Alcohol & Drug Rehabs in Kentucky

Kentucky is ranked 34th nationwide in terms of addiction treatment affordability, with an average cost of drug and alcohol rehab of $57,033 (without insurance).

• Medical detox is the most expensive, with an average cost of $140,607
• Long-term inpatient drug rehab in Kentucky costs an average of $50,328
• Outpatient addiction treatment in Kentucky costs an average of $8,363
• Outpatient methadone treatment is the most affordable, with an average cost of $7,430

Many factors determine the cost of attending addiction treatment centers, including location, amenities, funding sources, length of stay, and what percentage you or your insurance can pay. It may also depend on which type of facility you attend. For example, a faith-based program will be different than a public, state-funded program or a private luxury drug and alcohol rehab.

As of 2024, there were over 530 drug rehab facilities across the state of Kentucky. These facilities accept several payment methods. Of those treatment facilities, the following numbers reflect how many accept their respective payment methods:

447 accept self-payment or cash

264 offer sliding-scale fees for those without insurance

382 accept Medicaid insurance coverage

225 accept state funded insurance coverage

357 accept private health insurance

190 offer free or low-cost treatment

8 offer free treatment for all clients

14 accept tribal funding

Private Pay + Insurance

You have options to pay for treatment in Kentucky, with many of them accepting health insurance and some will even allow you to self pay. Each insurance is different in what specific type of rehab that it will cover. It is important to talk with your insurance provider to understand in and out of network benefits and coverage.

Here are some of the following major private insurance carriers in Kentucky:

• United Healthcare
• Humana
• Aetna Better Health of Kentucky
• Elevance Health

Medicaid and Medicare

Medicaid and Medicare cover a variety of different addiction treatment options in the state of Kentucky. They can be used on addiction treatment services like detox and outpatient rehab. You might be responsible for a co-pay. If needed, you can apply for additional funding sources such as federal or state grants or scholarships from a drug rehab center to pay for treatment. However, some programs will offer a sliding fee scale on top of Medicaid and Medicare to pay for treatment expenses.

Military Insurance

If you are a Veteran, or have military insurance such as TRICARE, substance use treatment can be covered. TRICARE covers a variety of services such as inpatient care, medication assisted treatment, outpatient services, partial hospitalization programs, and residential care. Kentucky’s Veterans Program Trust Fund to help cover costs for services not covered by other veterans programs.

Tribal Funding/Programs

The purpose of the Tribal Opioid Response Grant is to help address the rise in opioid use within Tribal communities. This has helped with the lack of access to treatment and has increased access to culturally appropriate and evidence-based treatment. In Kentucky, they have IHS-Tribal-Urban funds that are used to support funding for alcohol and substance use treatment programs. They are provided by the Indian Health Service to Tribal and Urban Indian health programs.

Other Low Cost Options

Each rehab is different and other low cost options can vary between each one. Some programs may offer financial aid such as scholarships to help pay for treatment. Others may offer a sliding payment scale based on income. It is important to talk with your provider to see what options they offer when it comes to paying for or accessing treatment.

Kentucky has rehab facilities that use state or federally awarded grant money to help uninsured or individuals with a low socio-economic status pay for substance use treatment. Additionally, in Kentucky they have programs, like the Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition and Harm Reduction Outreach Service, set in place to decrease the risks associated with substance misuses such as accidental overdose and disease transmission. These also help reduce the stigma surrounding substance misuse.

Kentucky also has some funding set aside to help individuals in supportive living homes pay for their deposit fees and/or rent. It is important research and contact your desired programs to ensure your needs are being met appropriately.

• Transitions Grateful Life Center – Erlanger, KY: This program is considered a voluntary residential treatment and is for men only. They are able to house 110 men at a time. They have a 12 Step focused curriculum. You will also obtain a sponsor. They also provide onsite mental health treatment. Additionally, your treatment consists of life skills, recovery management, medical support, and nutritional support.

• Shepherd’s Shelter Ross Rehab – Mt. Sterling, KY: This program is a faith-based residential program. They’re capable of housing 54 individuals in a peaceful environment. You’ll have the chance to learn life management skills and coping skills for relapse prevention and lifelong sobriety. You will be alongside others who are dealing with similar struggles as you to create a sense of community. This program combines spiritual and clinical treatments.

• Awareness and Discovery (Brighton Recovery Center) – Newport, KY: This a program for women who are in need of substance use treatment. They are able to house 100 women at once. This program is 9-12 months long. The purpose of this program is to help you achieve independence and move through recovery. This program is for women who are at least 18 years old and are considered low-income or homeless.

• Ethan Health – Richmond, KY: This program provides inpatient and intensive outpatient services for adults. They also have outpatient and medication assisted treatment programs. They can provide you with sober living and partial hospitalization treatment. They put an emphasis on self awareness and personal responsibility on the road to recovery. You can expect comprehensive counseling and evidence based support services during your time in the program.
• Covington Metro Treatment Center – Covington, KY: This is an office-based opioid addiction treatment facility. They provide medication assisted treatment. In addition, you will also engage with individual, group, and family therapies. If needed, your therapist can make referrals to outside community services for any additional issues or services. With this being an outpatient provider, this gives you a chance to use what you have learned in treatment in the real world.

According to Kentucky participants in the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), alcohol and drug abuse are prevalent across the state. The Kentucky counties with the highest number of overdose deaths include:²

• Knott with 121.69
• Clark with 104.3
• Bourbon with 98.43
• Henry with 87.87
• Carter with 82.34

Results of the survey show that in the year before the survey:¹

A total of 557,000 residents misused marijuana (14.9%)

A total of 60,000 residents misused cocaine (1.62%)

A total of 24,000 residents misused heroin (1.26%)

A total of 48,000 residents misused methamphetamines (1.30%)

• Marijuana Laws in Kentucky: The sale and possession of marijuana is illegal in the state of Kentucky. In 2014, a law passed that allows individuals to have access to CBD for medicinal purposes only. Certain amounts of possession can result in a felony charge. If you have under five marijuana plants, it is considered a misdemeanor and if you have more than five marijuana plants, it’s a felony.
• Blood Test Refusal Policy – 2021 Rule: In 2021, the Supreme Court passed a law that allows you to refuse an alcohol blood test without penalties. However, if you do refuse the blood rest, a police officer can request a warrant to draw and test your blood. If they have a warrant, you cannot refuse the blood test at that point.
• Drug Testing Laws: In the state of Kentucky, employers are allowed to have their own drug-free workplace policies if they choose. If an employer does adopt this policy, they have to include both drug and alcohol testing. Kentucky law allows employers to drug test, however, you may have legal claims based on how the test was conducted, who was tested, or how the results were used. The following are examples of this: invasion of privacy, disability discrimination, or defamation.
• Casey’s Law: The Matthew Casey Wethington Act provides a means of intervening with someone who is unable to recognize his or her need for treatment due to their impairment. This law allows parents, relatives and/or friends to petition the court for treatment on behalf of the substance abuse-impaired person. The purpose of this law is to give the best hope of survival for a person who does not see the severity of their substance use.

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). 2019-2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health State-Specific Tables: Kentucky.
2. FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov. 
3. Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. (2020). 2020 Overdose Fatality Report.
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (NSSATS): 2020 Data on Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities.
5. Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. (2022). Provider Directory.
6. Benefits.gov. (2019). Medicare vs. Medicaid: What’s the Big Difference?
7. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2022). Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service.
8. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2020). Chapter 3—Identifying, Screening for, and Assessing Substance Abuse in Older Adults. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 26. Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults: UPDATED 2020. Rockville (MD).
9. Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. (2020). Casey’s Law.
10. Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. (2020). Cold-Allergy Medication Restrictions.
11. Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy. (2020). Treatment and Recovery Resources.