Alcohol Rehab Centers in Buffalo, New York

You have many options if you’re looking for alcohol rehab in Buffalo, NY. Numerous facilities offer quality treatment at varying costs. However, considering factors and deciding where to go can feel overwhelming.

Buffalo, NY, Alcohol Use Statistics

When it comes to alcohol use, residents of New York report a higher average than America as a whole. In 2020, New York reported nearly 22% of adults engaged in binge or heavy drinking, compared to the national average of 17.6%.^1,2 Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men on one occasion during the past 30 days.³

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be developed from heavy drinking or binge drinking. Statistics show that more than 10% of New York residents experienced AUD in 2017.²

Price of Alcohol Rehab in Buffalo, NY

The cost of Buffalo alcohol rehabs can vary greatly. Treatment programs range across detox, residential inpatient, outpatient, and ongoing counseling therapies.⁴ Treatment costs will differ based on the type of treatment you receive, and also on the rehab center. Buffalo offers free and low-cost rehabs as well as higher-end luxury rehabs.

Where Can I Find Low-Cost and Free Rehabs in Buffalo, NY?

New York has free, state-funded rehabs. When searching for “alcohol rehabs near me,” you will find that some Buffalo rehab centers are state-funded, while others require private pay or insurance coverage. To see a list of state-funded alcohol rehabs in your area, visit the government website, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and search the directory of New York free rehabs.⁵

Typically, you will need to meet certain requirements to receive free care. Some of these qualifications may include being a resident of Buffalo, having an income below a certain threshold, and meeting the criteria for needing the treatment you are seeking.

State-funded programs often do not provide the same amenities as luxury or private rehabs, but that does not mean they do not offer quality and effective treatment for alcohol addiction. Free rehabs offer evidence-based treatment and professional care for all patients.

Does Health Insurance Cover Alcohol Rehab in Buffalo?

Yes, most insurance policies will cover part of the rehab cost. This is true of both private insurance and government-provided insurance. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) recently mandated that all state-funded insurance policies, including Medicaid and Medicare, should provide coverage for addiction treatment.⁶

Medicaid

Medicaid is accepted in many places, considering it is the largest provider of insurance in America, with more than 72.5 million Americans enrolled.⁷ Both national and New York state funds support Medicaid programs in Buffalo, which means your Medicaid program may look different from another state’s program. To qualify for Medicaid, you must be in an eligible group such as low-income individuals, pregnant women, children, or those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI).⁷

The ACA requires that all Medicaid programs provide some level of treatment for alcohol addiction under their covered mental health services, which typically involve therapies and peer support groups.⁸

Medicare

Fully funded by the federal government, Medicare remains consistent from state to state. The qualifying groups that are eligible to receive Medicare are American citizens older than 65 years and those with qualifying disabilities. A Medicare insurance policy will cover alcohol rehab in Buffalo at the outpatient level, inpatient level, and medical detox treatment.⁸

Private Insurance

Private insurance policies are available through employers and the government health insurance exchange online. Most policies have some coverage for alcohol rehab in Buffalo, but you will have to look at your specific plan to see what insurance covers and what you are responsible for paying. Here is some guidance on the language typically found within insurance policies.

Co-pays

Co-pays are a determined amount of money set by your insurance company that you will pay at a healthcare appointment or when paying for a prescription.

Deductible

Deductibles are the amount of money set by your insurance company that you will pay out of pocket in healthcare costs before the insurance company begins to cover a percentage of the costs.

Co-insurance

Co-insurance is a percentage set by your insurance company, showing you the amount you will pay out of pocket and how much insurance will pay once you meet your deductible.

Out-of-pocket Maximum

Your insurance plan will begin covering 100% of healthcare costs once you reach the out-of-pocket maximum. This amount is also set by your insurance company and varies from plan to plan.

If you want to verify your health insurance coverage, please call 800-948-8417 Calls are forwarded to paid advertisers to speak to a specialist who will help you find a Buffalo alcohol rehab in your network.

If you have a health insurance card, you can find a phone number to call and speak to the insurance provider directly about your plan details and rehab costs.

Popular Alcohol Rehab Centers in Buffalo

You can find many quality treatment centers in Buffalo with an array of services, amenities, and payment options that fit your specific needs.

Horizon Village Terrace House

Horizon Village Terrace House is located in a metropolitan area and offers several great amenities, including rooms dedicated to yoga, meditation, art activities, and recreation. This alcohol rehab provides detox treatments as well as inpatient and aftercare support. It uses interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy, rational behavior therapy, and animal therapy.

Horizon Village is SAMHSA accredited and accepts Medicaid, Medicare, military, and private insurance. It also offers sliding-scale payments and financial aid to those who need it.

Margaret A Stutzman Addiction Treatment Center

The Margaret A Stutzman Addiction Treatment Center is a quality Buffalo, NY, alcohol rehab center that provides private transportation for all patients. It has specialized care for men, women, young adults, the elderly, and LGBTQ populations. Some of the care you can expect to receive here is detox treatment, inpatient services, aftercare support, cognitive behavioral therapy, and rational behavior therapy.

Margaret A Stutzman is SAMHSA-accredited and accepts Medicaid, Medicare, military, and private insurance. It also offers sliding scale payments and financial aid to those who need it.

ECMC Downtown Clinical Services

ECMC is a SAMHSA-accredited residential rehab that provides private transportation to patients who need it. It offers detox treatment as well as outpatient services and various forms of therapy. This rehab accepts Medicaid, Medicare, military, and private insurance. It also offers sliding-scale payments and financial aid to those who need it.

Cazenovia Recovery Casa Di Vita

Cazenovia is a residential rehab with a recreation room on site. It has recovery programs for young adults and women with alcohol addiction as well as dual diagnoses. This rehab offers aftercare support and sober living homes. It accepts Medicaid, Medicare, military insurance, and sliding-scale fees.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Alcohol Rehab in Buffalo

Treatment in a rehab facility ranges in levels of care, from the most intensive inpatient programs to less intensive outpatient programs.

Inpatient care means staying overnight at the facility and receiving around-the-clock care from medical professionals. An inpatient stay can range from a few weeks all the way up to a year, depending on what the treatment team recommends.

Outpatient treatment allows you to return home at the end of each day of treatment sessions. The highest level of outpatient care is a partial hospitalization program (PHP), which provides similar intensity as an inpatient program but without an overnight stay. An intensive outpatient program (IOP) will have slightly fewer treatment appointments per week than a PHP but will still provide a higher level of care than a standard outpatient program.

Advantages of Inpatient Addiction Treatment

The advantages of inpatient addiction treatment are many. While staying at a rehab center, you are fully immersed in the environment that provides routines and structure helpful in creating healthier habits once treatment is complete.

Some of the other unique advantages of inpatient treatment include:^9,10

Medically assisted detox to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms
Development of a peer support community
An environment free of triggers and access to alcohol
Evidence of greater treatment success
24-hour access to treatment staff and medical professionals
Additional treatment for any dual diagnoses (such as depression or anxiety) that may coincide with your alcohol use disorder

Inpatient treatment is usually recommended for those who lack a supportive home environment. It is also most helpful if your alcohol use has a severe impact on your daily life. Your treatment team will recommend the best level of care depending on your assessment.

Disadvantages of Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient care offers advantages, but there are also some disadvantages. Inpatient treatment is usually more expensive than outpatient simply because of the amount of time spent at the rehab. You pay for 24-hour access to care throughout the duration of your stay. While it can be expensive, many inpatient facilities will work with you and what you can afford.

Inpatient care also requires a greater commitment of time in recovery that may disrupt regular family, work, or school obligations. There is not as much flexibility in your daily schedule, and you will need support from friends, family, and employers to engage in this level of treatment.

Advantages of Outpatient Addiction Treatment

Outpatient treatment has its advantages over inpatient care as well. While in an outpatient program, you maintain some flexibility over your schedule from day to day and may still be able to keep up with your usual life obligations. You also return to the comfort and privacy of your own home at the end of each day.

Another advantage of outpatient care is the cost. Most outpatient programs will cost less than inpatient since you spend less time at the facility. You will also have more opportunities to practice your new coping skills in real-life scenarios while still receiving the support of a treatment team throughout the week.

Outpatient is an appropriate treatment choice if your alcohol addiction is not severe and you have a good support system at home. Sometimes, your treatment team may recommend starting at the inpatient level and stepping down to outpatient care.

Disadvantages of Outpatient Rehab

The main disadvantage of outpatient rehab is that it provides a lower intensity of care. Your home environment outside of rehab may have a lot of triggers that make it harder to abstain from drinking. You will also have access to alcohol when outside of the rehab facility.

In outpatient treatment, you will have to wait until your next scheduled session to process through any issues that arise, as compared to the immediate care you receive when in an inpatient program.

When determining which is better for you, inpatient or outpatient, it is best to consult your doctor and follow any recommendations.

Types of Alcohol Rehabs in Buffalo

Aside from levels of treatment, different types of Buffalo alcohol rehabs have different specializations. Your treatment needs are unique, so learning about the specialized care that exists can help you decide which rehab is best for you.

Here are some of the more common types of rehabs you can find in Buffalo.

Faith-Based and Christian Rehab

If your faith is an important part of every other area of your life, rehab should not be any different. Buffalo offers several faith-based and Christian rehabs that will integrate tenants of Christianity into treatment interventions.

This might include times of prayer and meditation, worship services, or meetings with pastors and spiritual leaders as part of your recovery.

Luxury Rehab

Luxury rehabs offer exactly what it sounds like — a luxurious, resort-like environment during your recovery. These facilities offer special amenities such as gourmet food options, massage therapists, personal trainers, private rooms, and low staff-to-patient ratios. Because of these amenities, luxury rehab is usually expensive and often requires private insurance or self-pay.

Executive Rehab

Executive rehabs offer an environment perfect for a business professional who wants the flexibility to continue working throughout the treatment process. At an executive rehab, you’ll find programs that work around patients’ schedules and allow for private spaces and access to technology and other supplies needed to complete work tasks on site.

Holistic Rehab

Holistic rehabs focus on treating the whole person by considering your spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being. Along with traditional therapies and medicines, a holistic rehab might also offer alternative interventions such as acupuncture, supplements, or herbal remedies to help you recover.

Dual Diagnosis Rehab

A dual diagnosis rehab will have trained staff and quality programs created to treat multiple conditions at once. Many people with alcohol use disorder also have a co-occurring mental health condition, as seen in these statistics:^{11,12,13,14,15}

More than 20% of adults with alcohol dependence also had a major depressive disorder.
People with anxiety are twice as likely to have a substance use disorder than those without anxiety.
You are three times more likely to misuse drugs or alcohol if you have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Up to 70% of people with bipolar disorder also have a history of substance use disorder.
Between 65% and 90% of those treated for substance use disorder also have a co-occurring personality disorder.

Simultaneous treatment of all conditions present gives you the best chance at a full recovery. Look for a treatment center that provides dual diagnosis care.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combines addiction treatment medications with other interventions such as therapy. MAT has proven to be effective at:¹⁶

Preventing overdose deaths
Keeping patients in treatment longer
Decreasing illegal drug use
Improving patients’ employment situations
Improving birth outcomes among pregnant women with substance use disorders

Naltrexone for Alcohol Addiction

Naltrexone is an FDA-approved drug used to treat both alcohol use disorder (AUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD). Any licensed physician and prescribe this drug for you. It is not as regulated as methadone because it is not addictive, and you won’t experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it.

For OUD, naltrexone works by blocking the euphoric and sedative effects of opioids. Doctors recommend that you wait 7 to 14 days after your last use of an opioid before starting naltrexone.¹⁹

For AUD, naltrexone binds to endorphin receptors in your brain and blocks the effects of alcohol in your body to curb cravings. Doctors recommend that you complete the alcohol detox process before you begin naltrexone.

Antabuse (Disulfiram) for Alcohol Addiction

Antabuse, or disulfiram, is another FDA-approved drug used to treat alcohol use disorder. Antabuse works by causing unpleasant side effects if you drink alcohol while also taking the drug. These side effects discourage you from drinking alcohol to avoid unpleasant symptoms. The side effects will appear within 10 minutes after you drink alcohol and could last for up to an hour.

The unpleasant side effects include:²⁰

Flushing of the face
Headache
Stomach problems like nausea or vomiting
Chest pain
Muscle weakness
Blurry vision
Confusion
Sweating
Choking or difficulty breathing
Feeling anxious

Any licensed physician can prescribe this medication for you.

Acamprosate for Alcohol Use Disorder

Acamprosate is given to patients who have stopped drinking to help their brains repair and function normally again. This drug helps reverse the damage that occurs when you drink alcohol in large amounts over time.

Any licensed physician can prescribe acamprosate for you if needed.

Should I Travel to Buffalo for Alcohol Treatment?

How do you know if traveling to Buffalo for alcohol treatment is the best choice for you? Here are some things to consider:

Is treatment offered near where you live?
Do you have people in Buffalo whom you want to be near during your treatment?
Does your insurance cover rehab in Buffalo?
Would you like to attend a rehab away from where you live for privacy reasons?

Neighborhoods in Buffalo to Consider for Alcohol Addiction Treatment

At the top of our list is Elmwood, home to gorgeous houses and a multitude of quaint local shops and dining establishments. Or check out the Five Points neighborhood if you want all of the above plus wonderful artist spaces. If you want a smaller town feel, try Springville, south of downtown and a bit more rural. This neighborhood has flea markets, farms, dining, and awesome art installations such as the Griffis Sculpture Park.

Alcohol Laws in Buffalo

Good Samaritan Law

The New York State 911 Good Samaritan Law allows people to call 911 without fear of arrest if they are having a drug or alcohol overdose that requires emergency medical care or if they witness someone overdosing.

Sentencing Alternatives

The Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives (DPCA) funds and oversees alternative correctional programs throughout New York, including Buffalo. These programs are often referred to as Alternative to Incarceration or ATI programs. Alcohol rehab is one of these ATI programs currently offered.

Employment Protection

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave to seek medical attention for a substance use disorder.

Seeking treatment is important and shouldn’t be hindered by barriers such as the cost of treatment or fear of losing your job. Many programs can help you afford treatment, and laws exist to protect your job while you receive the care you need.

If you or someone you know needs help with alcohol addiction, please call 800-948-8417 Calls are forwarded to paid advertisers to speak to a specialist about what treatment is right for you.

Resources

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). NEW YORK State-Specific Tables
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2017). 2016-2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health National Maps of Prevalence Estimates, by State
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Drinking Levels Defined | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (nih.gov). National Institutes of Health.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Types of Treatment Programs.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Single State Agency Directory
Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). Mental health and substance abuse health coverage options.
Medicaid.gov. (n.d.). Eligibility Medicaid.
Mentalhealth.gov. (n.d.). Health Insurance and Mental Health Services.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2016). Chapter 6: Health Care Systems and Substance Use Disorders. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). Office of the Surgeon General (US). Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health.
Gray, C., & Argaez, C. (2019). Residential Treatment for Substance Use Disorder: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health.
Pettinati, H. M., & Dundon, W. D. (2011). Comorbid depression and alcohol dependence. Psychiatric Times, 28(6).
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2008). Comorbidity: Addiction and Other Mental Illnesses
Gielen, N., Havermans, R. C., Tekelenburg, M., & Jansen, A. (2012). Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among patients with substance use disorder: it is higher than clinicians think it is. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 3, 10.3402/ejpt, v3i0, 17734.
Ostacher, M. J., & Sachs, G. S. (2006). Update on bipolar disorder and substance abuse: recent findings and treatment strategies. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 67(9).
Goretti, S., Sanchéz, M. D. C. S., Borja, P. L., Rivera, G. B., & Lara, M. R. (2017). The relationship between personality disorders and substance abuse disorders. European Psychiatry, 41(S473-S474).
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022, March 10). Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022, April 13). Methadone.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022, April 21). Buprenorphine.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022, April 21). Naltrexone.
National Library of Medicine. (2017, August 15). Disulfiram: MedlinePlus Drug Information. National Institutes of Health.