Expert Insights
I recently read about a new community outreach program that opened in New York City’s East Harlem area. I assumed this was just your typical harm reduction outreach program…until I got to the part about the free laundromat, free showers, free acupuncture services, and a free massage center. I immediately wondered about the costs of running such a large “free” operation. I tend to remain neutral on efforts such as needle exchange programs and free crack pipe programs, but this particular program had one more (very significant) surprise offering: ambition to become the nation’s first publicly sanctioned supervised consumption room. (That’s a lengthy way of saying it’s a place where people can use drugs like heroin, meth, cocaine, and other substances while being observed by on-site medical staff members.)
If a person in the consumption room overdoses, medical professionals can step in to administer Narcan, reverse the overdose symptoms, and ultimately save a life. But make no mistake, these consumption room operations are illegal in the United States. I’ve seen data from similar operations around the world…and it’s never consistent. While I can get onboard with forms of harm reduction – especially programs making a tangible positive impact – I can’t shake the feeling that these facilities enable and prolong the disease of addiction while ignoring the possibility of achieving recovery as a whole.
~ Nikki Seay
How Expensive is Addiction Treatment in New York City
Regardless of your health insurance status, there are options for drug or alcohol rehab in New York City to help you seek addiction treatment. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in the state of New York, there are more than 700 drug or alcohol rehab programs, including:8
New York drug rehabs accept private insurance
Facilities accept New York State Medicaid
Programs accept Medicare
Drug and alcohol rehabs in New York accept state-funded insurance other than Medicaid
Facilities are privately run by non-profit organizations
Facilities take TRICARE military health insurance
No matter how you intend to pay for treatment, you can reach out to specific facilities and detox centers in New York City to discuss finances. Have them go over the costs and payment schedule with you, and they’ll be able to help you figure out how to pay for your care.
How to Find Low-Cost and Free Drug Rehab Centers in NYC
If you’re open to seeking professional help outside the city, five drug and alcohol rehabs don’t take payment for services, offering crisis services pro bono for specific communities outside NYC.
You can also seek help from a state-funded treatment center. These facilities provide drug or alcohol addiction treatment at a reduced cost or free to eligible residents. Aside from state-funded facilities, you should consider the following when looking for options inside New York City:2
- Reach out to local churches to find emergency rehabilitation services or medical grant programs
- Find New York City drug rehabs that charge based on a sliding-fee scale
- Apply for an individual treatment scholarship through your chosen facility
- Contact one of the 11 New York City (or 109 facilities statewide) facilities that have received a SAMHSA block grant to provide addiction services to low-income individuals
- Look for addiction treatment centers that offer to set up payment plans
New York Drug and Alcohol Addiction Statistics
Every four hours in New York City, someone fatally overdoses due to an addiction.1
Overdose is the most common cause of accidental death in New York City.1
The Bronx and Harlem have been hit hardest by the wave of opioid overdoses.4
Nearly 5,000 people died in NYC as a result of substance use disorder during 2020.3
In 2019, about 7% of New Yorkers had a substance use disorder.2
Fentanyl and opioids contribute to 80% of all overdose deaths.1
Overdose deaths increased by an astounding 36% in 2020.5
Drug and Alcohol Laws in New York City
Given the rising number of overdoses and addiction cases overall, NYC has created laws and public programs to combat the number of drug-related deaths. In addition to harm-reduction laws such as the NY 911 law, the city of New York has programs in place to help those addicted to drugs minimize their risks.
For example, restaurants across the city now carry overdose prevention kits with naloxone syringes and fentanyl detector strips in them, and the city opened the nation’s first supervised injection sites in December 2021.10, 11 New Yorkers can also request overdose prevention kits through community partners or by stopping into a pharmacy where kits are free.12
New York State 911 Good Samaritan Law: Enacted to boost harm reduction efforts in the state, the New York 911 law states that if you are present when a person overdoses on illicit drugs, you can call 911 without fear of prosecution if you have illicit substances, taking illegal drugs with the overdosing person, or some other illegal circumstance.13 This is to prevent people from abandoning their friends who have overdosed for fear of facing charges over drug use. The law may even protect you if you sold the illegal drug to the overdose victim, depending on your prior convictions. The law does not protect you against being arrested if you have a warrant, have violated parole, or have over 8 ounces of a controlled substance.
Alternatives To Incarceration (ATI) Programs: To further the fight against addiction, New York has implemented 165 ATI programs.14 These programs take people recently convicted of a drug-related offense and offer them the option of drug and alcohol treatment instead of going to jail.
New York Public Health Law Section 3309: In the State of New York, first responders are trained in the administration of and carry Narcan (naloxone) with them on duty. According to NYS law, emergency workers can’t be prosecuted for using Narcan if they are aiding an overdose victim.
I-STOP Act of 2011: The I-STOP Act was designed to prevent doctor shopping, where a person goes to a second doctor for a prescription because they’ve run out of painkillers early, and doctor hopping, which is doctor shopping in another locality to avoid being caught, as the act is illegal. It was instituted in August 2013, creating a prescription drug registry to help doctors avoid over-prescribing pain medication.
New York Employee Protections for Addiction Treatment: Under the federally mandated Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), employees can claim up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave without fear of losing their position. Employers may not discriminate against an employee based on a medical condition such as addiction to drugs or alcohol or mental health disorders, so employees are protected from prejudice in this way when seeking treatment.
No matter your addiction or the severity, you can find alcohol and drug rehab centers in New York City that fit your needs. Call
800-681-1058
(
Who Answers?)
to get the help you need, today.
Resources
- New York City Releases 2021 Overdose Data Showing Unprecedented Overdose Levels – NYC Health. (n.d.). Www.nyc.gov.
- FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov.
- New York City Department of Health. (2021). Unintentional Drug Poisoning Overdose Deaths Fourth Quarter.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Interactive National Survey on Drug Use and Health State Estimates. (2019). Pain Reliever Misuse in the Past Year among Individuals Aged 12 or Older, by State: 2018-2019.
- New York Department of Health. (2022). Quarterly Opioid Report Press Release.
- New York City Department of Health. (2021). Unintentional Drug Poisoning Overdose Deaths Fourth Quarter.
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2021). Drug Overdose Deaths in the U.S. Up 30% in 2020.
- New York State Department of Health. (2019). Data highlights. New York State Annual Opioid Report.
- New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. (2022). Laws and Regulations.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Interactive Facility Location Map.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Co-occurring Disorders and Other Health Conditions.
- New York City Department of Health. (2019). Health Department Teams Up with Brooklyn Bar and Nightclub Owners to Prevent Overdose Press Release.
- New York City Department of Health. (2021). Overdose Prevention Centers Averted 59 Overdoses in First Three Weeks of Operation Press Release.
- New York City Department of Health. (2021). Naloxone Information.
- New York State Department of Health. (2022). New York State’s 911 Good Samaritan Law Protects YOU.
- New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services. (2022). Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) Programs.
