Free & Low Cost Rehab Options on Montana’s Crow Nation
For generations, Montana’s meth epidemic has ravaged the Crow Nation. But one area nonprofit is helping the community heal through low and no cost addiction recovery programs for Indigenous populations.
The Cycle of Meth Addiction in the Crow Nation
Teyon and Lonny Fritzler are brothers who grew up near the Little Bighorn River but now their childhood home is boarded up. They dream about ways they can rebuild the modest clapboard home on the rolling prairie where their grandfather taught them how to break horses.
It’s here where their grandmother taught them to harvest buffalo berries. It’s here where they watched as their father became addicted to meth.
Thirty-four year old Teyon began using meth at age 15 with his dad. Lonny, who is 41, began using after college. He was driven in part by environment and family history and in part by the stress of caring for their grandfather, who had dementia.
The brothers’ persistent meth addictions outlasted the lives of their father and grandfather.
To recover, the brothers had to leave Lodge Grass, Montana, their hometown on the Crow Indian Reservation, where the population numbers about 500 and access to treatment is limited.
Their own recovery journey illuminated the dire need for affordable addiction treatment options closer to their Lodge Grass home.
An Underserved Community
Meth use and addiction remain an enduring public health epidemic in the U.S. and a growing contributor to the overdose crisis. But Native populations have been hardest hit and, historically underserved, in this crisis.
Statistically, Native Americans have had the highest rates of meth addiction in the U.S. as compared with other demographic groups.
The National Indian Health Board is a nonprofit working to improve health outcomes among Indigenous populations. The CEO, A. C. Locklear, stated that “Meth has never left our communities.”
Rural areas also have higher rates of meth use in comparison to cities and it is here that many Native communities reside. Research suggests that Native Americans are also at an increased risk of mental illness, chronic disease and poverty.
These are all risk factors when it comes to addiction. The conditions creating these risk factors have their roots in more than 100 years of systemic discrimination.
Added to that, the Indian Health Services, the healthcare provider for many Native Americans, has long been underfunded. Cutbacks under the current administration have shrunk health programs even further nationwide.
Increasing Access to Affordable Addiction Treatment in Lodge Grass
Current estimates suggest that 60% of Lodge Grass’ residents 14 and older deal with alcohol or drug addictions.
But the nonprofit Mountain Shadow Association is among many community-based, Native-led initiatives designed to change that. They’re supporting Lodge Grass’ newest construction project: a place for families to heal from addiction.
The ultimate plan is to create an entire town campus providing mental health resources and social services, including housing for kids whose parents are in need of treatment elsewhere. They’re also planning to build affordable sober housing for families in recovery from alcohol and drug use.
Teyon and Lonny Fritzler are two of the builders on the project. They both feel the work is an opportunity to help rebuild their community and support lasting healing within the Crow Nation.
Lonny said, “When I got into construction work, I actually thought God was punishing me. But now, coming back, building these walls, I’m like, ‘Wow. This is ours now.’”
Progress Already Made in Community Based Recovery
But the forthcoming resource centers and supportive housing programs are just part of the story. Significant progress to support addiction recovery in Lodge Grass has already been made.
In the heart of the town, a former church has recently been converted into a drop-in center where people can come to find a free meal and sober support.
Beginning in 2017, Lodge Grass mayor, Quincy Dabney helped organize community cleanups where people picked up trash alongside the roads and in people’s yards. The focus changed to tearing down condemned and empty houses, which, according to Dabney, had become spots where meth was sold, distributed, and used, even during the day, with children playing nearby.
Unfortunately, the problem endured. In 2024, a multistate drug trafficking operation based on the Crow reservation was broken up by officials. The operation distributed drugs to other reservations in Montana. This was only one example of how drug traffickers have exploited tribal nations as distribution and sales hubs.
But now cartels are being rooted out, drug trafficking networks are being disrupted and community-led recovery programs are flourishing. Just down the road from Lodge Grass’s drop-in center, work is underway for the new addiction recovery campus, called Kaala’s Village. In Crow, Kaala means “grandmother.”
The first building under construction is the therapeutic foster home. The plans are for a ceremonial area, a community garden, and housing to gradually reunite families.
The goal is that residents will eventually help build their own small homes. They’ll have the help of experienced builders who are also trained in mental health support. These peer coaches will work alongside the residents as they build their homes and start their new dependency-free lives.
The Need for Sustainable Funding Continues
Though much has been done to expand low and no cost recovery services across the community, much more is required. There’s still a need for grassroots efforts because a reliable funding system still doesn’t exist.
Federal funding cuts have led to increased competition for fewer available philanthropic dollars. And because of this, recovery initiatives like those in Lodge Grass will continue to be created, preeminently for the community, by the community.
How to Find Low Cost Addiction Treatment Near You
If you’re ready to break the cycle of addiction for yourself and your family, you have options. Explore low and no cost treatment programs in your area or call
800-914-7089
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Free Addiction Recovery Program for Teens in Houston
Houston teens are getting free addiction recovery help from a seemingly unlikely source: the public school system. This is a great no cost option for families who may not be able to afford traditional rehab.
Houston’s Fortis Academy is one of the few public recovery high schools in the United States.
Free Addiction Recovery Programs for Houston Teens
Why are recovery high schools like Fortis so important? For one, it enrolls anywhere from 20 to 35 students from the Houston area each semester.
These are teens between 13 and 17 years of age who are currently recovering from substance addiction, a population too long unrecognized and underserved in the recovery community.
For many families, traditional inpatient rehab or outpatient treatment programs are financially out of reach. Recovery high schools like Fortis provide a free alternative to addiction treatment, helping teens recover without adding financial strain.
The goal is to help them get sober, complete high school and move on to build a healthy and happy future free of addiction.
Integrating Education and Recovery
Students are encouraged and supported at Fortis, which integrates traditional academic curricula with mental health care. Students engage in individual and group counseling and recovery education at no cost to families. This makes it an accessible alternative to paid drug and alcohol rehab programs for teens.
Fortis students praise the learning environment among peers who share similar experiences and understand the challenges and rewards of the recovery journey. They describe the school as a place where they can express themselves freely and be completely authentic.
The Harris County Department of Education runs that program and families are under no obligation to pay. Their district handles tuition and transportation fees, which typically come to a little more than $6,000. The education department also waived fees for the last two semesters and plans to continue doing so in the future.
These students live at home rather than residing on campus. The treatment is less intensive than in inpatient addiction treatment, but students do receive custom recovery plans for their individual needs and future goals.
The students have the necessary support to rebuild relationships affected by drug or alcohol use. One of the core tenets of the program is that the students make a sobriety pledge and illustrate a desire to recover.
A Nationwide Challenge
Though there are more recovery high schools in Texas per capita than the rest of the nation, the current need far outstrips states’ and school districts’ capacity to meet it. With teen addiction being a nationwide issue, the demand for treatment is high.
There were approximately 2,600 students in the Greater Houston communities reportedly seeking recovery assistance in 2024, speaking to the urgent need for more no-cost recovery schools like Fortis throughout Houston and across the US.
The focus is on not having to choose between an education and recovery. Nor do families have to worry about the financial burden of treatment. Through free recovery programs like Fortis, teens and families alike can break the thralls of addiction.
As treatment costs continue to rise, free recovery programs like Fortis help fill critical gaps for families who need support but cannot afford traditional rehab.
Find Free and Low Cost Rehab Options for Teens
If a young person in your life is struggling with addiction, help is available. Explore free and low cost rehab programs for teens in your area or call
800-914-7089
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today.
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Pennsylvania Telehealth Programs Improve Low-Cost Addiction Treatment
Pennsylvania healthcare providers are unleashing the power of telehealth to support addiction recovery. This latest innovation in mental healthcare across the Keystone State is being led by Gateway Rehab, a nonprofit addiction recovery program fully licensed to offer comprehensive telehealth care across Pennsylvania.
Now they’re working to enhance treatment access and overcome pervasive provider shortages by training clinicians across the state to offer remote addiction recovery services. The goal is to reduce barriers to care, particularly in Pennsylvania’s rural areas, where mental health and addiction recovery services are scarce.
Telehealth Expands Low-Cost Treatment Options Across Pennsylvania
Along with a wide-ranging expansion of telehealth services comes more opportunities for addiction treatment in Pennsylvania, where the state has long seen limited care availability due to transportation, distance and provider shortages. Telehealth removes transportation barriers and increases access in rural Pennsylvania, where many counties have few physical addiction treatment facilities.
According to state officials, the recently approved online treatment model will allow licensed providers to deliver comprehensive substance use disorder (SUD) treatment remotely. This is part of a larger effort to decrease overdose deaths and modernize the behavioral healthcare treatment model.
Telehealth Offers Care for All Stages of Addiction Recovery
Dr. Julia D’Alo, Gateway Rehabilitation Center’s chief medical officer, noted that “[Substance use disorder] is a chronic disease, and people are going to have varying levels of need throughout their lives…we have to meet them at every stage, and we can do that with telehealth.”
This past summer, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs issued Gateway Rehab the state’s first telehealth exceptions granted to a licensed SUD treatment provider. Gateway Rehab has nearly 20 physical outpatient and inpatient treatment locations in the Beaver County region.
Before the approval of the telehealth program, only addiction treatment facilities with physical locations in Pennsylvania were eligible to apply for a license to offer telehealth services. The licenses are granted through the state’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Since the approval, providers aren’t required to have a physical location in the state to offer telehealth services.
Telehealth Helps Combat Pennsylvania’s Overdose Crisis
According to the state’s Office of Drug Surveillance and Misuse Prevention, a life was lost to drug overdose in Pennsylvania every three hours in 2024. That’s 3,336 fatal overdoses in one year.
Gateway Rehab’s executive director of telehealth, Matthew Rumbaugh, notes that, “We were averaging about 240 patients per week [prior to the license], and now we’re at about 411. We’re seeing people all the way from Erie down to Fayette and Greene counties…the biggest barriers are stigma and transportation, but we’ve been able to help eliminate those.”
Rumbaugh explained that a client’s treatment is now handled through an app. Clients can log in to access their medical records, complete online training and journal prompts, and attend treatment sessions.
“Even if a patient is done with a certain treatment, we hope they continue to message through the app and continue to get help when they need it,” Rumbaugh said.
Pennsylvania’s Telehealth Hub Increases Treatment Access
Gateway Rehab is also gearing up to be a “telehealth hub” where they’ll be able to train substance use treatment providers at their newly renovated Robinson Township location. They’ll be inviting and training providers throughout Pennsylvania and the country on the subject of implementation and maintenance of telehealth services.
D’Alo said, “There are a lot of different ways to utilize telehealth for behavioral and physical health care, and the goal of the hub is to share this knowledge and get more people the help that they need.”
Rumbaugh remarked that they’re anticipating the opening of the new hub within the next couple of months.
He added, “The beautiful thing about having this hub and technology is that we can increase access, the length of treatment, so we can collect more comprehensive data. We then can share that with the state, so they get a better idea of what really is happening and how to plan from there.”
SB 739 passed in June of 2024 and was crucial to the effort of acquiring these new licenses, since the bill made it mandatory for insurance providers to pay for the covered services provided through the telehealth option, Rumbaugh noted.
He also noted that, “You can’t implement a telehealth program, nor can you sustain a telehealth program if it is not reimbursed.
Only one other provider has been granted the telehealth license, according to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, but they’re expecting that number to grow. With SB 739 and Medicaid coverage now supporting telehealth addiction services, clients can access care from home without worring about cost barriers.
Josh Shapiro, the Governor of Pennsylvania, proposed a new Rural Health Transformation Plan in November. If the plan’s approved by the federal government, it will provide as much as $200 million per year for five years to rural communities. The funding will include technology investments, such as telehealth.
The new state budget is also a win for clients using Medicaid, since an amendment to the Human Services code removed the in-person requirement for behavioral health and SUD treatment, according to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.
This will also expand telehealth access for those using Medicaid. According to the state’s Department of Human Services, about 23% of Pennsylvania residents use Medicaid.
Across the state, there are about 400 licensed recovery houses and almost 800 physical SUD treatment facilities.
Find Affordable Telehealth Addiction Treatment Near You
If you or a loved one need addiction recovery care, telehealth makes treatment more accessible than ever.
Explore rehab centers and programs by treatment type, payment options (including Medicaid and sliding scale plans), and specialty features. For immediate confidential support, call
800-914-7089
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New York Nonprofit Links Nutrition to Addiction Recovery
For one New York nonprofit, healthy foods are about more than simply feeding the body. Good nutrition is also a powerful low cost support tool in addiction recovery, especially for individuals who rely on community based and nonprofit treatment programs.
Jamel Lewis is a Marine Corps veteran with a story and a new-found purpose. A mere two years ago, he was addicted to cocaine and living on a diet that consisted primarily of Honey Buns and ice cream.
Now? He is almost two years sober and runs a program dedicated to healthy cooking at Samaritan Daytop Village, located in the South Bronx.
Supporting Sobriety Through Healthy Habits
Lewis began his recovery journey in hospital after getting hit by a car in Albany. He transferred to the SDV 43rd Veterans Residential Treatment Program in Manhattan, thriving on the structure of the program and connection to a community.
During this time, he became an intern at Peer Alliance Recovery Center (PARC) and started to feel the benefits of keeping a healthy lifestyle. He also discovered a deep passion for helping others appreciate good nutrition. This led to him earning a peer educator qualification from the American Diabetes Foundation.
Nutrition as a Low-Cost Support in Addiction Recovery
Feeling the improvements in his attitude and energy levels after switching to a nutritious diet has Lewis convinced that food can be foundational for recovery of all types.
His program involves him demonstrating how to cook healthy, budget-friendly meals that fuel healing and addiction recovery. There is a doctor available to answer participants’ questions about nutrition and the body.
Teaching Sustainable, Budget-Friendly Recovery Skills
Lewis is a big fan of mantras and starts every cooking session with two: “I love myself today,” and “I am in alignment with reaching my goals.”
He talks about the benefits of the ingredients throughout each cooking demonstration. Whether the ingredient is filled with antioxidants or helps with digestion, the class hears about it. One of his biggest goals is to help the participants feel the way nutrition impacts their mood and improves their lives.
And there is mounting evidence that nutrition-rich foods can help repair the damage that substance abuse does to the brain and body. Healthy eating is also linked to a reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms. As Lewis notes, “Food is mood.”
As a nonprofit program, Lewis often works with working class and low-income clients. The goal is to teach individuals and families in recovery how to make affordable lifestyle changes that enhance their mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing and support their sustained sobriety.
Find Low-Cost Addiction Treatment Near You
If you’re looking for low-cost addiction treatment options, including programs that offer nutrition therapy and other supportive services, you have choices.
You can search for affordable rehab centers on Rehabs.org by payment options, including Medicaid, Medicare and sliding scale programs, or call
800-914-7089
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today.
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Medicaid Expands Access to Opioid Treatment Medications
Over the last decade, changes to Medicaid policies have increased access to opioid recovery medications.
These specialized medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are thought to be the gold standard of care. But the provision of MOUD treatment has so far been largely confined to new treatment facilities and has yet to be rolled out in many older programs.
A New Standard in Medicaid-Funded Opioid Treatment
A new study in Health Affairs, by Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) researchers, reveals that nearly 90% of the expansion in Medicaid funded addiction recovery services was from new treatment facilities rather than previously existing centers instituting changes in their practices.
Tamara Beetham led the research as part of her YSPH PhD dissertation and found the results “both an interesting and surprising result. The modernization driven by turnover, rather than changes within existing organizations, may also apply to other types of services where strong cultural beliefs may not be consistent with clinical guidelines.”
Policymakers striving to improve access to quality care and addiction treatment may glean important insights from the research findings. The results emphasize the need for older facilities to invest in workforce training and technology so they can embrace modern billing and up-to-date medication treatment practices.
Incentivizing Policy Change
For many individuals, Medicaid coverage can mean the difference between receiving evidence based treatment or going without care altogether.
Beetham’s study used data from between 2012 and 2022 and pulled from over 3,000 inpatient treatment facilities. The researchers specifically noted how facilities responded to the 2015 Medicaid waiver plan that offered Medicaid reimbursement for addiction treatment when the clinicians prescribed medications such as methadone and buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. The medications have proven to reduce overdose deaths.
A 1965 rule had excluded Medicaid reimbursement for larger addiction and psychiatric centers.
Facilities in six states adopted the waiver policy within four years of the change. These facilities were 26% more likely to accept Medicaid patients and offer MOUD than the facilities in 19 control states that didn’t offer waivers. Clients seeking addiction treatment in the six states had more opportunities to receive proven addiction treatments.
Further study of the results revealed that 89% of care improvement was due to facility turnover. The states that adopted the waivers saw that new facilities were more likely to provide medication treatment than those entering states without the waiver.
The existing treatment facilities that didn’t offer medications were likely to leave the field. In looking at continuously operating treatment centers, although Medicaid participation grew, MOUD availability did not.
While policy changes increased Medicaid participation, many long standing facilities still do not offer MOUD which leaves patients with fewer affordable treatment options.
According to the study, “Supporting established facilities in adopting MOUD through education and training and incentivizing new providers already aligned with best practices to enter, could accelerate improvements in treatment quality.”
Researchers speculate that the cost and stigma associated with MOUD, and other obstacles to providing MOUD may have dissuaded existing providers from utilizing the waiver policy.
Expanding Medicaid Coverage for Opioid Recovery Medications
Thirty-five states have some form of reimbursement policy, known as Medicaid Section 1115 “Institutions for Mental Diseases” waivers for substance use disorder. Congress is currently debating whether to make Medicaid reimbursement for residential addiction recovery and MOUD services permanent, since the programs require renewal.
Most policymakers support increased treatment access but making the program permanent is costly and thereby controversial. According to the Congressional Budget Office, if reimbursement becomes official policy, federal Medicaid spending would increase by approximately $7.7 billion over 10 years.
No matter the actions of Congress, overdose deaths and illegal drug use threaten millions of American lives. In the United States, overdose deaths have increased more than fivefold in recent decades.
Only about 10% of people with substance use disorders get treatment. For individuals who do receive treatment, studies show that only one in ten treatment plans include MOUD. And this lack of access to evidence-based treatment, including critical medications, is claiming lives.
Explore Medicaid & Low Cost Opioid Treatment Near You
If you’re struggling with opioid addiction and worried about the cost of treatment, help is available. You can compare medication assisted treatment programs near you, including rehab centers that accept Medicaid, Medicare, or offer low cost payment options.
Recovery doesn’t have to be out of reach. Find affordable treatment options today or call
800-914-7089
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for confidential support.
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Medicare Addiction Treatment Expands for Ohio Teens
In early December, an Ohio nonprofit announced its plans to expand Medicare addiction treatment for teens, increasing access to affordable drug and alcohol rehab services across the state. The organization will now accept traditional Medicare benefits for their adolescent drug and alcohol recovery programs.
Team Recovery announced that they were adding traditional Medicare to their list of accepted insurance providers. This development is Team Recovery’s most recent step towards providing access to high quality mental health and addiction treatments to as many people as possible.
For families relying on Medicare or Medicaid, this expansion helps remove one of the biggest barriers to treatment: cost.
Their mission is not only about accessibility, it’s also about making people seeking help more aware of their options and changing the way “accessible” options are viewed.
Expanding Access to Medicare-Funded Addiction Treatment for Teens
Matt Bell, Team Recovery’s CEO, explains that their goal is to challenge and change the view that addiction and mental health support is inaccessible, as this often causes people to delay getting help.
By accepting Medicare, they’re making strides towards this goal, as this move gives Ohio residents with dual coverage (having both Medicare and Medicaid) access to far more mental health and addiction treatments and services.
These services include medical detox, inpatient and outpatient rehab, dual diagnosis support, case management, and medication assisted treatment. Clients may also receive referrals to affordable sober living options and halfway houses.
Being able to access all these services under one roof allows each patient and client to move between the levels of care without much hassle and without having to form new relationships or go through new intake processes.
Team Recovery also offers their own recovery housing programs for clients on Medicare and Medicaid. Though beds are limited, these residences offer their clients safety, structure, stability and a recovery community where they can feel connected, supported, and inspired.
Immediate Access to Medicare Addiction Care for Ohio Teens
Another way in which Team Recovery is improving access to these essential services is by having staff ready to admit new patients seven days a week.
This means that, whether your teen needs detox, inpatient rehab, outpatient treatment or other services, you don’t have to wait to get help at all.
Team Recovery’s Medicare Addiction Treatment Services in Ohio
Started in 2015 by Matt Bell, Team Recovery seeks to provide mental health and addiction treatment services that support sustainable, long term recovery. This mission is influenced and informed by Bell’s own experience recovering from addiction.
They offer social support, therapy, counseling, and clinical treatment services that take a holistic perspective, treating their clients and helping to support their clients’ families.
Accepting Medicare allows Team Recovery to offer low cost addiction treatment options for teens who might otherwise be unable to afford care. For many Ohio families, Medicare and Medicaid coverage make it possible to access detox, inpatient rehab and outpatient services without overwhelming out of pocket costs.
Finding Medicare Addiction Treatment Near You
If you’re on Medicare or Medicaid and looking for affordable addiction treatment, help is available. Explore the Rehabs.org national directory to find low cost rehab centers near you that accept Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance options.
For more immediate support, call
800-914-7089
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today.
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Montana Nonprofit Selling Christmas Trees to Fund Addiction Recovery
A Montana nonprofit isn’t just spreading cheer this Christmas season, it’s also spreading hope. They’re using proceeds from their Christmas tree sales to fund addiction recovery programs throughout Billings.
A Season of Giving
This time of year, we are often reminded of the generosity of spirit many people show to their communities. One example is what is happening in Montana’s largest city, Billings, where the focus isn’t only on holiday decorations but also on helping others.
The proceeds of the 5th annual Christmas tree sale are to be used to raise awareness about addiction and to fund recovery across Billings and throughout the state.
So far, 800 Christmas trees have been delivered as part of the Billings Adults and Teen Challenge program. The program also raises money year-round through various activities and fundraisers. They have a heart for treatment and the Faith Chapel Christmas tree sales are a big part of funding.
Supporting Affordable Recovery Programs in Montana
The Adult and Teen Challenge specialized program includes work experience that allows guests to find jobs and become productive members of society. They’re all about encouragement and building self-esteem.
The Christmas tree sales are crucial, as last year they raised almost $50,000 to help the community. The sales will go toward funding needed for next year, helping to start the year off strong.
As more people hear about the two lots where they can buy trees, the opportunities grow to help more of those who desperately need assistance getting on the right track.
The program also uses this time as a chance for connection and reaching out to people who may need joy this time of year. It allows time for them to tell visitors about the program and how the Christmas tree lots are helping people within the Billings community.
Stories like this remind us how exceptional the human spirit can be, especially during the Christmas season. There are many programs like this around the country that provide essential resources for recovery during the holidays.
Find Low Cost Rehab Options Near You
If you’re looking for help for yourself or someone you love this holiday season, help is available even if cost is a concern. Many rehab programs offer financial assistance, sliding scale fees, scholarships, or accept Medicaid and Medicare.
Explore free and low cost rehab centers near you or call
800-914-7089
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for immediate support.
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Free Addiction Recovery Apps Support Illinois Residents
Technology is ever present in our daily lives but today’s tech is more than just entertaining. Free and low cost recovery apps designed for those experiencing addiction and depression are saving lives and healing hearts this holiday season.
A Challenging Time of Year for Mental Health
The holidays are idealized as a magical and joyous time. And although many people enjoy celebrating this time of year, there are others facing tremendous struggles with mental health.
Sometimes these issues go overlooked but for people experiencing depression and addiction, the holidays don’t always offer much hope.
Fortunately, for residents of Illinois, a host of affordable and accessible technologies has emerged to help. And many of these apps are also available to residents outside of the state, making access to on-demand care possible, no matter where you live or what you’re able to pay.
Reducing Barriers and Stigma With Digital Tools
Although many areas, including rural communities, tend to offer support groups through local churches or community centers, there can still be a stigma attached that makes some hesitant to reach out.
But online tools such as mental health and addiction recovery apps promise to overcome many barriers to care. They remove transportation burdens and provide support wherever the person has an internet connection.
There are telehealth platforms and self-help tools like breathing apps that help promote calmness during anxiety. Online options can even connect people with resources in different states and at any time, day or night, seven days a week.
Importantly, this includes access both to resources and to real-time, one-on-one support on holidays, when kindness and care are often needed the most.
Free Online Support Groups and Community Resources
Research has shown that having a strong network of support is critical to your lasting recovery and overall physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Al-Anon don’t just offer in-person meetings. They also have a robust online presence. You can attend free, secure, anonymous meetings online.
You can even select from a range of languages, groups, and meeting types to best suit your needs. These online meetings provide a forum where people can share time with others who understand their unique challenges regarding addiction and mental health conditions this time of year.
They provide positive social engagement and connection, which can reduce feelings of isolation, especially during the holiday season.
Professionals emphasize planning for holiday gatherings. Decide which parties or events to attend and set healthy boundaries that won’t lead to additional stress.
Personalized Digital Care Options
Options like Eleanor Health Care Online offer customized recovery support, including virtual counseling and online group therapy sessions. Medication assisted treatment may also be prescribed if needed.
The holidays can cause a great deal of strain for us all, whether it’s because of finances, missing loved ones, loneliness, or other painful triggers. Having access to experts and empathetic support can make all the difference.
Getting Help During the Holidays
If you or a loved one is struggling this holiday season, there are high-quality, low and no-cost resources to help. Explore telehealth options and recovery apps or search Rehabs.org’s national directory to find a treatment provider offering in-person and online care near you.
Help is just one click – or one call – away.
800-914-7089
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Low-Cost Medicaid Addiction Treatment Expands in Missouri
Clarity Healthcare is making it easier for clients in Hannibal, Missouri to access Medicaid funded addiction treatment, sources say. The organization celebrated its new clinic at 235 Progress Road. They’ll offer multiple types of medical and mental health care under one roof. This single healthcare hub will streamline the client experience and ease barriers to care.
Clarity Healthcare is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and will focus on treating underserved populations, including low-income individuals and families.
Boosting Access to Medicaid Funded Addiction Treatment
Approximately one out of five individuals in Missouri is enrolled in Medicaid, about 1.2 million people. Most of those enrolled live in rural areas and lack adequate access to quality healthcare. Children comprise about 39% of Medicaid recipients in Missouri. In 2024, Clarity Healthcare treated 11,310 unique clients.
Clarity Healthcare’s Vice President of Integrated Health Services, Beth Wiemelt, said, “As a FQHC, Clarity Healthcare has always been committed to expanding access to care, especially for those who might otherwise go without.”
The Progress Road facility houses Clarity Healthcare’s primary care for youth and adults, psychiatry, women’s health, immunizations, comprehensive dental, addiction medicine, outpatient behavioral health therapy, care coordination services and insurance navigation, all in one accessible place. The facility is over 21,000 square feet and will have housing assistance programs on site.
Comprehensive, Integrative Care for Missouri’s Underserved Populations
The Missouri Department of Mental Health designates Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) to treat specific populations that need mental health services. Some of the behavioral health services that will be offered by Clarity Healthcare at the new facility will be provided as CCBHC services through the parent company, Preferred Family Healthcare.
This is an integrated service approach that eases obstacles to treatment and enhances the client experience. Offering integrated care under one roof will be an improvement to the current situation. This includes three locations spread across Hannibal. Clients who see more than one provider will be able to receive multiple services without the need for additional travel.
The clinic on Progress Road is slated to open by the end of November. The project will total about $8.5 million with $3.4 million in funding from Senator Cindy O’Laughlin and the Missouri Primary Care Association.
Clarity Healthcare is striving to create a whole person model of treatment reflecting the future of healthcare by housing behavioral health and primary care services together.
Those with both physical and mental health conditions are at a higher risk for poor health outcomes and chronic diseases when they receive treatment in separate care systems. Persons with documented mental illnesses die about 10 to 25 years earlier than those in the general population, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This is often due to co-occurring physical conditions that are poorly managed or undiagnosed.
Those with chronic conditions, such as hypertension, heart disease or diabetes, fare better with integrated care since physicians can address behavioral factors such as stress and medication adherence.
Follow up rates increase by up to 40% when services are located under one roof according to the National Institutes of Health. When primary care and mental health services are under one roof, individuals are more likely to attend their mental health appointments.
Wiemelt stressed, “When patients can access primary and behavioral health in one setting, they’re more likely to follow through on treatment plans. Integrated care can decrease the patient’s long-term healthcare costs and ease future strain on hospitals.”
The new facility will dedicate 4,777 square feet to primary medical care and 4,262 square feet to dental care treatment services, with space available for further expansion depending on the future health care needs of Hannibal’s residents.
Finding Free or Low-Cost Medicaid Addiction Treatment in Missouri
Clarity Healthcare’s new facility makes it easier than ever for Missouri residents to find affordable comprehensive addiction treatment, proving that rehab doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective.
If you’re on Medicaid or looking for low cost drug rehab options, help is available. Explore Medicaid-funded addiction recovery programs in your state or call
800-914-7089
(Sponsored)
for immediate support.
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Communities Provide Free Thanksgiving Recovery Help
Americans across the nation are gathering to celebrate with loved ones as Thanksgiving draws near. But the holidays can be fraught with challenges for persons in addiction recovery. And that’s why communities across the nation are offering free Thanksgiving dinners and recovery resources this holiday. They’re making sure no one spends the holiday without a hot meal, fellowship and recovery support.
Peer Support on Thanksgiving in Morristown, New Jersey
The Market Street Mission in Morristown, New Jersey is one shining example. Their traditional Thanksgiving dinner, featuring turkey and all the trimmings, is available to anyone in need of a warm place to spend the holiday. The Mission also offers a free addiction recovery program, counseling, and emergency assistance for those who are struggling with substance misuse.
Recovery Community Thanksgiving Event in Howard City, Michigan
In Howard City, Michigan, Sandra Cooper, the creator of the addiction-related nonprofit Redemption Farms, is hosting a free sober community Thanksgiving event for individuals and families who would like to share a meal and celebrate gratitude, particularly those in recovery.
Cooper says, “I know food is really a struggle for some families right now . . . I just hope that people can join around a table and have a good meal with friendly faces and be able to keep their dignity.”
The event is designed not only to support guests through the sometimes challenging holiday season but also to connect them to a thriving sober community that will offer support, encouragement and connection all year round. For many, these connections can be the key to long-term sobriety.
Annual Drug Court Thanksgiving Luncheon in Clarksburg, West Virginia
The Drug Court Program for the Northern District of West Virginia hosted its own annual Thanksgiving luncheon on November 20, at First United Methodist Church of Clarksburg. Drug Court team members, participants and graduates of the program, along with their partners and families, enjoyed a spread of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing and sweet potatoes.
Centerpieces on each table were crafted by Drug Court graduates. The overall aim of the program is to rehabilitate those with nonviolent drug and alcohol offenses, providing them with the necessary resources for reintegration into the community. For many attendees, the yearly luncheon serves as a welcome opportunity to give thanks for second chances.
Find Affordable Recovery Programs Near You This Thanksgiving
If you’re looking for low and no-cost addiction recovery resources around the holidays, help is available. Explore affordable, high quality treatment centers in your area or call
800-914-7089
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today.
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Arizona Rehabs Expand Insurance Covered Treatment
Insurance providers and rehab centers are changing the landscape for residents needing recovery options in Arizona. One such center, Nirvana Recovery, provides addiction treatment that is covered by a wide range of insurance plans.
Making Addiction Treatment Affordable for Arizonans
For many families, financial resources can be completely exhausted trying to help loved ones find rehab that works. They spend not only their money, but also their time and emotional resources, trying different places that may or may not work. Unfortunately, many people in Arizona automatically think they cannot afford treatment.
These days, recovery centers are working with families to help them understand insurance benefits and how they may offset treatment costs. Existing plans with companies such as Blue Cross, Cigna, United, and Aetna offer these life-saving services.
Raising Awareness and Promoting Treatment Access
Treatment facilities are attempting to make it much easier for families to find the assistance they desperately need without all the hassle they might expect. These services range from inpatient to outpatient care and mental health support, which is frequently provided as part of recovery.
This news comes as a major game-changer to many families who previously thought treatment was unapproachable. Insurance accessibility quite literally allows hope where there may have been none before.
The Power of Recovery
Recovery centers offer the knowledge and help that save lives. Arizonans can receive quality addiction treatment all across the state through the support of programs like Nirvana Recovery, which has helped hundreds start the journey to sobriety. And in the process they’re ensuring that costs no longer have to be a barrier to care for those who need it most.
The insurance-friendly access included through Nirvana Recovery removes old treatment barriers and allows clients to receive proven treatment methods that bring them hope and accountability.
Centers like Nirvana Recovery often include detox, medical supervision, therapy, holistic techniques, fitness, nutrition and other resources to provide wraparound care that lasts after clients leave treatment.
Find Affordable Treatment in Arizona
If you or someone you know is experiencing addiction, your insurance plan may cover more treatment than you realize. Explore low cost or insurance covered rehab centers near you on Rehabs.org or call
800-914-7089
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today.
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North Carolina Veterans Get Free Addiction Help With New App
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) recently added targeted Veterans’ addiction recovery resources to the Connections app, reports say. Developed by CHESS Health for all North Carolina residents this free app offers ongoing support for anyone struggling with addiction or seeking treatment.
Members can easily access services on demand through the app. These include recovery tracking tools, peer support, worksheets, videos and more.
Expanding Accessible Support for North Carolina Veterans
The new initiative provides necessary services for Veterans battling addiction and mental health challenges. CHESS Health is offering a tailored training program through the app for healthcare providers and Veterans groups.
The training hosted by consultant and fellow Veteran, Garret Biss. Biss understands the unique difficulties Veterans face that can contribute to addiction and mental health conditions, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
He hopes to guide Veterans by helping them use their strengths as a source of power instead of focusing on their weaknesses. The app’s new additions hone in on helping Veterans who have experienced a traumatic transition recognize their worth and reconnect with society.
Reducing Stigma and Encouraging Treatment
Biss deeply understands that the path to addiction is different for everyone. Some Veterans may experience a specific event that leads them to addiction but many may experience issues that stem from multiple factors.
“I know there’s a lot of other Veterans that are suffering in the darkness,” he said. Biss strives to help remove the stigma that often deters Veterans from getting help. He believes that peer support resources and the app’s anonymity can erase some of the barriers Veterans face when seeking support.
The NCDHHS also plans to incorporate the Ask Me NC initiative. This strategy will encourage health providers and other professionals across North Carolina to ask their clients if they or a loved one has served in the military. These new initiatives can be a small force to change the outlook on addiction and mental health in the military community while offering essential support catered to Veterans’ diverse needs.
Find Affordable Veteran Recovery Options
If you’re a veteran looking for support, you are not alone. Many addiction treatment centers accept Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE, or offer income based programs to help reduce the cost of treatment.
Explore free, low cost and insurance covered treatment options for veterans on Rehabs.org, or call
800-914-7089
(Sponsored)
for immediate guidance. Recovery is possible and help is available today.
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