Alcohol Rehab Options in Boston, MA

Medical Detox

For people who are addicted to alcohol and may experience severe withdrawal symptoms, medical detoxification (medical detox) is the safest approach to starting alcohol treatment. The withdrawal stage can be life-threatening in severe cases, and medical detox occurs under the supervision and guidance of medical professionals. Detox is expensive and is only a first step toward lasting recovery, but it is sometimes a medical necessity.

Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient rehabilitation (rehab) is one of the most common and well-known alcohol treatment options. For 30 days or more, patients live in the highly structured environment of a treatment facility. They learn new skills and behaviors, build healthier coping skills, and adjust to sober living. Rehab is a helpful option if you need to remove yourself from potential triggers or an unsupportive environment to fully focus on recovery. However, it’s one of the priciest options and requires you to put your everyday life on hold.

Recovery Housing

Recovery housing allows for a gradual transition between medical detox or rehab and returning to normal life. It provides safety, structure, and a supportive environment with others on a similar recovery journey. Although transitional living gives you more time to strengthen the skills and resolve necessary for lasting recovery, it also requires more time away from your loved ones and responsibilities.

Outpatient Rehab

Outpatient rehab is a more affordable alternative to inpatient rehab. It’s less intensive and less disruptive to your daily life. In an outpatient rehab program, you can get medical and counseling support several times per week while continuing to live at home and work your job. The time commitment for outpatient programs ranges from several hours daily to a few hours per week. For some people, it provides the perfect balance between autonomy and oversight. For others, this amount of time is still too much (or not enough).

Remote Care/Telemedicine

If your busy schedule won’t accommodate traditional alcohol rehab in Boston, telemedicine offers a convenient, evidence-based alternative. With this innovative approach to alcohol treatment, you can access the resources and support you need through an app on your smartphone. You don’t have to leave the comfort of your home to tap into treatment. The affordability, accessibility, and convenience of telemedicine often helps people stick with recovery long-term, especially those with mild to moderate AUD.

Support Groups

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is another common approach to alcohol treatment. It’s an abstinence-based program in which people regularly attend support group meetings, where they share their experiences, offer encouragement and support to one another, and follow the 12 steps. The 12 steps are a set of guiding principles for self-improvement and recovery. If AA doesn’t seem like a fit for you, other support group options include LifeRing and SMART.

How Much Does Rehab in Boston Cost?

Massachusetts has one of the highest levels of problem drinking in the United States, and 22.8 percent of Boston adults engage in binge drinking.1

The cost of alcohol rehab in Boston depends on factors like which treatment option you choose, how long you need treatment, and whether your insurance will cover or partially cover your expenses.

Cost of Medical Detox

Medical detox costs an average of $250-$1,000 per day. In most cases, it takes three to seven days to complete detox. While it certainly isn’t cheap, most insurance providers will cover detox in whole or in part.

Cost of Inpatient Rehab

As the most intensive alcohol treatment option, inpatient rehab is also the most expensive. However, costs vary widely across treatment facilities. The most affordable facilities are nonprofits, which cost around $5,700 monthly. Private-run facilities are pricier, totaling about $17,000 per month. The most expensive high-end programs charge up to $100,000 each month. Some facilities offer payment plans and sliding-scale fees, and insurance often covers at least a portion of the cost.

Cost of Outpatient Rehab

The cost of outpatient rehab varies based on the level of care provided. Standard programs, which focus on addiction therapy and counseling, generally cost up to $2,400 per month. More intensive programs range from $3,000 to $11,000 monthly. Like inpatient rehabs, some outpatient programs offer payment plans and sliding-scale fees, and many insurance companies will cover a portion of the cost.

Cost of Telemedicine

One of the most affordable options is online alcohol treatment, which is significantly more cost-effective than rehab and medical detox. In fact, a year of telemedicine is less than the total cost of many one-month outpatient programs. Telemedicine isn’t completely free like AA, but it includes a higher level of care and direct access to expert medical professionals.