Expert Insights
In a time where states are being forced to get creative in their efforts to combat opioid addiction, Utah has come up with a program that has a wealth of promise. The state’s most rural counties have been hit the hardest by opioid addiction. In fact, eight out of every 10 overdose deaths in Utah are caused by opioids. So, the University of Utah’s College of Nursing and School of Medicine are teaming up to improve prevention and treatment of opioid addiction in rural areas of the state. The program, called the Utah Opioid Healthcare Consortium—Collaborative Care Model (UROHC-CCM) will target Carbon, Emery, and Wayne Counties – three rural areas with the highest rates of opioid-related deaths in Utah. To address the enormous gap in addiction treatment resources, the Consortium plans to educate and train teams of healthcare professionals to deliver outpatient medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine at six of the region’s family practice clinics. These newly-trained healthcare teams will also serve as the primary point of contact for each patient participating in the program.
~ Olivia Pennelle
How Much Does Drug Rehab Cost in Utah?
Utah is ranked 29th nationwide in terms of addiction treatment affordability, with an average cost of drug and alcohol rehab of $56,782 (without insurance).
- Medical detox is the most expensive, with an average cost of $139,988
- Long-term inpatient drug rehab in Utah costs an average of $50,107
- Outpatient addiction treatment in Utah costs an average of $8,326
- Outpatient methadone treatment is the most affordable, with an average cost of $7,397
Low-Cost & Free Drug Rehab Options in Utah
As of 2024, there were over 340 drug rehab facilities across the state of Utah. These facilities accept several payment methods. Of those treatment facilities, the following numbers reflect how many accept their respective payment methods:
322 accept self-payment or cash
154 offer sliding-scale fees for those without insurance
199 accept Medicaid insurance coverage
140 accept state funded insurance coverage
288 accept private health insurance
98 offer free or low-cost treatment
3 offer free treatment for all clients
68 accept tribal funding
Alcohol and Drug Stats in Utah
In 2021, 14,518 Utah residents obtained substance abuse or use disorder treatment. Single white males living in an urban environment were the population with the highest attendance rates of drug rehabs in Utah. Data regarding the substances being abused the most at the time of admission into a treatment program includes the following:2
31% admitted to misusing methamphetamine
25% admitted to misusing alcohol
25% admitted to misusing heroin
1% admitted to misusing prescription painkillers
The most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reveals even more details about Utah’s drug and alcohol problem. Drug and alcohol abuse among Utah residents 12 and older is prevalent. In the month before the survey, the average estimates regarding substance abuse, in thousands, were as follows:3
used cocaine
used methamphetamines
used prescription pain relievers
drank alcohol
Sadly, an estimated 317,000 residents in Utah needed alcohol or drug rehab but did not attend a treatment center.3
Among Utah youth, addiction is slightly declining but still alarming. The 2021 Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) statewide survey of more than 71,000 students offers insight into which types of substances are misused the most. Researchers learned that among 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in the month before the survey:4
- 3% drank alcohol
- 5% smoked marijuana
- 7% abuse prescription drugs
- 8% abuse inhalants
- .5% abuse hallucinogens
Resources
- Utah Department of Health. (2021). Utah’s Public Health Data Resource: Public Health Indicator-Based Information System.
- Utah Department of Human Services. (2021). Public Substance Use Disorder Treatment.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). State Data Tables and Reports from the 2019-2020 NSDUH.
- Utah Department of Human Services. (2021). 2021 Student Health And Risk Prevention Needs Assessment Survey.
- Utah Department of Health. (2021). Substance Use Disorder.
- U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2022). The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act (MHPAEA).
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). What is the Difference Between Medicare and Medicaid?
- U.S. Senator Mitt Romney. (2022). Romney Introduces Legislation to Bolster Utah’s Efforts to Combat Opioid Epidemic.
- Utah State Legislature. (2020). Section 203.11 Reporting an Overdose- Mitigating Factor.
- Utah Department of Health. (2018). Naloxone Distribution is Saving Lives.
