Drug & Alcohol Addiction Rehab, Treatment & Recovery Resources in Alabama

1. Health Connect America

Located in Florence, Health Connect America provides inpatient and intensive outpatient substance use disorder services for adults and adolescents suffering from co-occurring substance use and mental health issues. It ranked near the top in every category barring Treatment Approaches and Special Programs for Unique Demographics, which earned it the highest overall score of 7.7 points out of 10 possible points in our rankings. The center performed highest in the categories of Rehabilitation Services Provided and Ancillary Services – both received perfect scores partially due to the fact that it uses an individual and evidence-based design approach, as well as medication-assisted treatment (MAT). The center also ranked highly in the Cost category partly due to its acceptance of self-payment methods and private insurance. Health Connect America had a low score in the category of Special Programs for Unique Demographics since it only serves adolescents and patients suffering from co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 10
• Treatment Approaches: 6.25
• Cost: 8.58
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 2.86
• Ancillary Services: 10

2. Marion Health Substance Abuse Services

Marion Health Substance Abuse Services is located in Hamilton, and it received an overall score of 7.1 points out of 10 points. The facility offers outpatient rehabilitation services to adolescents and adults. One of the facility’s unique features is the alcohol/drug education sessions it provides to facilitate general education related to recovery and chemical dependency. It received the highest possible score for Rehabilitation Services Provided, partly because it treats opioid addiction. Ancillary Services also ranked highly due to the inclusion of services such as housing assistance, drug screenings, and early intervention programs. While the center had a lack of special programs, it does offer programs for patients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, as well as specialty programs for adolescents.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 10
• Treatment Approaches: 5
• Cost: 8.58
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 1.43
• Ancillary Services: 8.85

3. Alcohol & Drug Abuse Treatment Centers Zukoski Center

With a score of 7 out of 10 points, the Zukoski Center of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Treatment Centers ranked third highest in our rankings. The center offers outpatient rehabilitation services with a focus on total abstinence. A highlight of the center is the highest possible score for the category of Treatment Approaches, which range from a brief intervention approach to a 12-step facilitation approach and much more. The center received a perfect score for Special Programs for Unique Demographics, due to programs designed specifically for seniors, pregnant/postpartum women, and transitional age young adults, to name only a few. The Zukoski Center also provides unique services, such as discharge planning and social skills development, which assisted it in achieving nearly a perfect score for Ancillary Services. The facility’s biggest weakness was in the Cost category since it doesn’t accept private insurance or military insurance (TRICARE). However, it does accept Medicaid.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 5
• Treatment Approaches: 10
• Cost: 2.86
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 10
• Ancillary Services: 9.44

Start by contacting your referral center

In Alabama, the first step is to contact the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH). The ADMH is contracted with community-based entities throughout Alabama to offer substance abuse rehabilitation services. To find a provider, access the ADMH website or call 1-800-367-0955.

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 Alabama Medicaid.

Use our database to find a treatment center near you

The tool below lists all of the treatment centers in the state of Alabama 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.

Alabama ranks among the bottom 10 states for veterans engaging in binge drinking

Veterans face unique challenges that can place them at higher risk for a substance use disorder (SUD) than the general population. The primary factor leading to this increased risk is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while other situations, such as unemployment, homelessness, and chronic pain, can also be contributing factors. Furthermore, individuals – including veterans – with a substance use disorder are more likely to develop PTSD, so the problem is cyclical in nature.

According to the CDC, Alabama ranked among the bottom 10 states in 2017 for veterans who engaged in binge drinking, with a reported 10.6% of veterans in the state taking part in the dangerous behavior that is often linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This percentage is among the lowest for all 50 states; Hawaii reports the greatest percentage of veterans engaging in binge drinking at 21.5%, while Utah is at the bottom of the rankings at 9.1%.

Additional Resources for Parents and Teachers

The Alabama Department of Public Health links to three resources for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse among adolescents and adults. Each resource center offers youth service programs aimed at reducing the risk of substance abuse in a unique way. The Alabama Department of Mental Health offers group support to parents who have children suffering from addiction, as well as numerous other helpful groups that parents are welcome to attend with their children. The Council on Substance Abuse (COSA) offers opportunities for families to get involved together and foster healthy drug-free environments. COSA also offers classes for teachers and other professionals in the community who work with at-risk groups. The goal of these classes is to educate and help spread awareness within the community. Aletheia House offers a variety of services, including a summer camp where parents are reassured that their children are being guided away from substance use in a fun and safe learning environment.

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 Alabama:

Alabama Department of Mental Health: The ADMH website has a page dedicated to assisting individuals in finding a mental health center or group near them. The ADMH also offers a list of resources for families of sufferers.

Alabama National Alliance on Mental Illness: The NAMI website provides resources for each state. Navigate to the page dedicated to Alabama. This page offers a multitude of resources for individuals dealing with mental illness, with a link directly to the Veterans Crisis Line.

Individuals who have both substance use and mental health disorders 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.

Around 15% of Alabamians suffer from mental illness every year

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 Alabama are higher than 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, Alabama witnessed a 21.9% increase in the number of suicides. In 2017, Alabama ranked 24th in the country for the number of suicides per 100,000 residents.

Alabama has an opioid prescribing rate almost twice as high as the overall U.S. rate

Prescription drug abuse – particularly in the form of 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 Alabama is significantly less than 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 a cause and a 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 slightly higher in Birmingham than across Alabama