Tennessee Treatment Facts
Tennessee is home to an estimated 194 outpatient centers that treat a variety of SUDs, including addiction to alcohol, opioids, cocaine, and marijuana.1 Tennessee offers a wide range of treatment options, including detoxification, medication-assisted treatment, dual-diagnosis therapy, and specialty treatment for pregnant women.2
Defining Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient treatment takes place at a behavioral health center or clinic where patients can receive a range of therapies that help them improve their day-to-day functioning without drugs and alcohol. Patients can receive day treatment or night treatment based on what works best for their careers, education, and family lives.
Treatments and therapies that may be included in an outpatient program are detoxification, cognitive-behavioral therapy, family therapy, and individual and group drug counseling.3
How to Find Outpatient Rehab in Tennessee
There are an estimated 217 addiction treatment centers in Tennessee, 89% of which offer outpatient rehab programs.1 There are also 14 opioid treatment programs in Tennessee dedicated to helping people recover from heroin and painkiller dependence. Many of these programs are located in Memphis and Knoxville.4
You or your loved one can locate nearby addiction treatment centers using the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s (SAMHSA) Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator.
Alcohol and Drug Addiction in Tennessee
The most commonly abused substances in Tennessee are alcohol, opioids, marijuana, and cocaine.5 However, of the people in Tennessee who need alcohol and drug abuse treatment, only 95.8% and 90.2% receive treatment as needed, respectively.6
Heavy alcohol use causes an estimated 2,064 deaths every year in Tennessee.7 In 2017, there were an estimated 1,269 opioid-related deaths in Tennessee.8 Additionally, an estimated 80% of all crimes that occur in Tennessee are related to drug use in some way.9
Tennessee-Specific Drug Stats
In Tennessee, an estimated 5.4% of people age 12 and older are physically dependent on alcohol, while an estimated 2.3% are dependent on illicit drugs such as marijuana, opioids, and methamphetamine.6 It is also estimated that about 800 methamphetamine labs are operating in Tennessee at any given time.9
In 2017, nearly 16,000 people in Tennessee were admitted to outpatient drug rehab centers following a nonfatal drug overdose, while in 2018, a total of 1,304 people died from an opioid overdose.10
Dual-Diagnosis Treatment in Tennessee
Nearly half of all people with a SUD will also experience a mental health disorder during their lifetime, and vice versa.11 This is known as a dual diagnosis or having co-occurring disorders.
Many addiction treatment centers in Tennessee offer dual-diagnosis treatment to patients with a SUD and mental illness so they can recover from both conditions at the same time.12
Does My Insurance Cover Treatment in Tennessee?
Addiction treatment may be costly for those who want to pay out of pocket or who have health plans that do not cover certain rehab services. Outpatient rehab programs are usually lower in cost than many inpatient rehab programs and may range anywhere between $74 and $598 per week.13
If you have a private health insurance plan, contact your insurer or the rehab center to confirm your coverage and benefits.
Tennessee rehab centers may accept health plans from the following providers:
- Aetna Health
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee
- Bright Health Insurance Company of Tennessee
- Celtic Insurance Company
- Cigna
- Farm Bureau of Tennessee
- Humana
- Oscar Insurance Company
- United Healthcare
Tennessee Insurance (i.e., Medicaid Treatment Facilities)
Medicaid is accepted at 137 addiction treatment centers in Tennessee, or an estimated 63% of rehab centers in the state.1 Medicaid, also known as TennCare in Tennessee, is a federal and state program that helps low-income families and individuals pay for medical care.
You may qualify for TennCare if you are pregnant and earn below 195% of the federal poverty level (FPL), or if you are a parent or caretaker of a minor child and earn below 103% of the FPL.14
To find out if you qualify for Medicaid benefits, visit TennCareConnect to fill out an application.
Additional Ways to Get Help with SUDs
Additionally, there are a number of other ways for those dealing with substance abuse in Tennessee to get assistance:
Sources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2017). 2017 state profile—United States and other jurisdictions National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS).
- Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services. (n.d.). Treatment & recovery.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). Treatment approaches for drug addiction.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Opioid treatment program directory.
- Executive Office of the President of the United States. (2013). Tennessee drug control update.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). Behavioral health barometer Tennessee, 2015.
- Centers for Disease Control. (2014). Prevention status reports 2013: Excessive alcohol use – Tennessee.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). Tennessee opioid summary.
- Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. (n.d.). Drugs.
- Tennessee Department of Health. (n.d.). Drug overdose data dashboard.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Part 1: The connection between substance use disorders and mental illness.
- Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services. (n.d.). Co-occurring disorders.
- French, M.T., Popovici, I., & Tapsell, L. (2008). The economic costs of substance abuse treatment: Updated estimates and cost bands for program assessment and reimbursement. The Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 35(4), 462-469.
- Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Medicaid & CHIP in Tennessee.
