Expert Insights
I don’t normally promote government regulations, but I do see a need for some oversight for transitional housing and sober living homes. While assisting a relative to find such housing, I discovered just how dismal some of these dwellings can be. (And the website pictures don’t match up!) These houses are eligible for government funding, so they should at least be held to certain common standards so that vulnerable people aren’t taken advantage of. Overcrowding and insufficient restrooms, kitchens, and laundry facilities should be unacceptable; and having consistent guidelines for sobriety-related requirements would be helpful.
~ Rita Milios
Top 6 Drug Rehabs in Georgia
Each alcohol and drug rehab in Georgia offers clients a different set of amenities, support programs, and therapies.
Below are the top six addiction treatment centers in Georgia based on the following criteria:
- Offering evidence-based treatment
- Accreditation
- Certifications
- Client testimonials / reviews
Sober Living America
Sober Living America, located in Atlanta, Georgia, provides residential recovery to people suffering from addiction, regardless of their ability to pay. Consistent 12-step meetings, along with housing, career development, and transportation are offered.
Sober Living America specializes in:
- Housing
- 12 Step Recovery
- Peer to Peer Recovery
- Transportation
- Licensed Counseling
- Career Development
- Fund-free Admission
- Job Programs
Treatment programs are supported by:
- Great Nonprofits
Location and contact information:
2530 Peachwood Circle Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30345
(877) 430-0086
Alcohol and Drug Evaluation Marietta
Alcohol and Drug Evaluation Marietta provides substance abuse evaluations for those who have faced criminal charges in the Atlanta, Georgia area. A written report of your results and the proper recommendations will be provided to you at the completion of your appointment.
Alcohol and Drug Evaluation Marietta specializes in:
- Public Intoxication Evaluation
- Minor in Possession (MIP)
- Possession of Marijuana
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or (DWI)
- Reckless Driving
- Assault
- Battery
- Burglary
- Robbery
- Theft by Receiving
Location and contact information:
236 Forsyth St SW Suite 202-B
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 793-6838
Crossroads Treatment Center of Ringgold
Crossroads Treatment center operates 30 treatment centers nationwide and helps those with opioid addiction create better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. The Ringgold, GA office offers a 12 month treatment program that provides medication management, counseling, drug screening, and an aftercare plan.
Crossroads Treatment Center of Ringgold specializes in:
- Medication Treatment
- Counseling
- Drug Screening
- Referral Programs
Treatment programs are supported by:
- LegitScript Certified
Location and contact information:
4083 Cloud Springs Road
Ringgold, GA 30736
(800) 805-6989
Mount Sinai Wellness Center
Mount Sinai Wellness Center is a comprehensive residential addiction treatment center located in Dahlonega, Georgia. Their campus is situated on 43 wooded acres on the North Georgia Mountains, offering you a discrete, private setting with clinical medical care.
Mount Sinai Wellness Center specializes in:
- Residential Addiction Treatment
- Medical Detox
- Veterans Program
- Pain Management
- Medication Assisted Treatment
- Equine Therapy
Treatment programs are supported by:
- LegitScript Certified
- The Joint Commission
- NAATP Provider Member
Location and contact information:
330 Mount Sinai Dr
Dahlonega, GA 30533
(706) 914-2055
Centered Recovery Programs
Centered Recovery offers a mindfulness-based, non 12-step mental health and drug abuse treatment and education program in the Atlanta area. They specialize in executive mental health recovery for business exectives, professionals and retired persons.
Centered Recovery Programs specialize in:
- Partial Hospitalization Program
- Intensive Outpatient Program
- Outpatient Program
- Educational Program
- Executive Track
Treatment programs are supported by:
- Georgia Department of Community Health
- EAP Association
Location and contact information:
11111 Houze Rd Suite 101
Roswell, GA 30076
(800) 556-2966
The Summit Wellness Group
The Summit Wellness Group is a luxury, cutting edge substance abuse treatment program with locations in Atlanta and Roswell, Georgia. Methods for treatment include detox, neurobiological interventions, talk therapy, holistic therapy, and non 12-step programs.
The Summit Wellness Group specialize in:
- Medical Detox
- Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs)
- Sober Living
- Brain Mapping
- Medical Assisted Treatment
- Relapse Prevention Programs
- Non 12 Step Rehabilitation
- Brain Mapping
Treatment programs are supported by:
- The Joint Commission
- Georgia Department of Community Health
Location and contact information:
745 Hembree Place
Roswell, GA 30076
(770) 692-4351
Georgia Alcohol and Drug Use Statistics
Let’s take a quick look at how much opioid-related deaths have grown over the years:1
![sad woman upset with hands covering face](https://www.addictions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/sad-woman-upset-with-hands-covering-face.png)
From 2012 to 2020, the total number of opioid overdose deaths increased by 140%, going from 554 to 1332.
![hospital staff taking person on gurney down hall](https://www.addictions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/hospital-staff-taking-person-on-gurney-down-hall.png)
Opioid overdoses accounted for 7,954 Emergency Room visits and 2,822 hospitalizations in 2020.
![satalite view of city](https://www.addictions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/satalite-view-of-city.png)
The highest numbers of fatal opioid overdoses, ER visits, and hospitalizations were in urban areas.
![woman on swing next to empty swing](https://www.addictions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/woman-on-swing-next-to-empty-swing.png)
From 2019 to 2020, fentanyl-involved overdoses increased by 107%, causing 813 overdose fatalities in 2020.
Prescribing practices regarding opioid medications have become stricter compared to the early 1990s. However, it has become evident that the previously irresponsible prescribing practices are partially to blame for the opioid epidemic.
For perspective, there were roughly 71 opioid prescriptions written for every 100 people in Georgia—and that was just in 2006.1 During this time, the national average was approximately 59 prescriptions per 100 people. What’s more, those prescription numbers have climbed significantly for Georgia, despite these stricter practices.
How Much Does Drug Rehab in Georgia Cost?
The cost of drug and alcohol rehab in Georgia will depend on various factors, such as:
- The type of care needed, i.e., medical detox, inpatient care, etc.
- Location
- Amenities (luxury vs. basic)
- The length of treatment
- Whether or not you have insurance
- Whether or not you qualify for state-funded care
Are There Low-Cost and Free Rehab Options in Georgia?
Many are under the guise that addiction treatment itself is a luxury they could never afford. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. While getting help can come with some considerable costs, like room and board, there are affordable and accredited Georgia drug rehabs providing high-quality care.
State-funded facilities typically offer free (or low-cost) help for substance use disorders. They receive their funding from federal, state, and sometimes local governments—who get it from grants, insurance programs like Medicaid, and more. They may offer free services, while others will work with you to create a payment plan based on your financial situation. You can also apply for grants and scholarships, as long as you’re eligible.
Free facilities offer the same services as other treatment centers in Georgia. For example, they’ll offer detox, interim care if their facilities are complete, counseling, peer support groups, and mental health care.
To be eligible for a state-funded program, you need to apply. This would include providing the following information and documentation:
- Your citizenship status
- Your yearly income
- Your family size
- Proof that you do not have health insurance
- Proof of residency within the state of Georgia
Does Insurance Cover Rehab Center Costs?
Ever since the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008, all states, including Georgia, require that healthcare insurers offer plans that include mental health and substance use disorder benefits.2
Private Insurance
Private health insurance plans generally cover the cost of care for your drug or alcohol addiction. Some of the top insurance providers that cover rehab include Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Aetna, COBRA, United Healthcare, and Cigna.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a state and federal program offering healthcare to low-income families. In terms of drug rehab in Georgia, Medicaid will cover all the basic aspects of substance use treatment. This would include screenings, medications, family counseling, inpatient care, long-term residential care, detox, outpatient, and more.
Medicare
Medicare is a federal health insurance program designed for seniors 65 and older and individuals with disabilities. Medicare comes with a monthly premium based on the individual’s income. Those who earn less pay lower premiums.
How to Finance Addiction Treatment in Georgia
Whether you have insurance coverage or not, you still may not be able to afford the costs associated with addiction treatment. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for paying for professional help.
Choose a Program that Offers Payment Plans: Rather than paying a lump sum of thousands of dollars, many facilities in the state of Georgia will allow you to pay for your treatment incrementally. It works similarly to paying off a loan, meaning that you’ll likely have to pay interest or fees associated with the rehab’s particular plan.
Apply for a Scholarship: Scholarships are mostly provided by both inpatient and outpatient facilities. However, you can also find scholarships through corporations that manage private facilities and non-profit foundations.
Find a Sliding-Scale Program: The sliding scale center is common practice for many alcohol and drug rehab centers in Georgia. The program is a flexible system that charges patients only what they can reasonably afford based on their income and other financial resources.
How to Choose the Right Level of Care
Medical Detox is the process of safely clearing your body of drugs and alcohol and, at the same time managing your withdrawal symptoms. Detox is typically the first step in the recovery process, as it ensures a healthy start to the treatment program.
Inpatient or residential Georgia drug rehabs require that individuals live at the facility for the duration of their stay. It all depends on your situation and the program’s requirements, but you can end up staying 30, 60, or 90 days. In some cases, even longer.
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) involve several hours of treatment daily, for up to 30 hours per week. PHPs are the most intensive outpatient, and they are often used as step-down care after completing inpatient.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) are a step down from PHPs. They include between nine and 20 hours of therapy per week. Some people may step down to an IOP after inpatient or a PHP.
Standard Outpatient treatment involves a few hours of therapy throughout the week, usually only twice per week, plus group meetings.
Aftercare is essentially any type of ongoing care you receive once you complete your program. During your inpatient treatment, you’ll come up with a specific aftercare plan to support your early recovery and help prevent relapse.
Choosing a Specialized Rehab Program in Georgia
There are also specialized alcohol and drug rehab centers in Georgia designed for different populations. This would include veteran, gender-specific, adolescent programs, and more. Each program will offer specialized care for the unique population to ensure the best possible recovery outcomes.
Veteran
Veteran facilities are typically governed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These facilities specialize in providing the necessary medical, social, vocational, and rehabilitation therapies for returning soldiers who have been impacted by active duty.
LGBTQ+
Members of the LGBTQ+ community are said to struggle with substance use disorders at a rate that doubles the rest of the general population.5 The factors that contribute to this include the population’s vulnerability to things like discrimination, family rejection, stigma, and higher rates of depression. LGBTQ+ programs have a keen focus on the needs of the community, addressing all of the above factors.
Men and Women-Only
Substance use disorders affect men and women in different ways. With that said, both men and women recover differently and generally require different treatment approaches.
Women-only and men-only facilities allow individuals to focus on their own gender-defining issues in a comfortable space.
Teen
These types of facilities are designed to address teenagers on an individual level and provide the proper treatment and the tools to cope with the different pressures that may trigger them to use substances.
Should You Travel to Georgia for Drug Rehab?
Treatment in your home state may not be the best option for you. Sometimes traveling to a new state like Georgia is a fresh start needed to really focus on yourself and heal. In other instances, crossing state lines to attend a program means coming home and being closer to friends and family.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you are considering traveling:
- You prefer the climate of Georgia or need a change of scenery
- You want to attend a particular facility or detox center in Georgia
- You have family or friends who live in Georgia and can provide support
- Your insurance covers treatment in Georgia
Alcohol and Drug Laws in Georgia
Georgia legislation is working hard to combat this epidemic and hopefully give second chances in the process. Here are a couple of substance use-related laws you should know about:
The Georgia 911 Medical Amnesty Law: The Georgia 911 Medical Amnesty Law provides limited immunity for those seeking emergency medical care where illicit substances are involved. In other words, if you or someone else owns certain substances or paraphernalia and are experiencing an overdose, you’ll be shielded from prosecution upon calling 911.6
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008: The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was passed in 2008, and the state has been smoothing out the finer details since. This parity law argues that substance use and mental health treatment should be covered by insurance, just like any other medical condition. Under this law, insurance providers are prohibited from limiting the benefits associated with mental health care and substance abuse programs so that help may be more accessible.7
Resources
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020, April 3). Georgia: Opioid-Involved Deaths and Related Harms.
- FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2021, November 10). Mental Health and Substance Use Insurance Help.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021, October 13). Grants.
- Shah, M., & Huecker, M. R. (2021, October 11). Opioid Withdrawal. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
- LGBT Substance Use—Beyond Statistics. (n.d.). SocialWorkToday.
- Gwinnett, Newton, Rockdale County Health Departments. (n.d.). The Georgia 9-1-1 Medical Amnesty Law.
- Eldridge, E. 2021, February 11). Parity Law Aims to Equalize Mental Health and Addiction Coverage With Physical Care. Georgia Public Broadcasting.