Alabama substance abuse overview

Alabama has a population of 5,039,877 people. The most recent data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 505,000 people over the age of 12 had abused illegal substances in the past month, around 10.02% of the population. 408,000 reported marijuana use in the past month and 661,000 in the past year. The report also found that 98,000 Alabama residents had abused cocaine in the past year, 119,000 had abused meth, and 219,000 had abused prescription pain medication. 40,000 people over the age of 18 reported using heroin in the last year. Those reporting opioid misuse including heroin, painkillers, and fentanyl in Alabama totaled 238,000 people.

Addiction treatment options available in Alabama

Many treatments in Alabama rehab centers can help you deal with substance abuse or alcohol addiction. Some standard treatment options include group and individual therapy, counseling, Inpatient/residential rehab treatment, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and Outpatient and detox centers. 

The kind of treatment you will receive depends on your addiction, age, gender, and other factors unique to you as an individual. Trained health professionals deliver these treatment services in a safe environment to help you curb your addiction.

Treatment options available in Alabama include:

Alabama addiction statistics

  • Methamphetamine is reported as the most harmful substance of abuse in Alabama, with 5,902 individuals seeking meth addiction treatment in 2019
  • However, there have been dramatic increases in the amount of opioid-related overdoses in Alabama, with a 20% increase in deaths from 2019 to 2020
  • In 2018, Alabama providers wrote 97.5 opioid prescriptions for every 100 persons. The average U.S. rate was 51.4 per 100 people

Alabama alcohol abuse

Alcohol misuse was also reported in Alabama with 1,833,000 people over the age of 12 saying they had used alcohol in the last month and 927,000 reporting binge drinking. The perceived risk of people over 12 years of age indulging in problematic alcohol use (5 or more drinks twice a week) in a month was 2,010,000 people.

How many people have a substance abuse disorder in Alabama?

The NSDUH report also recorded the total amount of substance abuse disorders in Alabama and those who currently require treatment but are not receiving it. The report found that 774,000 were recorded as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and 477,000 had an alcohol use disorder. 197,000 people were recorded as having an opioid use disorder including those with painkiller, heroin, and other opioid-based drug use disorders.

How do I pay for rehab in Alabama?

The amount you pay in rehab primarily depends on the center's location, the level of care you need, and the type of treatment you receive. While outpatient treatment programs can cost less, they might not be adequate for an individual suffering from severe addiction.

Yes, you can pay most rehab centers in cash or credit card, but this can be difficult as treatment costs increase over time. If you are insured, you should check with your provider if they cover any rehab or addiction treatment. This can help reduce the cost of the services you need at the rehab center.

Most rehab facilities accept different forms of payment assistance like private Health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare Tricare, and state insurance.

State-sponsored health benefits like Medicare and Medicaid are only available for eligible residents of Alabama. To be eligible, you need to meet certain age and income requirements.

Drug overdoses in Alabama

In 2021, Alabama saw a total of 1366 recorded drug-related overdose deaths. This includes those that were accidental or unidentifiable but excludes those that were related to suicide or homicide. This puts the overdose death toll in Alabama at 27.1 people per 100,000. The total number of alcohol-related deaths (including overdose and all other causes) was 639 or 12.7 per 100,000 people.

Alabama and addiction treatment

There are also many who have been diagnosed with or reported a substance, illicit drug, or alcohol use disorder that require rehab treatment and are not receiving it. The report found that 348,000 people in Alabama needed treatment for illicit substance abuse, 498,000 required treatment for an alcohol use disorder, and 625,000 needed treatment for a diagnosed substance use disorder.

Local government assistance in Alabama

The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) collaborates with community-based providers to offer substance abuse outpatient and inpatient/residential treatment services to individuals suffering from addiction.

With the help of ADMH, state-funded rehab centers can offer treatment services on a sliding scale based on an individual’s income. This way, low-income earners can access addiction treatment services at a lower cost or for free.

Upon contacting a service provider in Alabama, you will undergo a screening process, and the assessment will determine the appropriate level of care you need depending on your addiction.

The Alabama Department of Mental Health ensures that adolescent services, medication-assisted treatment, women’s treatment, and co-occurring services are provided to the residents of Alabama. 

If you or a family member is struggling with addiction, you can reach out via the helpline for the Division of Mental Health &Substance Abuse Services at 334-242-3642