The Cost of Going to Rehab: How Much Does Rehab Cost?

Before reading this, you have probably already asked yourself how much does rehab cost? Rehab costs can vary depending on a number of factors, but there are plenty of options for how to pay for treatment based on your particular needs.

How Much Does It Cost to Go to Rehab?

Treatment costs vary and are based on many personal and provider factors. The types and durations of services you receive will significantly determine the cost of treatment; these largely depend on personal factors such as your history of addiction, the type of drug(s) used, your insurance coverage, whether your facility is an in-network rehab, and more.

There are different levels of substance abuse treatment ranging from highly intensive to minimally intensive. Sometimes, more intensive services or levels of care cost more money than less intensive services or lower levels of care—but insurance often covers even the highest levels of addiction treatment care, depending on your facility and policy.

Highly intensive treatment usually involves a significant number of treatment and rehab services as well as 24-hour care from medical professionals and addiction specialists. From most intensive to least intensive, some substance abuse treatment options and the associated costs are as follows:¹

Drug Detox Programs.

Detoxification, also known as withdrawal management or medical withdrawal, refers to the process of safely eliminating drugs and alcohol from the body.¹ Often taking place at a hospital or a substance abuse treatment facility, detox is generally the first step in drug and alcohol treatment for many people. Medical supervision and interventions are typically provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can include the administration of medication prescribed by a doctor. Most inpatient addiction treatment programs include detox in the total cost of the program

• Outpatient detox ranges in price from about $250 to $800 per day.²  However, price varies depending on the substance and the withdrawal symptoms. When side effects require more monitoring and supervision, the price increases.

Inpatient Rehabilitation Programs.

In inpatient treatment, you receive 24/7 care from mental health and addiction professionals. Medical staff is usually not available 24 hours a day, as the focus of this level of treatment is to help you understand your addiction and develop healthy ways of thinking and acting without the use of substances. With inpatient rehab, the length of stay can vary from a few weeks to 30 days, to several months and even up to a year. This will impact the cost of inpatient treatment as well as the types of services you receive.

• Inpatient care is the most expensive, ranging in price from $5,000 to $80,000.² Cost depends on the location of the facility, the services and amenities offered, and the length of time an individual stays.

Outpatient Rehab.

Outpatient rehab is the least restrictive type of substance abuse treatment and costs less than medical detox and inpatient rehab.¹ In outpatient rehab, you go home every night. Treatment is conducted on an outpatient basis and can consist of things such as individual therapy, support groups, and group therapy. The goal of outpatient therapy is to support your life in recovery and continue to build upon the skills and insights you learned in inpatient rehab.

Medication. 

Medication may be used as part of the treatment plan for substance abuse treatment. It involves using FDA-approved prescription medications to manage cravings and reduce the risk of relapse.¹ Medications may also be prescribed for people with co-occurring medical conditions, or other health-related reasons as well. For individuals who misuse opioids, for instance, a physician might prescribe methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone to help reduce their drug use.¹ Those with alcohol use disorder may get acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone.¹ Not everyone who receives treatment for drug or alcohol abuse requires medication.

• Medication costs vary depending on the drug but typically cost a few thousand dollars.

What Impacts the Cost of Rehab?

The cost of rehab is determined by several differentiators that are based on your specific needs, your insurance provider, and your chosen treatment facility. More specifically, the cost of rehab is often defined by some of the following factors:³

• Length of stay and range of services provided. A longer stay at a rehab center costs more.
• The intensity of services rendered. Some individuals need detox when they enter rehab; other do not. More medical care tends to cost more.
• Location of the treatment facility. As noted above, there is a big divide in the cost of inpatient care versus outpatient care. That’s because inpatient care includes housing and 24-hour care. Thus, inpatient programs in states with a higher cost of living, like California, cost more.
• Specific patient characteristics (i.e., pregnancy, significant medical issues, or mental health problems). Individuals needing special accommodations or care pay more.
• Cost of resources. In states where resources cost more, rehab will cost more, too.
• Amenities. The cost of rehab is also determined by the amenities offered by the specific substance abuse treatment facility. Every rehab service and amenity can come with a cost. These amenities may include chef-prepared meals, fitness centers, pools, acupuncture, massage, and more.

The Cost of Drug Addiction Compared to the Cost of Rehab

Substance misuse and addiction can have devastating consequences on all aspects of your life. The cost of drug use can be significant and irreversible, and can include:⁴

• Difficulty adhering to personal responsibilities that can lead to consequences such as job loss.
  • Addiction often leads to workplace problems, which can lead to days off and lost wages.
• Conflict in important relationships with family members and friends.
  • While it may not be able to be measured in dollars and cents, addiction can cost some individuals their relationships with their family and friends.
• Physical dependence and withdrawal.
  • Addiction can be expensive. Use the cost-of-addiction calculator below to estimate how much you’re spending on drugs or alcohol.
• Risky behaviors and impaired judgment.
  • Addiction can lead to potential legal fees and fines. For instance, someone who gets a DUI may have to pay several fines and/or court fees.
• Changes in the brain and other health problems.
  • Health problems come with medical bills, which add up quickly.

Addiction in the United States

The financial cost of drug and alcohol abuse is astronomical. Current studies report that substance use disorders in the United States costs the country more than $600 billion dollars a year. But addiction treatment can reduce that cost.⁵

On a more individual level, addiction gets expensive, regardless of the substance. Even if an individual consumes a cheap $6 6-pack of beer a day for a year, that’s about $180 a month and more than $2,000 a year. Cocaine, on the other hand, costs quite a bit more. At roughly $90 per gram in the United States, someone with a cocaine use disorder pays more than $32,000 a year if they use one gram per day.⁵ Heroin costs approximately $152 per gram, which means that an individual using one gram of it per day spends more than $55,000 a year on heroin.⁵

Additional statistics on the cost of substance abuse and its treatment include:⁶ 

• For every dollar allocated to substance abuse treatment, $4-$7 are saved in drug-related criminal offenses.
• Healthcare-related savings surpass a ratio of 12 to 1.
• 1 full year of methadone maintenance costs roughly $4,700, where one year in jail costs roughly $24,000 a year.

Is Rehab Worth It?

Yes, drug addiction treatment can be expensive, but it reduces drug use and the costs associated with it. Besides spending less on drugs and alcohol, treatment can help you repair your interpersonal relationships, give you greater productivity at work, and fewer drug- or alcohol-related accidents and legal fees.

Take Our Addiction Self-Assessment

Take our free, 5-minute substance abuse self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance use or misuse. The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.

Why the Cost of Rehab Shouldn’t Prevent You from Going

There is no denying that addiction treatment can sometimes be costly, but the cost of addiction is much steeper. Fortunately, most insurance companies will cover some form of addiction treatment, so the price of rehab shouldn’t deter you from seeking treatment, especially when you consider the cost of substance abuse — not only on your wallet, but also on your health, interpersonal relationships, quality of life, and mortality.

If you’re still not convinced, consider this. Treatment for substance abuse averages approximately $1,583 per year per person. The average cost of substance abuse is roughly $11,487 a year—more than 7 times greater.⁷ Keep in mind that this is an approximation, and the cost of treatment depends on the many factors mentioned above. The bottom line is that the benefits of substance abuse treatment are evident not only in saving you money, but in saving your life.

There are many options for rehab treatment, and the costs of rehab vary. It is possible for you to find a program for you or your loved one that is affordable and life-changing.

Learn More About Addiction Treatment

If you believe you or someone you love may be struggling with addiction, let us hear your story and help you determine a path to treatment.

There are a variety of confidential, free, and no obligation ways to get in contact with us to learn more about your treatment options and rehab costs.

• Call us at
• Verify Your Insurance Coverage for Treatment Your insurance may cover your rehab program costs.
• Learn more about the cost of treatment with our cost of addiction treatment calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions