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If you are searching for alcohol rehab in Austin, we can help. Every year, thousands of individuals will be treated for alcohol use disorder in Austin; with a warm climate, great amenities, a walkable downtown, and world-class treatment centers, it is an excellent choice when looking for alcohol rehab in Texas.

Austin Alcohol Use Statistics

Excessive drinking is a major concern in both Austin and Texas as a whole, particularly in the teenage population. According to 2021 research by Austin’s Travis County Government, 71% of teens reported having used alcohol at some time in their lives. Car crashes, violence, and suicide related to alcohol are the three biggest causes of death among young Americans, and Texas has the highest number of youth fatalities in alcohol-related crashes in the nation. Texas adults also show some troubling trends, with 25% of those between 18-44 years old reporting engaging in excessive drinking in 2020. These numbers make it clear: there is a high prevalence of heavy drinking in the state, and many of these individuals would benefit from treatment at alcohol rehab.

Cost of Alcohol Rehab in Austin

Your out-of-pocket costs for alcohol rehab in Austin can vary wildly, depending on a variety of factors. In general, inpatient rehabs, particularly luxury rehabs that offer many extra amenities, will carry the highest costs for treatment. Less intensive outpatient rehabs, on the other hand, will be less expensive, as they do not provide housing, meals, or round-the-clock medical support that residential programs have. There are also a variety of options to reduce your rehab costs, such as insurance, payment plans, and low-cost or free rehabs. To get a better idea of the costs you will have for rehab, consult your health insurance provider, contact the rehabs you are interested in attending, and call us at 800-948-8417 Who Answers? to help you through the process.

Low-Cost and Free Alcohol Rehabs in Austin

Rehab is often not an inexpensive affair, particularly inpatient programs. The ability to pay for treatment is one of the biggest and most common barriers keeping people from pursuing the kind of treatment they need for their alcohol use disorder. Thankfully, there are several rehabs in the greater Austin area that either offer low-cost treatment services or provide their treatments entirely free. This is thanks in large part to state and federal grants and private donations, which fund the operation of the facility and allow them to make treatment services as accessible as possible. The caveat is that these low-cost or free programs are generally only available to individuals who can demonstrate financial hardship; if your income is above a certain level, you may not qualify for these types of services. To determine if you can participate in this kind of treatment, contact the rehab directly, or call us at 800-948-8417 Who Answers? for help.

How Do I Pay for Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Austin?

Still worried about affording alcohol rehab in Austin? There are more options to help with the costs.

Choose a rehab that offers payment plans
Apply for a rehab scholarship
Find a rehab that charges on a sliding scale
Use a crowdfunding site to raise money

Choose a Program that Offers Payment Plans

While they won’t lower the total cost of treatment, payment plans make paying for treatment more manageable by breaking it up into monthly payments over a longer period. Rather than paying for your full treatment up front, a program that offers payment plans will allow you to pay for it in monthly installments, over an agreed-upon time, until you have paid off your balance. This way, your ability to pursue treatment is not limited by a lack of money upfront; if you can afford the monthly payment, you can get treatment.

Apply for a Rehab Scholarship

Rehab scholarships are another way to get financial assistance for alcohol rehab in Austin, but much like free and low-cost programs, they are generally only available to people who have limited financial means to afford treatment. Scholarships are usually offered by individual rehabs but are also sometimes offered by corporations that own and manage multiple rehabs and nonprofits. If you are interested in applying for a rehab scholarship, you will need to contact each facility, corporation, or nonprofit to determine if you qualify and to learn the application process.

Find a Sliding Scale Rehab Program

Like low-cost programs, sliding scale rehab programs offer lower treatment costs for individuals with limited financial means. The difference, however, is that the cost of treatment will scale up or down based on individual income, meaning that people who make more money will pay more for treatment, while people with lower incomes will pay less for treatment. This setup allows rehab facilities to make enough money to cover their operating costs while making their prices more reasonable for various income levels.

Popular Alcohol Rehab Centers in Austin

Recovery Unplugged

The mission of Recovery Unplugged is to utilize the power of music to help its clients overcome the grip of substance use. Utilizing music-assisted treatments as a therapeutic option, their staff of music intervention specialists applies evidence-based sound theory to help clients become activated, energized, and reconnected. Additionally, all their therapies are medication-assisted treatment friendly.

Spearhead Lodge

Spearhead Lodge provides long-term, evidence-based addiction treatment services to young men whose lives have been significantly impacted by substance use and co-occurring disorders. They believe that for young men to fully embrace their recovery, they must be motivated through the envisioning of what their life can be. Throughout their 90-day program, they assist clients in taking action to set and achieve their own goals through a blend of traditional and alternative therapeutic approaches.

The Arbor

Established in 2009, The Arbor is a luxury residential treatment, where they believe that keeping people comfortable is the best way to assist them as they transition into recovery. Their substance use recovery programs help people address their mental health concerns, rebuild their self-image, make genuine connections with fellow patients in recovery, handle life’s responsibilities, and move forward in their lives.

La Haciendas Solutions

The Intensive Outpatient Programs at La Haciendas Solutions allow individuals to pursue treatment while continuing to work and live in their home community. The cornerstones of their program include group and individual therapies, educational lectures, and 12-step program philosophy, centered around an individualized approach to treatment. Their program allows patients to explore personal issues which contribute to the cycle of substance use and encourages the inclusion of family members to work on issues central to a healthy recovery.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Alcohol Rehab in Austin

Inpatient and outpatient alcohol rehabs in Austin both work to assist people in their recovery from alcohol use disorder, though to different degrees of intensity and structure. Inpatient rehab is heavily structured, provides a high level of support, and removes you from your current environment, whereas outpatient therapy is more flexible, gives you more time and independence in between sessions, and allows you to return home each night. Each setting offers its own unique benefits that make it appropriate for certain individuals, depending on their needs and preferences.

Benefits of Inpatient Addiction Treatment

Inpatient alcohol rehab offers several distinct benefits, particularly if you need a more supportive and structured environment. These benefits may include:

A high level of structure and daily routine
24/7 support from medical staff
Access to a variety of in-house treatment options
A strong sense of community with staff and other patients
No access to drugs or alcohol
Amenities such as fitness rooms, pools, outdoor spaces, and recreation equipment

Benefits of Outpatient Addiction Treatment

Outpatient rehab can be a more appropriate setting if you require less intensive treatment and need more flexibility with your schedule and daily responsibilities. It offers several key benefits, such as:

The ability to maintain professional and household responsibilities
You can keep many of your previous routines and commitments
More access to support from friends and family
Greater emphasis on maintaining recovery long-term in your natural environment
The ability to build a strong local support network outside of rehab

Types of Alcohol Rehabs in Austin

Holistic Rehab

Rather than focusing on singular elements or symptoms of your alcohol use disorder, holistic alcohol rehab treats you as a “whole person” by addressing the issue from every angle, to improve the health of your mind, body, and spirit, in addition, to directly treating your alcohol dependence. The holistic approach operates under the philosophy that treatment outcomes have the best results when all areas of health and wellness are integrated into treatment. This can include hiking and other outdoor activities, meditation and mindfulness training, individual and group therapy, educational programs, and more. If you are looking for the kind of setting that will treat you as a unique person with multiple needs, holistic rehab can be a great choice.

Christian and Faith-Based Rehab

Do you look to a higher power for guidance when you are struggling? Do you want to pursue treatment for alcohol use disorder, but worry it won’t consider your faith in God? Then faith-based rehab is likely the right type of rehab for you. These treatment programs still follow evidence-based practices and offer the highest quality treatment, they simply do so in the context of your religious beliefs. Not only will God be a central component of your recovery process, but you will also be surrounded by staff and other patients who share your faith and values. Incorporating religious doctrine into alcohol rehab can be a very effective way to make the process meaningful and impactful to you if you desire a faith-based setting.

Luxury Rehab

Luxury rehabs are resort-style facilities that offer a high level of comfort and relaxation for those who are looking for a safe space to recover from alcohol use disorder. In addition to standard evidence-based therapies like individual and group counseling, medication therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy, they often offer a much wider variety of treatment options such as art therapy, equine therapy, music therapy, recreational therapy, acupuncture, meditation, yoga, and more. This is all offered in a luxurious setting which may have amenities like private accommodations, pool and spa access, outdoor recreation, and private trainers and fitness studios. These facilities are a popular choice for celebrities to pursue their recovery, but anyone who is looking for maximum comfort while they receive treatment can benefit from a luxury rehab facility.

Executive Rehab

Individuals in high-powered positions such as CEOs, business owners, and politicians often have work responsibilities they simply cannot step away from for long periods. This can make alcohol rehab a difficult proposition because residential programs can be restrictive in providing access and contact to the outside world during the treatment process. Executive rehabs, on the other hand, are residential treatment programs that take the needs and priorities of these high-powered positions into account and provide a setting in which work responsibilities can be maintained during treatment. They do so with highly trained management and staff, and access to business amenities like phones, computers, faxes, and access to conference rooms. Treatment schedules are individualized and created specifically to accommodate your business needs, so you can receive the intensive treatment you need without sacrificing your professional duties.

Dual Diagnosis Rehab

Alcohol use disorders often develop as the result of coping mechanisms for dealing with other mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Research shows that nearly 40% of individuals diagnosed with alcohol use disorder are also suffering from a co-occurring mental health disorder. Dual diagnosis rehab specializes in diagnosing and addressing these multiple co-occurring disorders to create a truly personalized treatment program that addresses every aspect of your mental health. Without adequate consideration of additional mental health disorders, treatment for alcohol use disorder is much less effective, highlighting the importance of dual diagnosis rehab for anyone who demonstrates additional mental health issues. If you feel you are struggling with a mental health disorder in addition to alcohol dependence, dual diagnosis rehab is critical in getting you the most effective treatment for your individual situation.²

Depression and Alcohol Use Disorder

Many people with depression resort to alcohol to cope, as demonstrated by the 32% of people with alcohol use disorder also showing signs of a diagnosable depressive disorder. The two disorders are extremely interrelated and co-occur together all too often, which can compound the negative effects of both and make it very difficult to pursue treatment. For those with both a depressive and alcohol use disorder, finding a dual diagnosis rehab center should be the number one priority, as treatment of one without the other will provide less-than-ideal results.³

Anxiety and Alcoholism

Anxiety is another mental health disorder that can cause people to cope with alcohol and develop a co-occurring alcohol use disorder. Anxiety disorders are so prevalent with people exhibiting alcohol dependence, that those seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder have a roughly one in two chance they meet diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder as well. Much like depression, a diagnosis of anxiety deserves extra consideration when treating alcohol use disorder, meaning clinicians and rehabs need to be aware of the high likelihood of a co-occurring anxiety disorder. Dual diagnosis rehab is highly appropriate for anyone with anxiety and alcohol use issues, as they will consider all possible disorders and treat them accordingly.

PTSD and Alcohol Addiction

According to research, Veterans who have been diagnosed with PTSD are more likely to have alcohol use disorder, and people with alcohol use disorder are more likely to develop PTSD. In the private sector, an astounding 75% of civilians who survived traumatic events report issues with alcohol use, and roughly 60-80% of Vietnam veterans who are in treatment for PTSD demonstrate behavior consistent with alcohol use disorder. These statistics show that PTSD and alcohol use disorder are very commonly co-occurring disorders, both in Veterans and the general population alike.⁵

If you have survived traumatic events and/or been diagnosed with PTSD and struggle with alcohol dependence, just know that this is extremely common, and there is hope. Veterans should contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to obtain appropriate treatment, and civilians should pursue treatment at a dual diagnosis rehab or one that specializes specifically in treating patients with PTSD.

Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol dependence is very common among people living with bipolar disorder, with as many as 70% of these individuals meeting the criteria for a diagnosable alcohol use disorder. This can make for a very challenging treatment process, as bipolar disorder can be a difficult mental health condition to navigate on its own; adding alcohol use disorder to the mix makes specialized treatment even more important for achieving recovery.

If you have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder or suspect you may have a similar condition in addition to alcohol dependence, consult with a dual diagnosis rehab or a rehab that advertises treatment of bipolar disorder as a specialty. Treatment of these two disorders together may include specific therapy, counseling, and mood-stabilizing medication to allow for a smoother, more successful recovery than treatments that ignore the bipolar disorder aspect.

Personality Disorders and Addiction

The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions shows that 42% of people who exhibit a personality disorder like borderline personality disorder also meet the criteria for diagnosis of alcohol use disorder. Likewise, nearly 70% of individuals with antisocial personalities demonstrated behavior consistent with alcohol use disorder.⁷ Like other mental health disorders, these personality disorders are very often tied to coping mechanisms with alcohol, leading to co-occurring disorders. Dual diagnosis or specialized rehabs are highly appropriate for anyone exhibiting characteristics of a personality disorder in addition to their alcohol dependence.

What Types of Therapy Are Used in Alcohol Addiction Treatment?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is evidence-based for treating alcohol use disorder. It is based on the principle that psychological problems are, in part, based on unhelpful ways of thinking and patterns of unhelpful behavior, and that people can learn better ways of coping to become more effective in life. In essence, CBT teaches you to recognize distortions in your thinking that are leading to unhelpful thoughts and behavior and teaches you to re-evaluate your thoughts and gain a better understanding of your motivation and behaviors to develop improved coping skills. With these new coping skills, you are more equipped to handle difficult situations, avoid relapses, and trust your own thoughts and abilities with an improved sense of confidence and understanding.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a form of CBT that specifically focuses on living your life “in the moment.” This is done through mindfulness training, which teaches how to take a mental “step back” so you can pay attention to your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings in nonjudgmental ways. In this way, you learn to objectively assess situations and react without bursts of emotion, giving you more tools and power over your sobriety and reducing the risk of relapse during stressful events.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

Motivational Enhancement Therapy is specifically used for individuals who are struggling with alcohol use disorder but are not yet self-motivated enough to seek treatment. It works with patients to evoke feelings of self-motivational statements and works to create an internally motivated desire to pursue treatment. This type of therapy typically begins with an initial assessment and two to four follow-up sessions in which the goal is to foster a personal interest and commitment to recovery. If you are feeling ambivalent about pursuing treatment, this may be the right start for you.

Contingency Management

Contingency management (CM) interventions use rewards to incentivize staying on the path to recovery. Participants will typically win cash, gift cards, or prizes for achieving treatment goals, such as remaining sober for several days or weeks. Achievements can build up over time for larger and larger rewards, increasing the incentives and helping to maintain interest and engagement in the treatment process. Certain rehabs will offer contingency management, but any individual or organization can assist a person in recovery by organizing this kind of system of goals and incentives.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is a common component of many alcohol rehabs in Austin. It can come in several different forms depending on the setting, clinicians, and treatment population, though they generally all involve small to large groups of fellow patients in recovery. Group therapy works to create a network in which you can experience a sense of understanding, belonging, and support both in and outside of the rehab setting. It does this through educational groups, discussion and support groups with others in recovery, and peer/mentor groups to involve others who have been in recovery for a long period.

Family Therapy

Family therapy involves therapy sessions with members of your family and a therapist who can help you and your family resolve issues. Alcohol use disorders can often be heavily influenced by family dynamics, so addressing family issues can often help to resolve underlying problems which may have fueled alcohol dependence in the first place. These sessions facilitate open and honest discussion with a licensed therapist who can help guide the process of recovery both for the family and the individual in treatment, leading to improved outcomes in treatment, and a stronger support network to help maintain recovery after discharge.

Should I Travel to Austin for Alcohol Rehab?

Many individuals travel to Austin for alcohol rehab each year. This may be for many different reasons, including a change of scenery, needing a larger city with more facilities and treatment options, having insurance accepted in Austin, and wanting to be near friends or family in the area who can offer housing and/or/or support. The major benefit of traveling to Austin for rehab is that it removes you from your current environment, which is likely full of triggers and negative associations that contributed to your alcohol use disorder. Pursuing treatment in another area gives you a clean slate for recovery, rather than keeping you in the setting where your problems began.

Neighborhood Considerations for Treatment in Austin

Austin is home to many diverse, unique, and beautiful neighborhoods, and boasts high walkability combined with rail and bus services. Hyde Park, Old Enfield, and Triangle State are among the safest neighborhoods in Austin, with access to a wide variety of sights, restaurants, and rehab programs. To the south, Dawson, West Congress, and Bouldin Creek offer lovely walkable neighborhoods and a variety of rehab programs to choose from, with proximity to the downtown area and easy transportation options.

Alcohol Laws in Austin

Over the past decade, the state of Texas has passed legislation focusing on protections and increased treatment referrals that can help those in Austin dealing with alcohol use disorder.

Texas law H.B. No. 1694 protects anyone who contacts emergency services to report an alcohol overdose by ensuring they will not face legal consequences for the act.
The Sandra Bland Act, signed into law in 2017, requires local courts to make an immediate assessment of the mental health status of a new inmate to divert those who have a mental illness or substance use disorder to appropriate treatment services instead of jail or prison.
Texans liable to harm themselves or their loved ones through alcohol use can be ordered into treatment by a judge if they demonstrate a sufficient lack of judgment and a high risk of harm.

If you’re searching for alcohol rehab in Austin, we can help narrow down your options. Give us a call at 800-948-8417 Who Answers? to speak to a knowledgeable rehab support specialist today.

Resources

Travis County Texas Government. (2021). Underage Drinking Prevention.
Klimkiewicz, A., Klimkiewicz, J., Jakubczyk, A., Kieres-Salomoński, I., & Wojnar, M. (2015). Comorbidity of alcohol dependence with other psychiatric disorders, part I – epidemiology of dual diagnosis. Psychiatria Polska, 49, 265–275.
McHugh, R. (2019). Alcohol use disorder and depressive disorders. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 40(1).
Anker, J. (2019). Co-occurring alcohol use disorder and anxiety: Bridging the psychiatric, psychological, and neurobiological perspectives. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 40(1).
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2021). PTSD and Problems with Alcohol Use.
Grunze, H., Schaefer, M., Scherk, H., Born, C., & Preuss, U. W. (2021). Comorbid bipolar and alcohol use disorder—a therapeutic challenge. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12.
Helle, A. (2019). Alcohol use disorder and antisocial and borderline personality disorders. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews, 40(1).