Free and Low-Cost Drug and Alcohol Rehab Facilities in New Jersey

Unfortunately, of the millions of Americans that need specialized treatment for substance addiction, only a fraction receives it. One of the top barriers to treatment is that people simply can’t afford it.

On this page, we’ll discuss free rehab options, who qualifies for free drug rehab, and provide some resources for finding free drug rehab centers.

Are There Free Rehab Options?

Yes. There are government-funded rehab centers that may provide treatment services for free. However, the waiting list to get admitted to these centers is often long and they are likely not as comfortable as private options.

Due to federal mandates, most insurance companies (e.g., making rehab costs manageable for many people that would not have been able to afford it.

Government-Funded Free Rehab Options

While the cost of treatment can seem overwhelming, there are various ways to seek help for addiction to drugs or alcohol, even if you don’t have insurance. One of the ways to find government-assisted or free rehab options is to use the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) treatment directory. An anonymous and confidential source on substance use treatment, the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator provides info on treatment throughout the United States.

Single State Agencies (SSAs) for Substance Use Services is a directory that provides contact information for the state government agencies that manage the delivery of addiction treatment services to uninsured or low-income individuals. Call your state agency to find out about any government-funded rehab centers where you may be able to obtain free or low-cost treatment.

You may also find free or state-sponsored rehab centers, outpatient, or sober living facilities via Single State Agencies (SSAs) for Substance Use Services. Please note – Our parent company, American Addiction Centers, owns and maintains Rehabs.com.

There are various options available to help cover the cost of treatment. These include the following:

• SAMHSA grants.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. – Learn more about how VA Mission Act partners with addiction treatment facilities, like Sunrise House, to provide addiction support for US veterans.
• State and locally funded addiction treatment programs.
• The Affordable Care Act.
• Medicare and Medicaid.

For those who do not have insurance or the funds to pay for alcohol and drug rehab, there is free drug and alcohol rehab that is available.

How Many Rehab Facilities Offer Free Rehab?

In order to discover how many substance use rehab facilities offer free services, in 2018 SAMHSA performed a national survey that received responses from 14,809 facilities across the country, with 45% reporting they provided free or minimal payment treatment for those who could not cover the cost of rehab. Of these rehabs, private, for-profit facilities provided almost ¼ of that treatment.³

In addition, 58% of facilities reported they offer other options, including a sliding fee scale, which allows patients to pay an amount based on what they can afford.³ Although not all facilities provide free treatment, there are low-cost and free options.

How to Qualify for Free Drug Rehab and Alcohol Rehab

Treatment centers that are run by nonprofit organizations will often provide payment support to those who need services. Some nonprofits offer free treatment at their rehab centers or through scholarships at private facilities. Many religious organizations provide free faith-based substance use treatment as part of their community services.

Most government-funded rehab programs have strict requirements for eligibility. Proof of US citizenship, lack of insurance/adequate insurance, income, and state residency are typically required.

Only eligible veterans who receive care from the Veterans Administration can qualify for Veterans Alcohol and Drug Dependence Rehabilitation Programs.⁴ These addiction treatment programs are free and offer services including detox, psychiatric care, and rehab.

Rehab Scholarships

Individual facilities might provide scholarships that cover all or a portion of the cost of treatment.

Contact a facility to inquire about whether scholarships are available.

Using Medicare or Medicaid to Pay for Rehab

Medicare and Medicaid are government-funded benefit programs that enable certain demographics to obtain free or low-cost healthcare services.⁵ Like with private insurance, patients are limited to facilities that accept their coverage.

Learn more on our page regarding Medicaid and Medicare-covered addiction treatment in New Jersey.

What to Do if You Can’t Afford Rehab

There are alternate resources available for individuals who want to get sober but cannot afford the cost of rehab. For example, many treatment facilities will work with patients to create an individual payment plan that may include options such as payment assistance, sliding scales, or private financing.

Additional options for individuals to obtain treatment include the following:

• Insurance. This can be obtained through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace or an employer.
• COBRA. If you’ve lost your job, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) allows you to retain the health insurance your company provided, albeit at the full premium price. Because mental health and substance use treatment are considered essential benefits of health insurance, you should be able to find a facility that accepts insurance.
• Online or telehealth treatment. The cost is usually lower than it would be for traditional treatment programs and can vary depending on what the program offers. However, in order to find benefits, individuals must be motivated and disciplined because the programs are self-administered.
• Financing or cash. While a loan must be paid back and usually involves interest, it might be worth it to look into what options are available to you so that you can reclaim your health. Many addiction treatment providers offer financing options to help with the cost of addiction rehab.
• 12-Step Programs and non-religious self-help and support groups. These programs often provide support once individuals are in recovery, but there is possible assistance that might be provided.
• Friends and family. It might be possible to borrow money from family and friends to pay for treatment.

Sunrise House allows you to conveniently check your insurance using the or see whether you qualify for financing options by completing the questionnaire below.

Qualifying Life Events

You may be experiencing an event in your life that allows you to apply for insurance outside of yearly open enrollment. Qualifying life events, or QLE’s, include the following:

• Loss of health coverage
• Changes in household (getting married/divorced, having a baby/adopting, death in the family)
• Changes in residence (moving to a different zip code/country, a student moving to or from where they attend school, a seasonal working moving to or from where they work, moving to or from a shelter/transitional home)

Other qualifying events:

• Changes in income that affect the coverage you qualify for
• Gaining membership in a federally recognized tribe or status as an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Corporation shareholder
• Becoming a U.S. citizen
• Leaving incarceration
• AmeriCorps members starting/ending their service

To determine if you have a qualifying life event, call 800-318-2596 or visit Qualifying Life Events to learn how to apply. 

Free Addiction Rehab Centers & Services in NJ

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): Though AA isn’t an actual treatment program, it can be a valuable source of support for those in recovery. It is one of the longest-running treatment and recovery support groups in the world. This international organization offers free meetings in many locations. Use their meeting finder to focus on New Jersey meeting locations.
• Addictions Hotline of New Jersey: This is a free telephone line, supported by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services of the NJ Department of Human Services, where callers can find support. It is appropriate for those at any stage of the addiction recovery process. By calling (844) 276-2777, callers from all backgrounds can get help, from those seeking treatment for the first time to those seeking help avoiding relapse. They can be connected with nearby services that are in their price range.
• Bergen New Bridge Medical Center: This charity care option helps low-income people get low-cost or free addiction treatment services at a leading provider in New Jersey. Bergen’s Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program offers detox, residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient rehabilitation options. Bergen’s focus is on a continuum of care, including long-term follow-up support with alumni of the program.
• Carrier Clinic: This nonprofit organization offers some free recovery and prevention programs.
• Damon House: This organization was formed to help those in need of substance use treatment with both residential and outpatient treatment options. Programs also help participants become independent once their rehabilitation program has concluded. Many indigent individuals turn to Damon House because no one is turned away due to the inability to pay for the programs; for those who can pay, Damon House bases payment on a sliding scale.
• Integrity House: This organization offers programs for individuals and families to overcome substance use problems. The Hudson County location offers free outpatient rehabilitation options.
• Market Street Mission: This faith-based organization is focused on providing free and low-cost services to those in desperate need. In addition to offering substance use recovery support, the organization provides shelter, food, and showers for the homeless; job training for those transitioning from rehabilitation to long-term recovery; referrals for detox and other emergency services; and applications for government services. As a Catholic charity, Market Street Mission expects nothing in return for services rendered.
• My Father’s House: This faith-based intensive outpatient rehabilitation program focuses on Gloucester County, NJ. The organization is licensed through the New Jersey Division of Addiction Services and offers sliding-scale treatment and financial assistance for those most in need of substance use treatment and recovery services. Because so many low-income and impoverished people seek help through My Father’s House, 98% of those they help do not pay anything for treatment.
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA): An international support group organization offering regular meetings in the style of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous focuses on other intoxicating substances. New Jersey has many locations that host free support group meetings.
• NewBridge: This comprehensive counseling service includes substance use and chemical dependency recovery support for adolescents, adults, and senior citizens. Some of the programs are free while others are affordable for low-income individuals. The nonprofit’s philosophy is that no one should be turned away from care due to a lack of finances.
• Universities Helping Sober Students: New Jersey has a long history of offering sober housing and campus health care for students overcoming substance use problems. Rutgers University was the first college in the state to offer college-based recovery at its New Brunswick campus; the Newark campus followed in 1993. Then, William Patterson University joined the movement in 2010. These campuses offer sober housing, therapy, support programs through student mental health services, and grants for students who need financial assistance for recovery while in college.

Getting Admitted to Rehab

Regardless of the ability to pay, anyone who needs to overcome substance use disorders should be able to get help. Fortunately, as the understanding of addiction changes, more programs are offering low-cost, income-assisted, and free rehabilitation services.

In many cases, these are coupled with other services for those in need, such as shelter, food, and medical care. In other instances, these free options are funded by religious charities. Regardless of how these options are supported, they do not turn anyone away, and they will often write referrals for other programs if their specific program does not provide the type of addiction treatment a person needs.

Please do not go without help because you think you can’t afford it. Give Sunrise House Treatment Center a call at anytime day or night to start the admissions process, learn more about addiction treatment and inpatient treatment in New Jersey, or to discuss cost-effective options for paying for rehab.