1. Family Service of the Piedmont The Families First Center

Located in Greensboro, The Families First Center of the Family Service of Piedmont provides outpatient rehabilitation services for adults, adolescents, members of the military, persons with HIV or AIDS, and clients referred from the judicial system. It received an overall score of 7.9 points out of 10 possible points, due to a high score in nearly every category. The center received a perfect score in the category of Treatment Approaches – offering a wide range of treatments from 12-step facilitation and anger management to relapse prevention and motivational interviewing and incentives. The Families First Center scored lowest in the Rehabilitation Services Provided category as it provides relatively limited substance abuse rehabilitation services. However, the center does accept clients on opioid medication and offers detoxification using medication like naltrexone.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 5.81
• Treatment Approaches: 10
• Cost: 7.77
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 8.04
• Ancillary Services: 9.25

2. Greater Image Healthcare Corp.

With an overall score of 7.6 points out of 10 points, Greater Image Healthcare Corp. in Fayetteville was second-highest in our rankings. The center offers intensive outpatient rehabilitation services, including medication-assisted treatment, the utilization of medication to treat psychiatric disorders, and the acceptance of clients presently on opioid medication. Greater Image received the highest possible score for its wide range of special programs for unique populations, such as veterans, members of the LGBT community, pregnant and postpartum women, and patients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Despite scoring well in the Treatment Approaches category, this was the center’s lowest score; however, it does offer a myriad of approaches, including motivational interviewing, the 12-step facilitation approach, anger management, and relapse prevention, among others.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 7.47
• Treatment Approaches: 6
• Cost: 7.77
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 10
• Ancillary Services: 8.51

3. Walter B. Jones Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center

Walter B. Jones Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center is located in Greenville and received a score of 7.4 out of 10 points. The facility offers inpatient rehabilitation services to a somewhat limited range of residents, including adults, patients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, pregnant and postpartum women, and individuals with HIV or AIDS, thus accounting for its moderate score in the category of Special Programs for Unique Demographics. The center received a perfect score for both its rehabilitation services and ancillary services, offering a wide range of medication-assisted treatment and a wealth of complementary services, such as housing assistance, tobacco cessation counseling, domestic violence services, and childcare. The facility’s biggest weakness is cost. However, it does accept Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE, and private insurance, in addition to offering a sliding fee scale based on income and other factors.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 10
• Treatment Approaches: 7
• Cost: 4.44
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 5.36
• Ancillary Services: 10

Start by contacting your referral center

In North Carolina, the first step is to contact the Local Management Entity (LME) or Managed Care Organization (MCO) in your region, which are serviced by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). To find the contact information for the LME or MCO in your area, use the LME/MCO Directory on the NCDHHS website.

The purpose of a referral center is to determine what type of help each individual needs, as well as the resources available for each individual. The referral center is also the first point of contact for anyone who may need assistance paying for treatment. To learn if you qualify for low-income Medicaid services, and to determine eligibility, visit the North Carolina Medicaid Division Of Health Benefits eligibility information page.

Use our database to find a treatment center near you

The tool below lists all of the treatment centers in the state of North Carolina recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Input your zip code and select the filter icon to find relevant treatment centers near you.

Additional Resources for Parents and Teachers

The North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS) offers adolescent substance abuse and mental health treatment through the Reclaiming Futures Initiative. This initiative aims to improve addiction treatment services, create a comprehensive system of care, and engage the community in developing opportunities for adolescents across the state. For information on local care for adolescents, residents should contact their local LME/MCO.

Mental Health Resources & Treatment

If you or someone you love is suffering from mental health issues, such as depression, PTSD, eating disorders, or severe anxiety, there are many resources from which to receive help.

Below are a few ways to receive immediate assistance, as advised by MentalHealth.gov:

Emergency Services: If your life (or someone else’s life) is in danger, always start by dialing 911 to gain immediate access to emergency services.

Suicide Prevention: The number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is: 800-273-8255. You can also initiate a private live online chat.

Veterans Crisis Line: Dial the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 and press “1” to talk to someone immediately. You can also access help with a private online chat or text 838255.

Here are two ways to find a provider of mental health treatment in North Carolina:

North Carolina National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): The North Carolina NAMI website has a special section dedicated to helping adolescents with mental health concerns and another section devoted to mental health information for veterans.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: This site has a searchable map of mental health providers.

Individuals who have both substance use and mental health issues may benefit from dual-diagnosis rehab facilities. Use the appropriate filter in our tool above to find rehabilitation centers with treatment programs designed to meet the unique challenge posed by co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.

Contact the appropriate local organization to find an AA or NA meeting near you

The tool below lists the contact information for local organizations that will connect you to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings near you. Since meeting times and locations change periodically, contact the local groups that coordinate the meetings to ensure that the information is up to date.

North Carolina's rate of serious mental illness among adults matches the nation's

As discussed earlier in this guide, there is a strong link between substance use disorders and mental health disorders. When an individual is afflicted with both of these issues at the same time, health professionals refer to it as co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders or a “dual diagnosis.” Consequently, the prevalence of mental health issues in a given state can also help us to understand the level of substance abuse.

Suicide rates in North Carolina are slightly above the national average

The Centers for Disease Control reports that suicide is the leading cause of death in the United States: The suicide rate has risen in nearly every state from 1999 to 2016, with that rate increasing by more than 30% in half of all 50 states since 1999. Suicide is an act that is often linked to substance abuse. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, substance abuse is a primary risk factor for both adults and adolescents who attempt and/or complete suicide, and this is particularly true for at-risk populations.

Furthermore, the relationship between substance abuse and suicide is multi-faceted and complex. Persons who have substance abuse issues typically also carry other risk factors for suicide, including depression, impulsive behavior, and other struggles with relationships, finances, illness, or unemployment that make them more likely to engage in self-harm. Between 1999 and 2016, North Carolina witnessed a 12.7% increase in suicides. In 2017, North Carolina ranked 35th in the country for the number of suicides per 100,000 residents.

North Carolina has a much higher opioid prescribing rate than the overall U.S. rate

Prescription drug abuse – particularly opioids – has become an epidemic in the United States. While it is difficult to estimate how many individuals use these drugs as prescribed and how many abuse them, the Centers for Disease Control has researched the variation in opioid prescriptions between states, establishing a direct connection between an increased level of opioid prescriptions with a greater potential for dependence and abuse. Across the United States in 2017, 191 million prescriptions for opioids were written by physicians, ultimately leading one in four patients who begins long-term opioid therapy to an addiction.

The rate of homelessness in North Carolina is just over half the national average

A high rate of homelessness in an area indicates a greater potential for substance abuse issues. Homelessness has been shown to be linked to substance abuse as both the cause and result; some individuals become homeless due to a substance use disorder, while other individuals who are already homeless frequently turn to substance use to dull the pain and desperation of their situation.

The 2018 Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Point-in-Time Count reported approximately 552,830 homeless individuals in the United States, the equivalent of 17 of every 10,000 U.S. residents. This number represents a decrease of 4.1% since 2014, when the number of homeless persons in the U.S. was around 576,450. Furthermore, homelessness across the United States has decreased by 15% since 2007, the year that HUD began collecting data on the homeless population.

Drug- and alcohol-induced deaths are lower in Charlotte than across North Carolina