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Free rehabs in South Dakota are proving that community-based treatment can work, even in small towns far from major metro areas. While The Mount Rushmore State features a wide range of low-cost inpatient and outpatient facilities, a neighborly approach can make treatment far more accessible for vulnerable folks.
In Watertown, a growing network is doing just that. Nonprofits, peer support specialists and law enforcement partnerships are helping residents overcome opioid addiction without requiring large out-of-pocket costs.
A Nonprofit Network Fills the Treatment Gap
Watertown, a city of roughly 25,000 in eastern South Dakota, may not be the first place people associate with the opioid crisis. But like other communities across the country, Dakotans here have felt the epidemic’s reach. Fortunately, locals have built a safety net in response.
At the center of that network is Brothers and Sisters Behind Bars, a nonprofit offering free addiction recovery support and basic needs assistance for people leaving the criminal justice system. Located in downtown, Brothers and Sisters Behind Bars operates a sober living house and connects clients to peer support services at no cost.
Next door sits Codington Connects, a community services organization serving Codington County that can help residents navigate local resources. Services include low-cost rehabs and mental health support.
Cali is a 26-year-old peer support specialist and licensed community health worker at Brothers and Sisters Behind Bars. She credits this type of integrated care with saving her life. After years of heroin addiction and cycling through the justice system, Cali found stability. Her answer: drug treatment court combined with the sober living resources offered by the nonprofit.
“It’s like the little breath that you get in all of the chaos,” she said of having access to multiple recovery options at once.
She graduated from drug court with more than 600 days of sobriety, which she says wouldn’t have happened without free resources available alongside formal treatment.
Qualifying for Free or Low-Cost Treatment
Many people don’t realize that low-cost treatment options exist outside of traditional inpatient rehab centers. Programs like Brothers and Sisters Behind Bars typically serve:
- People involved in the criminal justice system, including those in drug treatment court
- Individuals on Medicaid, which covers many substance use disorder services in South Dakota
- Uninsured or underinsured residents who can’t afford private rehab centers
- People transitioning out of incarceration who need sober living support
In South Dakota, over 28% of those incarcerated are due to drug-related offenses. For women, that number rises to 51%. Community-based rehabs and reentry programs are the most accessible option for this population.
Law Enforcement & Social Workers Connect People to Free Resources
Watertown’s police department recognized that responding to repeat drug-related calls without connecting people to treatment had created a revolving door. Using opioid settlement funds, the department designated social workers and mental health officers to respond to drug- and mental health-related calls.
These two staff members now actively refer people to free rehabs near them. Enrollees can sign up for behavioral therapies and specialized programs for groups like veterans and LGBTQ members. Collectively, these services create a bridge between crisis response and community care that didn’t exist before.
“The worst thing for a police department is not to do anything to address the issue,” noted Watertown Police Chief Tim Toomey.
Free Rehabs in South Dakota & Nationwide
If you or someone you love has an addiction in South Dakota or anywhere in the country, reach out. Free and low-cost treatment options are available. Dial
800-914-7089
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to speak with an expert or browse our directory to find affordable care in any location.
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