Cost of drug/alcohol rehab

[QVCshopper]

Update: Since this post is old news, I'm removing my original post. Thanks to all who have answered. Hoping for a brighter future for my sister. Thanks.

 

[pearlieq]

Is she covered on your parents' insurance? Or does she have insurance of her own?

Many policies cover inpatient rehab. If she's covered, maybe they could check their policy handbook and see if it's covered.

Best wishes to you and your family.

 

[cbg1027]

I'm sorry, I don't really have an answer for the question.

But have you talked to your sister about whether she's even willing to go in to a treatment program? If she's not willing to go, there's no point in trying to figure out how to pay for one. The person has to want to get better for themselves.

 

[marie1203]

My dad is a drug counselor many states provide help for them to go to rehab. But you said it she is an adult and unless she wants to go or is order by court there is nothing you can do. I don't think kicking her out is a solution since she is an addict what she needs now more than ever is support and realizing her situation.

 

[QVCshopper]

Thanks... I'll check about insurance. I think she's falling off my parents and is a new hire at her job so she might not have any yet. As far as talking to her--yes. I wanted to take her right to rehab at Thanksgiving when the severity was VERY apparent, but she denies it. Believe me, though, the addiction is very much there. I've never seen eyes like that before or heard what she said to me from anyone else. I understand about keeping her at home, but my mom is already bi-polar and I hate seeing her go through more...

 

[disneybound31]

I'm sorry, I don't really have an answer for the question.

But have you talked to your sister about whether she's even willing to go in to a treatment program? If she's not willing to go, there's no point in trying to figure out how to pay for one. The person has to want to get better for themselves.

I agree with this posting. And would also add a couple of things...we have a family member who sounds very similar...he's very smart and is working on the doctorate, but has had years of drug issues and anxiety problems. After years of this (he's only 30) he has tried several times now to commit suicide and his parents CAN afford treatment but apparently think the stigma of treatment outweighs whether or not he lives.

There is NO COST that is too great to save your sister. No one is going to sit around in old age thinking 'boy, wish I hadn't spent that money to help so-and-so' and I can guarantee everyone will be devastated and WISH they had stopped ignoring the problem if tragedy strikes.

Best of luck. Family problems are complicated- and kudos to you OP for protecting your children.

 

[kelleyrn2000]

Unfortunately, it's a situation that you have little control over. It seems like they have to be the one to realize they need help, before anything can help.

My 19 yo cousin is in prison right now. Her parents put her in rehab over and over. She nearly OD'd on heroin several times. Her parents enabled her by letting her live at home, no job. She wrecked several cars. She never finished rehab any of the times.

Fast forward a couple of years, to now. She supplied heroin to a group of friends. One of them OD'd accidentally and died the day after Thanksgiving. She was arrested, and charged with involuntary manslaughter. Not sure what the details are but she was sentenced to 9 months of prison. When she was awaiting her sentence, she partied it up with alcohol with friends the whole time. Her parents will take her in as soon as she gets out, and my guess is the whole cycle will start all over again. Your sister will have to make that choice for herself as far as rehab goes. Otherwise it will likely be a waste.

Good for you for standing your ground and not being an enabler. I wish I had advice but it sounds like your parents are in denial. Such a tough situation.

 

[kelleyrn2000]

I agree with this posting. And would also add a couple of things...we have a family member who sounds very similar...he's very smart and is working on the doctorate, but has had years of drug issues and anxiety problems. After years of this (he's only 30) he has tried several times now to commit suicide and his parents CAN afford treatment but apparently think the stigma of treatment outweighs whether or not he lives.

There is NO COST that is too great to save your sister. No one is going to sit around in old age thinking 'boy, wish I hadn't spent that money to help so-and-so' and I can guarantee everyone will be devastated and WISH they had stopped ignoring the problem if tragedy strikes.

Best of luck. Family problems are complicated- and kudos to you OP for protecting your children.

I agree, you and your family don't want to have regrets. It's just going to take that person realizing they need help and wanting to get better. Then it is money well spent, and hopefully insurance will pick up the cost. But financially supporting a drug abuser, IMO, is also supporting the drug habit that could kill them. I could not have that on my conscience. Emotional support with boundaries, would be my priority.

 

[dakcp2001]

I agree, you and your family don't want to have regrets. It's just going to take that person realizing they need help and wanting to get better. Then it is money well spent, and hopefully insurance will pick up the cost. But financially supporting a drug abuser, IMO, is also supporting the drug habit that could kill them. I could not have that on my conscience. Emotional support with boundaries, would be my priority.

One interesting thing I recently learned during my Psych rotation in nursing school (on a detox floor) is that the percentage of people who are successful in recovery has nothing to do with them "wanting to be there" vs "forced to be there"or court ordered . So just getting them into the program CAN help. Being an addict is a terminal illness, without treatment, it does not end well. If she is on something and acting crazy,she can be committed for at least 3 business days in my state. Please do not give up on her, your role is probably the hardest! It really takes a lot out of you to have to keep dealing with an addict over & over & trying to get them help. Do what you can to get her into a program. Call the ones in your area an they will tell you what to do! Call around and see what kind of support you can get. She really is lucky to have someone like you that wants to help! So often, they burn their bridges and ostracize everyone, so know that you are doing what you can, and that is it. You cannot do this for her, so if everything you do is not enough, dont carry the burden. I have a sibling like this, and sometimes doing everything you can still leaves you with guilt when they do not succeed. Hang in there!

 

[SandrA9810]

I don't know where you live, but many states have an Act that allows a person to be held for 3 days in a mental hospital. While 3 days is the maxed allowed by law, the doctor overseeing the patient can over-ride that by allowing them to go earlier or requesting further treatment be done. And they do drug testing upon entering.

Any one can call the person in, and the cops will take them. I'd suggest doing it on a night she strung out. It's usually a program run by the state, and will pick up the cost past what insurance will cover. Although most the time, people entering there don't have any insurance. So I think cost should be the last thing on your mind.

 

[semo233]

Check out her employer's Employee Assistance Program.

Call her town's or city's Social Services office.

Contact her/your parent's church or synagogue.

As an alumni, does she qualify for services through her university?

Find a local support group for family members of addicts for yourself (here's some info http://www.familiesanonymous.org/

Keep asking until you find what you need. You will eventually find something that will be able to help her. The rest is up to her.
You will never regret your efforts, but you will regret doing nothing for your sister and the entire family.

As far as your children go, depending upon thier ages, use this as a discussion platform. Point out all the things the drugs are making her do and how she is not really herself. You cannot control your sister, but you can control what your childred see. I applaud you for keeping her away from them.

 

[badblackpug]

I can't help with the cost, but I want to clear up a few things.

8 have worked for psych screening. A person cannot be involuntarily committed unless they are an IMMINENT danger to themselves or others. Essentially they have to be actively suicidal or homicidal or their behavior has to be so out of control they are going to die or kill someone immediately unless they are secured. Drug addiction does not fit this criteria. Addicts are killing themselves, for sure, but they are not in immiment danger of dying.

Also, your sister will have to be willing to accept treatment in order to get it. She is an adult and will have to sign herself in. It doesn't seem she is "there" yet. Your parents are enabling her. You may want to suggest a suppot group such as alanon.

 

[HaleyB]

If she is willing to give it a try look for an Intensive Outpatient Program.
It will not disrupt her new job so she may be willing to consider it. She does not need to admit to being an addict. All it takes is a willingness to learn more about her dependance on a chemical substance. Information is power and you can present it to her as such, a chance to learn. I would hesitate to just pay the fee for her, if she has nothing invested she might never go back the second night. Do you have any leverage with her?

Find a center that has active family participation. At least 2 hours a week. An IOP should be 8 to 10 hours a week.

$ really depends on where you live. Almost all centers will work with you on cost, most have a sliding fee. Ball park $2000 for a 5 week program, that is after they cut the price they first quote which might be 3 times that. Follow up care is much less.

 

[HaleyB]

Good luck. Prayers and Pixie dust.

 

[brekin67]

My 26 son was in a residential rehab facility and there was no charge to him because he had no insurance and no job. He currently is in a sober living house and pays $85 per week.

 

[crisi]

My sister did rehab three times. The first was $60,000 for a six week in treatment program. Her employer covered it. The second and third time was outpatient, though the state.

If she doesn't want to get clean, she won't get clean. My sister finally kicked alcoholism not through rehab, but when she hit bottom, was told she'd need a liver transplant or she'd die, and when she ended up moving in with my sister and her children and my sister said "one drink and you are on the street, I'm not exposing my kids to you drunk."

And, as long as someone (currently your parents) are willing to enable her, she'll live enabled. So don't waste your time or money.

However, go to Al-anon meetings. They'll help YOU.

 

[PinkJade]

I believe the answer to the cost of the program will vary depending on where you live and how much assistance is provided to the substance abuse programs.

Where I live (IL) the programs are subsidized by the state (mostly) and work on a sliding scale basis. However there is a lot of problems with funding and the availability of the programs is not as great as it should be.

Unfortunately, as others have stated, there is not much you and/or your parents can do to make her get treatment. You are doing the right thing, by enforcing boundaries with her. You mentioned your mother had bipolar disorder, given that history and her substance abuse it is likely she may have some mental illness. If she acknowledges that and is willing to seek help, that could be a beginning. Most of my clients had mental illness and substance abuse problems; they go hand in hand and usually success involves treating both.

Seek out community mental health centers and substance abuse programs in your area. Continue to try your best to be a supportive person to her. Make it clear to her what you are and are not willing to do to help her. Do not budge. Listen to her about her problems, encourage her to seek help but don't be pushy or demanding, try to get her to see for herself why she needs help.

I understand your feeling, you know that something has be done, you understand what could happen. But you have to keep in perspective, that your sister is ultimately responsible for her behavior. You have done and are trying to do everything you can, but the blame for whatever happens belongs to her. I know how worried and helpless you feel...

 

[WeCantWait]

The cost varies by treatment center and location. In my opinion you should first find out if your sister is insured, then call any treatment center in your area. They will be able to provide you with lots of information, including programs that are available for people who do not have insurance.

Interventions are done daily with people who have no intention on stopping the abuse of whatever substance they are addicted to. In an ideal situation the addict should be the one that wants to stop but that is not the only way it will work. Sometimes the addict only needs to be offered the help at the right time.

I would also suggest Al Anon for you. It will help you with the feelings you are going through.

My prayers are with you and your family.

 

[QVCshopper]

Update: Sister seems to be doing better. Thanks.

 

[disneylove69]

Thanks... I'll check about insurance. I think she's falling off my parents and is a new hire at her job so she might not have any yet. As far as talking to her--yes. I wanted to take her right to rehab at Thanksgiving when the severity was VERY apparent, but she denies it. Believe me, though, the addiction is very much there. I've never seen eyes like that before or heard what she said to me from anyone else. I understand about keeping her at home, but my mom is already bi-polar and I hate seeing her go through more...

I have the same issue. My mom is bi-polar and brother is the one with problem. He aqandered all her money and sold all her stuff so needless to say she lives with me now. He is not allowed over her and since I have control of her social security now he can't get anything even though he has tried. I have learned that you have to let your parents treat her the way they want. I would just make my opinion known and then not participate in functions where you have to see this. If she wants money or anything other then help for the addication don't participate.