of NA discuss their experiences and problems in their recovery from narcotic use. You can expect to receive ideas for problem-solving and support from your peers if you join a NA group.
SMART Recovery
SMART Recovery uses behavioral change to help you stay on track after intensive treatment and to prevent relapse. You can expect to engage in actions that promote post-rehab success, such as:18
- Managing cravings
- Developing the motivation to alter unhealthy habits
- Being healthy
- Dealing with your thoughts, emotions and actions in a healthy way
Resources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). 2018-2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Substate Age Group Tables.
- Peterson, C., Li, M., Xu, L., Mikosz, C. A., & Luo, F. (2021, March 1). Assessment of Annual Cost of Substance Use Disorder in US Hospitals. JAMA Network Open, 4(3), e210242.
- Mericle, A. A., Karriker-Jaffe, K., Patterson, D., Mahoney, E., Cooperman, L., & Polcin, D. L. (2020). Recovery in context: Sober living houses and the ecology of recovery. Journal of Community Psychology, 48(8), 2589–2607.
- Malone, M., McDonald, R., Vittitow, A., Chen, J., Obi, R., Schatz, D., Tofighi, B., Garment, A., Kermack, A., Goldfeld, K., Gold, H., Laska, E., Rotrosen, J., & Lee, J. D. (2019). Extended-release vs. oral naltrexone for alcohol dependence treatment in primary care (XON). Contemporary Clinical Trials, 81, 102–109.
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission. (2022). Find Your Local Mental Health or Behavioral Health Authority.
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2021). Mental Health and Substance Use Insurance Help.
- American Medical Association. (2021). Competition in Health Insurance: A comprehensive study of U.S. markets.
- Benefits.gov. (n.d.). Texas Medicaid.
- Texas Health and Human Services. (2020, November 12). Medicaid Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Rule Amendment.
- Medicare.gov. (n.d.). Parts of Medicare.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019). Paying for Treatment.
- Health Resources & Services Administration. (2018). Chapter 9: Sliding Fee Discount Program.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); Office of the Surgeon General (US). (2016). Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health [Internet]. Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2021). Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders
SAMHSA Publication No. PEP21-06-02-001 Rockville, MD: National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2021. - Visit San Antonio. (2022). Neighborhood Guide.
- Texas Health and Human Services. (2018, June 26). Overview of Drug Overdose and Good Samaritan Laws
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice. (n.d.). Rehabilitation Programs Division: Substance Use Treatment Program.
- SMART Recovery. (2022). Our approach: Key areas of awareness and change
