Addiction treatment: what it is and how clinics abroad price it

Addiction treatment is medical and psychological care for dependence on alcohol, drugs or gambling. Abroad, it is usually sold as a medically supervised detox, a residential program, or both. This page covers only licensed medical facilities with a named physician; sober-living houses, retreats and referral services are not compared.

What does it involve?

• Medically supervised detox — withdrawal from alcohol or drugs under medical monitoring, often with medication to manage withdrawal. It can be inpatient or outpatient. NICE has guidance on alcohol-use disorders and on opioid detoxification.
• Residential program — a stay at the facility with individual and group therapy, a daily schedule and medical care. Some programs include detox; others require it beforehand.
• Gambling programs — psychological treatment for gambling, in residential or outpatient form, without a detox phase.
• Aftercare — follow-up sessions, online therapy or support groups after discharge.

The ASAM Criteria are a framework from the American Society of Addiction Medicine that defines levels of care, describing the setting, staffing and service intensity at each level. The length of a program depends on the facility.

How do clinics price it?

• Medically supervised detox — priced per program. Check the length in days, the substance, whether it is inpatient or outpatient, and whether medication is included.
• Residential addiction program — priced per program, with the number of days stated. Check the room type, whether detox is included, and whether aftercare is included.

Items that are often charged extra include:

• medical tests and psychiatric assessment at admission;
• medication, especially for longer programs;
• a private room;
• additional individual therapy sessions;
• family sessions and aftercare;
• an escort or transfer to the facility.

Prices are only comparable within the same unit and for the same number of days. A detox-only price cannot be compared with a residential program price.

What should I ask the clinic before paying?

• Is the facility licensed as a medical provider, and by which authority? Can you see the license?
• Who is the responsible physician, and what is their specialty and license? See how to check a doctor.
• What exactly is included: number of therapy sessions per week, medication, tests, room type?
• Is detox included, and how is it medically managed?
• Are you speaking to the facility itself or to a referral service? Does anyone receive a fee for referring you?
• What aftercare is offered after you return home, and at what cost?
• What is the refund policy if you leave early, and how long is the price valid, in writing?

What this page does not tell you

This page reports what facilities publish about price and terms. It does not report recovery or success rates, and it does not tell you which treatment suits you; those decisions belong with your own doctor. Some "rehabs" are not licensed medical facilities, and some websites are referral services paid for each patient they send. The UK advertising regulator has published an enforcement notice on ads by rehab referral companies. The US agency SAMHSA advises checking that programs and their professionals are licensed and accredited and use evidence-based approaches; see its guidance on finding quality treatment. For related care, see mental health programs.