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Too Late to Go to Rehab? Finding the Right Recovery Path as an Older Adult

Older adults face a unique set of challenges when it comes to finding treatment for addiction or mental health disorders. If you’re in this age group, you might feel self-conscious about seeking help at this point in your life, or be worried that you won’t be able to relate to your recovery peers if you do. And while it’s true that a smaller percentage of treatment centers offer special services for more senior clientele, the good news is that there are plenty of rehab programs specifically for older adults available to help people like you.

Addiction affects people of all ages and walks of life. No matter how old you are, you deserve to feel well. It’s never too late to make positive changes, take back control of your life, and be the best version of you that you can be.

Common Stressors of Older Adulthood

Globally, the age group of people 65 years and older is growing faster than all others.1 The number of people aged 80 years or over is projected to triple to 426 million in 2050. Fortunately, there’s also an increased focus on what treatment looks like for seniors. Whether you’ve struggled with the negative effects of substance use at other points in your life and are ready to find support now, or if you’re just starting to notice concerns, there are specialized rehab programs that can help.

Getting older comes with certain stressors that can have real impacts on your mental health:

Navigating Loss

As we advance in age, we inevitably experience loss in various areas of our lives. For some people, the emotional stress of these losses leads them to cope by using substances. For others, it can trigger relapse if they’ve struggled with addiction before.

Social work researchers Justine McGovern and Stephanie Sarabia point out how life changes like this can contribute to substance abuse among older adults.2 “Aging is accompanied by multiple losses: loss of work with retirement; family roles as parenting decreases and family hierarchies are upended; loss of spouse, family, and friends due to death; physical capacity; and independence with the onset of physical and cognitive limitations…These compounded losses can contribute to increased rates of depression and anxiety, which can exacerbate underlying mental health issues.”

Whether or not you have a diagnosable disorder, you may benefit from professional guidance as you navigate the transitions that happen later in life.

Physical Changes

People go through many different physical changes as they age, and these can all have significant effects on their quality of life. “Although often gradual, the aging process itself can produce changes that put older adults at risk for developing problem substance use,”3 say McGovern and Sarabia. “As the body ages, its capacity to process alcohol and other drugs becomes less efficient. Due to decreased lean muscle mass and a slower digestive system, substances remain in the body longer resulting in higher levels of intoxication.”

Interactions between prescription drugs, decreases in eyesight, and memory issues can all increase older people’s risk of substance misuse. Additionally, chronic illnesses can also increase pain and anxiety. Being able to physically access spaces—and participate in programs that are set up to accommodate physical disabilities and other needs—is especially crucial for those facing these challenges.

Emotional Changes

As we age, it’s also common to experience mental and emotional changes. Over time, elders may develop difficulties with problem-solving and spatial orientation. They might also notice feelings of depression related to having fewer social interactions, retiring from a meaningful career, or experiencing transitions in living situations. All of these can impact emotional well-being. This can also be exacerbated by sleep changes and insomnia, which can in turn increase substance use.4

Challenges related to physical, emotional, and psychological shifts, as well as potentially isolating life experiences, have very real impacts on older adults’ mental health. And this, of course, also affects patterns of substance use.

Substance Use Disorders Among Seniors

Substance use issues among seniors are widely underreported.5 That’s one reason why experts are calling for an increased focus on the needs of this age group in providing specialized, effective care.

Alcohol is the most common substance used in most countries worldwide. And according to the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health, between 2015 and 2017, 14.9% of adults aged 65 years and older reported high-risk levels of drinking.6

Changes in medication over time, combined with the cognitive impacts of aging, can lead to an increased risk of accidentally using dangerous levels of opioids. Older adults had the highest mortality rates related to opioid use7 between 2006 and 2013. Also in 2017, 3% of Americans aged 50–64 years and 1.5% of those 65 years old and older reported that they had misused opioid medications in the past year.

Substance use affects seniors in specific ways. Physically, effects might include an increased risk of falls, headaches, and seizures, as well as memory loss and disorientation. Substance use can also affect mental processes, leading to sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, and mood swings. Seniors might also experience social consequences of substance misuse, like increased family conflict and professional, financial, and legal difficulties.

It can be hard for elders to seek treatment for these specific reasons, and it can be a challenge to identify the real problem. That’s because, in many cases, substance abuse looks similar to symptoms of medical disorders that are common at an older age.8 Not everyone is at risk based on all of these factors, and your needs are unique based on what kinds of support work best for you. Luckily, rehabs offer specialized program options to help you harness your strengths and make the most of your treatment experience.

Specialized Programs May Better Address Your Needs

Research shows that intensive treatments and self-help groups geared toward the general population can be effective for older adults9 with more severe substance use issues. But because of the unique concerns described above, some people find it helpful to enroll in treatment specifically geared towards a more mature clientele. And some therapies are found to be especially effective for people of this age group:

Family Involvement

Many clients find family therapy to be a very meaningful part of their recovery journey. Because addiction affects all of our relationships, it can be highly beneficial to involve biological or chosen family members, partners, and other important loved ones in the healing process.

Hanley Center at Origins
Hanley Center at Origins in West Palm Beach, Florida has a robust program for older adults.

One rehab facility offering family-focused work is Hanley Center at Origins, located in West Palm Beach, Florida. “Quality care for the entire family must take each family’s specific challenges into account and offer a variety of age-specific solutions,” says the center’s clinical team. “These may include co-occurring mental health or medical challenges such as diabetes, cardiac issues, or cancers that are common with older adults.”

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and commitment therapy, also known as ACT, teaches clients to embrace their feelings instead of struggling against them. This may be especially useful for seniors struggling with substance abuse. ACT centers on mindfulness exercises, which help people to become more aware of their cravings, thought patterns, and feelings without judging themselves. This also encourages psychological flexibility. Committed action helps clients achieve their long-term goals by focusing on the values that will help them get better. ACT can also decrease the negative effects of chronic pain on mental health,10 says Julie Weatherell, a professor of Experimental Psychopathology at San Diego State University.

ACT’s focus on value-based living can be specifically beneficial for seniors.11 “Losing contact with one’s life values may occur following important significant life events such as retirement or new functional impairments that arise from a chronic illness,” say clinical psychologists Andrew Petkus, M.A. and Julie Wetherell, Ph.D. “[In ACT,] we address values earlier and to a greater extent than is usually done with younger people. We explicitly incorporate religion into discussions about values because this is a very important domain for many older people. We also talk about end-of-life issues in the context of values-driven behavior.”

Kolonial House in Sanur, Bali, Indonesia supports older adults and offers ACT as one of their treatment approaches.

Trauma-Informed Approaches

Trauma-informed care can be helpful in supporting elders who have experienced loss or other painful events during their lifetime and continue to feel the effects in their daily lives. In rehab, this also means taking a curious approach to understanding how addiction is related to a person’s emotional triggers and coping skills.

“Trauma-informed treatment really prepares individuals to live in recovery, which is good self-care. They also develop skills that will help them navigate in the world as they begin the process of healing from trauma, which might involve in-depth therapy and treatment to address their experiences.”

– Dr. Monika Kolodziej, Program Director of McLean Fernside
mclean fernside slide 2
A look inside McLean Fernside in Princeton, Massachusetts.

Nōmina Wellness in Courtenay, British Columbia provides eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and other treatments to help their senior clients manage symptoms while they develop adaptive skills to navigate traumas.

With so many options available, it’s important to keep in mind that deciding what aspects of care are important for you will be most helpful in choosing the right facility.

Continuing Care for Long-Term Success

Residential care can be life-changing, but it’s only the first step in the journey of recovery. You may have questions about what life will look like after inpatient treatment and how to set yourself up for success in the weeks and months after returning home. Most rehab centers offer aftercare programs to make sure that you’re supported in maintaining the positive changes you made. A good-quality continuing care program will also make sure you have adequate resources in place, as post-treatment challenges can and do arise. This can look like stepping down to an intensive outpatient program (IOP) or partial hospitalization program (PHP), or attending support groups with peers in recovery.

Because physical distance can create a barrier to accessing in-person therapy and group programs, some rehab centers also offer online aftercare services. Web-based programs can be especially useful for people with mobility concerns. They can also help you connect with and learn from people who aren’t necessarily located near you, but nonetheless offer valuable life perspectives. These remote programs are set up to be confidential, just like in-person therapy. And, if available, continuing to work with the same therapist after leaving rehab can create a smoother transition to the life you want to live.

It’s Never Too Late to Feel Well

Older adults may face some unique hurdles in the search for addiction and mental health treatment, but that doesn’t mean effective care isn’t available to you. You can receive support that’s in line with your wants, needs, and life experiences, several rehabs offer programs designed to provide exactly that.

To learn more about these programs, see our curated list of rehabs for older adults.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rehab Programs for Older Adults

Is rehab suitable for older adults?

Yes, rehab can be highly beneficial for older adults facing substance abuse or mental health concerns. Specialized rehab programs for older adults offer age-appropriate treatment, addressing their unique stressors and needs. These include navigating physical changes, such as managing prescription medication, alongside emotional changes, like navigating loss.

What types of rehab programs are available for older adults?

Rehab programs for older adults include inpatient or outpatient options, specialized programs with a focus on family involvement, trauma-informed care, tailored therapies, medical supervision, and more. An integrated program addresses the physical, mental, and social aspects of recovery.

What are the benefits of rehab for older adults?

Rehab for older adults provides a supportive and structured environment, specialized care for age-related concerns, medication management, social connection, and opportunities for building a sober support network.

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Attending Rehab for Work-Related Burnout

Burnout can affect anyone. Even if you love your work, it’s possible to get overwhelmed. And ignoring your exhaustion may just exacerbate your symptoms. If you feel yourself hitting a wall, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. This experience is widespread enough that there are many rehab programs designed to treat work-related burnout.

This condition isn’t permanent—or at least, it doesn’t have to be. Although burnout is a collection of mental health symptoms, it is not a long-term diagnosis, like depression or anxiety. Instead, it is the result of external circumstances, combined with unsustainable work habits. It is highly treatable, but it should not be ignored.

Understanding Job Burnout

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress1 that has not been successfully managed.” It is characterized by exhaustion, increased cynicism or mental distance from one’s job, and a sense of ineffectiveness or lack of accomplishment. These symptoms must specifically occur in the context of work, and not describe other areas of the client’s life.

Unfortunately, this condition is on the rise. In one study, 52% of respondents reported experiencing burnout2 in 2021, up from only 43% in 2020. This may be partly due to the stress of current events, although more research is needed. Whatever the root cause, it’s clear that high levels of stress have become pervasive in the culture of the workplace.

Even if you’re not personally going through burnout, the numbers indicate that most people work with those who are. By compensating for your colleagues’ exhaustion, you may be at risk of developing the same condition. This is especially important because of the social aspects of burnout.3 The three primary symptoms of this condition, as described above, place “the individual stress experience within a social context,” which may cause it to negatively impact your relationships.

Experts have identified 6 key domains of a person’s life that are related to burnout. Stress within these areas may represent a risk factor for developing symptoms.

Workload

“Overwork is a main cause of burnout.”4 If you can’t take time off, you may experience both mental and physical symptoms of exhaustion. These can include anxiety, a lack of focus, loss of sleep, and even physical pain. Insufficient rest can also increase levels of cortisol,5 the stress hormone, which may lead to additional health issues.

When you have too much to do, it can become difficult to prioritize and deprioritize various tasks. You might spend hours color-coding a spreadsheet, but be too tired to brush your teeth. This type of inattention can cause additional problems at work, if you simply don’t have the time or energy to complete important projects. Over time, these behavioral patterns can increase your workload even further, causing you to spiral into a state of exhaustion.

Control

Healthcare professionals often assess burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, a tool that asks clients to rate their emotional experience of exhaustion, cynicism, and similar criteria. Christina Maslach, creator of this scale, explains that “control problems occur when workers have insufficient authority6 over their work or are unable to shape the work environment to be consistent with their values. A sense of efficacy is unlikely to occur when workers are feeling buffeted by circumstances or powerful people within the organization.”

At first glance, it may seem that this lack of control mostly affects employees, rather than high-level executives. But this dynamic is more complex than it appears. Workers at every level have a responsibility to various people, whether those people are employers, employees, shareholders, or clientele. No matter your position, certain circumstances may make you feel like your needs are less important than the company’s. If you find that you have irreconcilable differences, it may sound appealing to simply change jobs. If you’re in a position of power, however, it’s not always that simple.

the dawn rehab burnout treatment
The Dawn Rehab in Chiang Mai, Thailand treats burnout using a combination of evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapies and Eastern holistic wellness practices.

Reward

In the context of work, the idea of reward is often linked to income. If you’re making less than you’re worth, you may be at a greater risk for burnout. But that’s just one aspect of this issue.

It’s also possible for your work to be unrewarding in and of itself. Almost no amount of money can make up for a boss who constantly berates you. And that lack of recognition can go in both directions. Many top executives spend more time-solving problems than they do receiving praise. Even if this pattern is good for the company, it can wreak havoc on your mental health.

Community

Community is an extremely important part of individual mental health.7 According to one expert, groups that “provide individuals with a sense of meaning, purpose, and belonging…have positive psychological consequences.” Without a strong workplace community, you may be at a greater risk for burnout.

When an unsupportive culture is combined with an above-average workload, you may struggle to maintain meaningful relationships. If you don’t have time to socialize outside of work, you’ll depend on your colleagues for emotional connectivity. This pattern is unsustainable at best, and can be extremely harmful. If this is a primary contributor to your experience of burnout, you may want to consider a rehab program that can help you learn to build community.

Fairness

Even as children, human beings have an innate sense of fairness.8 In adults, of course, this matures into a more complex understanding of equality. At any age, we long to be treated well, receiving the compensation and recognition we feel we’ve earned.

Our perceived sense of fairness impacts our productivity,9 and perceived injustice can lead to burnout. Research suggests that when workers feel they are being treated unfairly, they are likely to take more sick time. This is often caused by objectively unfair treatment, such as racism or sexism. However, the perception of unfairness is equally important. If you believe that you’ve been unfairly passed over for a promotion—even if your employer has good reasons for choosing someone else—you may become more cynical about your work.

Values

When a worker’s values and goals don’t align with those of the company, it “may result in lower job satisfaction4 and negatively impact mental health,” writes Jennifer Moss, author of The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise of Chronic Stress and How We Can Fix It. This misalignment can sometimes be avoided through clear communication, especially at the time a person is hired. However, that’s not always possible. Both people and companies change over time. If you’re with a company long enough to go through major life transitions—such as getting married or becoming a parent—your needs may shift significantly.

In order to find a workplace that shares your priorities, you must first be able to articulate what you value. There’s no right or wrong answer to this question, but it’s important to be ruthlessly honest with yourself. For example, imagine you’re a person who highly values creative expression, and you’re working at a company focused on robust scientific research. While both of these are laudable pursuits, you might not be happy sitting at a desk and crunching numbers. No one is at fault. But it’s your responsibility to define your needs and look for ways to meet them.

Signs and Symptoms of Burnout

When your needs aren’t being met, you’re at a high risk of burning out. And if you’re used to prioritizing others’ needs over your own, it can be hard to notice this before it becomes a problem. Unfortunately, it’s quite common for people to ignore their exhaustion until it becomes unmanageable.

According to experts at The Dawn Rehab in Chiang Mai, Thailand, you can recognize burnout by watching for the following symptoms:

  • Mental and physical exhaustion
  • Pessimism
  • Loss of interest in your job
  • Interpersonal issues in the office
  • Relationship and intimacy issues
  • Irrational irritability
  • Decreased productivity

Many workers—and especially high achievers—feel the pressure to just power through these symptoms, no matter how debilitating they may be. As tempting as it is, that strategy just isn’t effective. Even if the only goal is to do your job well, remember that you will be more effective at work if you take care of your mental health first. And what’s more, you deserve the same care and attention that you offer your colleagues and your clients.

all points north lodge burnout treatment
All Points North Lodge in Vail Valley, Colorado uses cutting-edge therapeutic technologies like hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) to treat burnout and other mental health conditions.

Attending Rehab for Burnout

Rehab isn’t just for substance use disorders. Many programs are specifically tailored to help clients heal from job burnout. In this type of treatment, you can expect to balance your time between relaxation and more traditional therapies.

Inpatient treatment isn’t a vacation. However, treating burnout is calming and rejuvenating. During this time, you’ll take a break from work, reassess your priorities, and develop more sustainable habits to use in the future. Your program may include a number of different components.

Talk Therapy

Talk therapy helps clients reconnect with themselves. You’ll work with a provider to define your personal values and find ways to honor them in your daily life. You may also work through cynicism or resentment, and develop skills to avoid unhealthy behavioral patterns.

As you get to know yourself again, you may also learn to differentiate between regular stress and the warning signs of burnout. If your work gets out of hand in the future, this knowledge can help you recognize warning signs as early as possible.

Mindfulness

Meditation, yoga, and other mindfulness practices help you stay in the present moment. With these skills, clients are better equipped to regulate their emotions. While stress is sometimes unavoidable, you can gain some amount of control over your own response to it.

Massage Therapy

Massage isn’t just rejuvenating; it can also help strengthen the connection between body and mind. By relieving physical tension, clients may also learn to let go of emotional stress. Different types of massage therapy may be more focused on relaxation or on relieving specific areas of pain. Either way, clients often find that this modality helps them work through both physical and emotional symptoms.

Therapeutic Technologies

Some facilities offer access to cutting-edge technologies known to relieve symptoms of burnout and exhaustion. At All Points North Lodge, for example, you may engage in hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), which is known to alleviate anxiety, depression, and a host of physical conditions. Your team of experts will help you decide whether this treatment is appropriate, given your unique health needs.

Personalized Recovery From Job Burnout

Burnout may cause you to feel emotionally disconnected, both from those around you and from your own needs. Because of this, treatment is often personalized for each specific client.

By choosing between a variety of therapies, you can reconnect with your own most deeply held needs, goals, and values. At its best, this process is both therapeutic and enjoyable. This is your opportunity to decide what it means for you, specifically, to live a healthy life.

To learn more, browse our list of rehab programs that treat work-related burnout.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rehab for Job Burnout

What are the signs of burnout?

Signs of burnout are often physical, behavioral, and emotional:

• Mental and physical exhaustion
• Decreased productivity 
• Irritability
• Loss of interest in your job
• Interpersonal issues at work 
• Relationship and intimacy issues

Can you go to rehab for burnout?

Yes, you can go to rehab for burnout. Treatment programs for workplace burnout often combine conventional therapies, like talk therapy, with relaxation techniques.

How do you treat burnout?

The first step is to pause work as you reassess priorities and develop more sustainable habits. Burnout treatment at rehab often includes talk therapy, mindfulness, therapeutic technologies, massage, and more.

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Are High Achievers More Susceptible to Addiction?

They may star in Hollywood films or run Fortune 500 companies, but many of the world’s most successful people also have a secret: they struggle with a unique set of challenges that often lead them to require treatment for substance abuse.

Take Zac Efron. This Hollywood star, famous for his lead role in the High School Musical series, was on top of his game in the mid-2000s. He was on the cover of magazines, and the idol of millions of teenagers around the world. But as he shifted into adult roles, he also became part of a much more intense party scene—one that would eventually pull him away from his career. He soon found himself treating his anxiety and loneliness with substances.1 He reflects on that time:

“You spend a lot of time in your house going crazy. You know, pretty soon you need a social lubricant…It was getting to the point where I was caring less about the work and waiting for the weekend…But then when Monday and Tuesday were too difficult to get through, then I was like, ‘Oh, this is bad.’”

Efron pulled himself out of his substance abuse in 2013, when he sold his house in the Hollywood Hills and checked into a rehab program for cocaine and alcohol addiction. But Efron isn’t the only star who has battled substance abuse. Hundreds of CEOs, athletes, artists, and celebrities struggle with addiction. But why?

As it turns out, many of the same traits that make people high achievers, like risk-taking, a strong drive for success, and dedication to their work, also are traits that make them more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. High achievement and substance abuse2 often go hand in hand—and neuroscientists and psychologists can help us uncover why.

The Science Behind Substance Abuse

To understand what drives CEOs, celebrities, artists, and other high achievers to substance abuse, we need to understand what neurological factors lead to substance abuse in the first place.

Addiction researcher and neuroscience professor David Linden, PhD, explains why the character traits that make someone a good CEO also make them a “good addict.” Simply put, the same brain chemicals that encourage us to achieve also push us toward substance abuse and other forms of addiction. Linden writes in his book The Compass of Pleasure: How Our Brains Make Fatty Foods, Orgasm, Exercise, Marijuana, Generosity, Vodka, Learning, and Gambling Feel So Good:3

“The pleasure derived from success, and in particular from risky or novel business ventures, is borne of the very same brain pathways that make substance use so irresistible to some. It’s all about pleasure-seeking and reward.”

But contrary to popular belief, people who struggle with substance abuse and addictive behavior don’t have a heightened desire for these substances. Instead, Linden’s research shows, many people with a history of substance abuse have “dampened” dopamine receptors. Dopamine is the chemical in our brains that allows us to feel pleasure—which means that to get the same rush of positive feelings, a person with dampened dopamine receptors needs to partake in significantly more of an activity or substance than the average person.

What does this have to do with achievement? The connection, Linden argues, is actually quite simple. Certain activities like drinking alcohol, eating fatty foods, and exercising give us a dopamine hit—and so does achieving a goal. When you set and achieve a goal for yourself, your brain releases dopamine, and you get a rush. So, the same mechanism that makes certain people more likely to crave substances like alcohol or drugs is also more likely to push them to work harder to achieve their goals.

“My strong, strong suspicion,” says Linden, “is that what makes some people more likely to rise to the top is the same thing that makes them more likely to be addicts.”

Anxiety, Trauma, and Alcoholism

Though dopamine receptors are responsible in part for substance abuse, they aren’t the only factor that can impact a person’s likelihood to struggle with addiction. While approximately half of someone’s addictive tendencies are thought to be genetic,4 the rest is based on factors having to do with life circumstances.

Constance Scharff, PhD, who works as an addiction researcher with Cliffside Malibu treatment center and co-authored the book Ending Addiction for Good5 reports that high achievers who struggle with addiction are also likely to have experienced a major stressor or trauma in their early lives that shape their behavior.

“There’s something, usually an early experience, that fuels that kind of drive, and oftentimes it’s the same thing that drives addiction. The vast majority didn’t have some sort of basic needs met as children, so they’re driven very, very hard to succeed. But the pain that goes with that is also what they’re self-medicating for.”

– Constance Scharff, Addiction Researcher, Cliffside Malibu

cliffside malibu
Set near the coast, Cliffside Malibu offers a co-occurring disorder treatment program that includes evidence-based treatment and holistic medicine.

The rate of co-occurring disorders with substance abuse is very high—which is why more treatment centers are offering treatment for anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and other diagnoses. One study from 2010 showed that exposure to traumatic experiences as a child was linked to higher rates of substance use disorder (SUD),6 and many participants were living with both SUD and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A similar study on anxiety and substance use disorders7 shows that rates of SUD in patients with anxiety occur at a higher than average rate, suggesting that there is a correlation between the two conditions.

Scharff and her team agree that exposure to adverse childhood experiences,8 also called ACEs, can increase the likelihood that a person will struggle with substance abuse later in their life. And ACEs can also lead to other traits, like perfectionism, that are associated with high achievement. As such, learning how to identify these behaviors, process childhood traumas, and cope with triggers is a pivotal part of treatment for many high achievers who struggle with addiction.

Substance Abuse and Everyday Stressors

There’s one final reason why many high achievers may be prone to addiction: the stress they experience in their daily lives.

Imagine, for a minute, what it’s like to run a global enterprise, or play in a Super Bowl Game. Not only are millions of people expecting you to succeed—your entire life is also often in the public eye. Even for people who aren’t navigating childhood trauma, the pressure to perform at a board meeting or on a movie set, along with the social pressures of being in the limelight, can be overwhelming. Facing anxiety and burnout, many high achievers self-medicate to cope.

Aton center san diego
AToN Center in San Diego, California specializes in helping high achievers who face anxiety and burnout heal from substance abuse.

Studies show that turning to potentially unhealthy coping mechanisms is surprisingly common among successful people. In the recent Executive Wellbeing Index from Bupa Global, 60% of executives who reported struggling with mental health issues during the pandemic said they turned to potentially unhealthy coping mechanisms, like alcohol or substances, to self-medicate9 those issues. Nearly 40% of those respondents said they used over-the-counter drugs and/or alcohol to treat their anxiety, depression, fatigue, or mood swings.

It’s also important to remember that though self-medication and stress is part of daily life for many high achievers, during the pandemic many people lost access to their old, healthier coping mechanisms. In the write-up on their survey, Bupa Global notes: “Many of the mechanisms people typically use to cope with such stress and anxieties such as seeing friends and family, going to the gym, going on holiday and even going to work have been diminished, and replaced for other, more addictive substitutes such as increased alcohol consumption, self-medication, substance abuse, and gambling.” In the absence of other outlets, people often turn to substance abuse.

Even for people who don’t typically struggle with anxiety or depression, periods of stress can lead to self-medication, which can devolve into a more serious substance use problem. Treating mental health struggles as they arise can help all people, including high-achievers, stay ahead of that spiral.

Celebrity Success Stories

For many celebrities, CEOs, and other highly successful people, a combination of childhood trauma, anxiety and stress from a demanding job or lifestyle, and genetics can lead to struggles with substance abuse. But those struggles don’t always end in pain and suffering. In fact, many celebrities with household names have overcome their substance abuse problems by seeking treatment.

Oprah Winfrey, talk show host, author, producer, and much more, was addicted to crack cocaine10 in her early 20s. She started using while in an unhealthy relationship and soon became addicted. In an episode where she interviewed recovering addicts, Oprah shocked her audience when she said to guest Kim Davis: “​​I did your drug.” Oprah sought treatment for her addiction and has since become one of the most influential women in the world.

Business mogul Steve Madden also struggled with addiction11 in the past. This high achiever, who started his shoe company from the trunk of his car, was tried in 2002 for money laundering and fraud. In a documentary from 2017, Madden admitted that he struggled with substance abuse since he dropped out of college, and his lawyers explained in court that his crimes were the direct result of his addiction. Madden spent 41 months in prison and was forced to resign from his role as CEO. Since then, however, Madden has returned12 as creative and design chief of the company he started back in 1990. The company did $1.5 billion in sales last year and now owns a dozen other well-known brands.

There are dozens of stories just like these. For many high achievers, especially those in the public eye, finding treatment can be challenging. But, it’s not impossible. A number of rehab centers specialize in co-occurring disorders, like Solice in Marbella, Spain, which offers a holistic approach to recovery and treats co-occurring disorders like anxiety and depression. Other facilities, like AToN Center in San Diego, specialize in helping executives and professionals heal from substance abuse. These centers and many more offer discreet, personalized treatment that takes into consideration the needs of high-performing individuals.

Solice Spain
Solice in Marbella, Spain offers a holistic approach to recovery and extra privacy for executives who are concerned about confidentiality.

True Achievement: Healing Addiction and Underlying Trauma

As many people know, high achievement can be a double-edged sword. While it comes with motivation, hard work, creative thinking, and often, success, it also can also lead you down a path toward substance abuse and other addictive behaviors.

For many high achievers, substance abuse isn’t the problem—it’s simply a way to cope. Treating the underlying causes that can lead to addictive behavior, and learning about how your body handles substances, can be an invaluable way to find healing. The more you know about yourself, the more easily you can break old patterns, and discover a more successful, motivated, and capable version of yourself.

It’s important to remember that struggling with mental health is a normal part of life—particularly for certain groups of people. For many survivors of childhood trauma, those with a family history of substance abuse, and people in positions of power, treating mental health is part and parcel of living a successful life. Though it can be hard for high achievers to admit their own flaws, it’s okay to recognize that your brain has a unique way of navigating the world. And it’s entirely okay to ask for help when you need it.

You can start your healing journey and reduce your symptoms of anxiety and other co-occurring disorders at a treatment center near you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Addiction Among High Achievers

Why do high achievers struggle with addiction?

High achievers often face intense daily pressure, stress, and a need for perfection, which can contribute to using substances as a coping mechanism.

What are the signs of addiction in high achievers?

Signs of addiction among high achievers include increased excessive workload, declining performance, mood swings, hiding substance use, and neglecting personal well-being.

How can rehab help high achievers with addiction?

Recovery.com provides tailored treatment programs that include individual therapy, group therapy, holistic treatments, and support networks specifically designed for high achievers’ needs.
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Elite Recovery: How Social Status Affects Substance Use Disorders

Substance use disorders can affect people from all walks of life. And despite certain cultural stereotypes, elite clients may be especially vulnerable. Because people with high status face a specific set of stressors, they also have unique needs during recovery. If you’re a person who faces these unique challenges, it may be helpful to seek out a rehab that caters to luxury clientele.

These programs are specifically designed to provide support for people who are accustomed to a certain standard of living. What’s more, the staff at these facilities are highly qualified to help people of your demographic. By working with people who can intuitively understand your personal history, your current experience, and your goals for the future, you may have a much easier time approaching recovery.

Luxury rehabs are there to help you live your best life. In this type of treatment, you won’t be asked to give up the amenities you rely on, and you won’t be pressured to make changes that might jeopardize your future. Instead, your team will help you learn to navigate ongoing stress and triggers, without giving up the most meaningful parts of your life.

Stress and Socioeconomic Status

Every person has their own experience of stress. Elite social status doesn’t protect you from this. It may actually increase your stress levels, and as a result, make you more vulnerable to certain mental health conditions.

One expert writes, “Stress is a well-known risk factor in the development of addiction1 and in addiction relapse vulnerability.” Even the most affluent lifestyles may come with unique difficulties. As you consider attending rehab, you might benefit from reflecting on which areas of your life are the most challenging, in spite of their potential rewards.

The Weight of Reputation

People with high social status also tend to have high visibility. Whether your position comes from your family, your career, or any other source, it can feel as though you’re being scrutinized by the public. Your actions may reflect on the people around you, including your loved ones, colleagues, and employees. If you have celebrity status, your behavior may even have a direct impact on the lives of your fanbase.

When your behavior has such far-reaching consequences, it’s natural to feel pressure to perform. And because of the stigma surrounding substance use disorders,2 well-known figures may delay admitting that they need help. However, new research suggests that the public acknowledgment of mental health conditions can “serve as a powerful method of communication to increase awareness of mental health3 and normalize psychiatric illnesses.

Great Responsibility

Some elite clients have a great deal of responsibility. This is often true of high-level executives, who may be responsible for the success of their colleagues, shareholders, and employees. Others may have responsibilities to their family, or even to the public.

When people are depending on you, you may be concerned about letting them down. And if you have a substance use disorder, you may struggle with associated guilt and shame about your condition. But you’re only human. If you had a physical illness, seeking treatment would be seen as reasonable and responsible. Although it may not feel this way, the same is true of mental health diagnoses. Asking for help is not a failure.

Orenda at Futures
Orenda at Futures in Tequesta, Florida, has a comprehensive treatment program for high-level executives, complete with plush amenities.

Affluence and Mental Health

Although it can bring people great security and pleasure, material success does not protect your mental health.4 In fact, your annual income may be directly related to your experience of stress. In a 2018 study, “researchers found that people who earn between $51,000 and $75,000 generally feel the least stressed. By contrast, of those who make an income of $200,000 or more, nearly 70 percent said they feel stressed.”

And stress is just one component of mental health. Additionally, affluent people “are at a higher risk for depression.”5 For some clients—but certainly not all—this can be related to your attitude about your finances.

Managing wealth requires a great deal of emotional energy. And when you’re responsible for protecting yourself, your family, or your legacy, that may be unavoidable. However, it’s important to remember that your finances are just one aspect of your life. You are more than your external circumstances. It’s easy for elite clients to lose track of this, and as a result, become disconnected from the activities that make them feel most fulfilled.

Substance Misuse Among Luxury Clients

Perhaps due to these unique and isolating stressors, substance use disorders are common among high-powered clients. As one expert writes, “While money itself doesn’t cause addiction or substance abuse, wealth has been linked with a higher susceptibility to addiction problems.”6

In addition, numerous studies have found that in particular, the children of wealthy parents are extremely vulnerable to substance use disorders.7 In fact, teens of high socioeconomic status are significantly more likely to use alcohol and drugs than those with less privilege.

The stereotypical image of a substance user as destitute couldn’t be further from the truth. While it’s true that people with this diagnosis may come from any social class, substance misuse is likely on the rise among the elite. Reporting for Forbes, Alice Walton writes, “The prevalence of substance abuse in the CEO circle8 is hard to gauge because it is so clandestine—these are not the people who are checking themselves into rehab, they’re the people who [are] staying out of it and continuing to function. A recent study from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that about 20% of alcoholics are high functioning and well-educated. Prescription medication addiction is rising in many circles, the C-suite among them.”

However, this demographic also experiences unique barriers to treatment. Walton goes on to explain that some elite clients may be less trusting, and therefore resistant to receiving care. What’s more, many high-powered clients are high-functioning substance users. If you’re used to performing under pressure, you may be able to keep up appearances for a long time, despite overwhelming emotional turmoil. “There’s often the if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it mentality.”

It can be difficult to internalize the idea that you don’t need to lose everything before you admit you need treatment. This can be especially hard for clients who enjoy an especially high standard of living. If you’re accustomed to a certain lifestyle, it can be difficult to imagine giving it up, even temporarily.

Many elite clients may delay seeking help because they’re unable to step away from pressing responsibilities. And others have trouble considering inpatient treatment because they’re concerned about leaving certain amenities behind. Fortunately, some rehab programs are designed specifically for these clients. You may be able to benefit from inpatient treatment without losing access to the healthy parts of a lifestyle you love.

Luxury Rehabs for High-Powered Clients

There are luxury rehab programs all over the world. These upscale facilities are capable of offering treatment to elite clients, without interrupting their access to important amenities. You may even be able to attend a bespoke rehab facility that will tailor the program to suit your exact standards.

Mercui Recovery interior
Stays at Mercui Recovery combine privacy and comfort with luxury.

Personalized Treatment

Many rehabs offer individualized treatment. These programs may be personalized in a number of ways, giving clients a great deal of control over their own recovery processes. For example, you may be able to decide what type of therapy you participate in, how much access you have to technology, and how long you spend in residence.

Clients at Mercui Recovery, for example, are housed in “private luxury accommodations in a natural wilderness environment.” This rehab boasts five-star service, offering clinical therapy, business coaching, massage, and infrared sauna therapy, among many other modalities. By serving only one client at a time, they offer the utmost discretion and highly personalized care.

Executive Treatment

High-level executives may have difficulty leaving work to attend rehab. To accommodate their needs, some programs allow you to work remotely while you’re in residence. Orenda at Futures, for instance, provides executive clients with a private workspace during their stay.

The team at this facility recognizes that this hard-working demographic has a unique set of needs, goals, and barriers to treatment. Clients have the freedom to work during rehab, while still receiving care of the highest quality.

Luxury Amenities

Recovery is hard work, but parts of it can be enjoyable! Remember: rehab is an opportunity for you to reset. Finding activities you can healthily enjoy is a very important part of the healing process.

Luxury rehabs offer a wide variety of amenities. White River Manor, in South Africa, offers spa services, one-on-one personal training, and Pilates. At Sierra Tucson, you can engage in equine therapy, acupuncture, yoga, and more. Many programs also invite clients on adventure outings. You might go on a safari, swim with the dolphins, or explore the rim of a volcano.

White River Manor spa
White River Manor in South Africa caters to their clientele with a host of luxury amenities, including spa services.

Some therapeutic modalities—such as mindfulness and meditation—are commonly found at holistic rehabs. This approach is designed to treat every aspect of a client’s health as a whole, and may focus on strengthening the mind-body connection.

Healing is hard work. However, one of rehab’s main goals is to help you create a life you love, even without the use of illicit substances. At the right facility, you won’t be denied access to the activities you find most meaningful and fulfilling. On the contrary, you’ll be encouraged to learn new skills, and develop healthier habits as a result.

Living a Life You Love, Sustainably

When you complete inpatient treatment, you may ultimately decide to return home. This is not a necessity, of course. And you may first spend time in a transitional facility, such as a sober living environment. But for elite clients, especially those who continue working during rehab, it’s often the appropriate choice.

Returning to your previous environment may mean that your stress levels increase. Although that can be challenging, it’s not necessarily a barrier to recovery. From the moment you arrive at rehab, your team will begin to help you strategize ways to avoid or cope with relapse. Some programs, like Orenda at Futures, may also offer you in-person support for social functions that may be triggering.

Perhaps most importantly, remember that a life without substance use can still be fun. For some clients, it proves to be even more fun and more meaningful than life before rehab. The goal of healing is not to deny yourself life’s many pleasures. Instead, you’ll learn how to live your life to the fullest, in a much more sustainable way.

Recovery on Your Own Terms

Everyone deserves care. No matter how affluent you are, how much pressure you’re under, or how many responsibilities you have, that includes you. First and foremost, you are responsible for yourself. And by getting help, you’ll be in a far better position to support the people who rely on you.

For many elite clients, rehab feels out of reach. It can be hard to imagine letting go of certain behaviors, spending time out of the office, or stepping back from social engagements. However, recovery doesn’t mean giving up the best parts of your life. It means letting go of unhealthy patterns, to make room for something even better.

To learn more about programs tailored to high-powered clients, you can browse our list of luxury rehabs here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Luxury Rehab Programs

What is a luxury rehab and what does it offer?

Luxury rehab refers to high-end treatment centers that provide exclusive amenities, personalized care, and a luxurious environment for individuals seeking recovery. They offer upscale accommodations, gourmet meals, individual treatment, and tailored services to ensure a comfortable and comprehensive rehab experience.

How does luxury rehab differ from traditional rehab?

Luxury rehabs differ from traditional rehab by offering a higher level of comfort, privacy, and personalized care. They provide upscale accommodations, additional amenities, gourmet dining, and treatment tailored to meet the unique needs of their clientele.

What types of personalized services are offered at a luxury rehab?

Luxury rehabs provide a range of personalized services to cater to individual needs. Following a tailored plan, treatment may include one-on-one therapy sessions, holistic therapies such as spa treatments, gourmet dining, and various recreational activities. These personalized services enhance the overall experience and contribute to the effectiveness of the treatment program.
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Finding the Right Rehab for Your Teen or Young Adult

Anyone can struggle with substance use. Whatever your age, gender, job, or relationship status, you deserve to get the care you need. However, it can sometimes be hard to know what interventions would be most helpful. This is especially true for teens with substance use disorders.

Substance use during adolescence may have long-term effects on brain chemistry.1 For example, “cocaine exposure during adolescence may lead to miswiring in the developing brain and result in long-lasting behavioral problems, such as increased risk-taking, in adulthood.” Because of this, it’s especially important to get teens the help they need in order to begin recovery.

Young people may not always be able to recognize that they need help. And even when they do, they may not be legally or financially capable of seeking that help on their own. Whether you’re a teen or an adult caring for a teen with substance use disorder, the good news is that (specialized) treatment is widely available. Many rehabs offer programs created specifically for younger clients.

If you’re considering rehab for your teen, it’s important to understand the different options available. Depending on the client’s age and geographical location, there may be certain types of treatment that are more appropriate. This decision will also be influenced by your teen’s unique history, diagnoses, and treatment goals.

Reasons for Teen Substance Use

Research suggests that “the human brain is still maturing during the adolescent years.2 The developing brain may help explain why adolescents sometimes make decisions that are risky and can lead to safety or health concerns, including unique vulnerabilities to drug abuse.”

Beyond the simple fact of their age, there are many elements that impact a young person’s likelihood to misuse substances. Among them are risk factors, which make substance use more likely, and protective factors, which guard against these behaviors.

These external influences change with a person’s age. While that’s true for all clients, these changes occur more drastically in children, adolescents, and young adults. For example, middle school students who are too harshly disciplined are at greater risk for substance use disorders. Receiving support from extended family, on the other hand, makes substance abuse less likely in this population. Slightly older adolescents are at greater risk for substance misuse3 when they lack adult supervision, and at lower risk when family members set clear expectations.

Also, teens are experiencing heightened stress4 in this turbulent era of history. According to one study, even teens who had not experienced early life stress—such as neglect or abuse—were prone to “increases in anxiety and depression symptoms” during 2020. In this context, young people may be at a greater risk of developing mental health conditions than they once were.

It’s impossible to guard against every single circumstance that increases the risk of teen substance misuse. However, it can be helpful to familiarize yourself with some of the most prevalent risk factors. Whether or not you’re able to protect yourself or your teen from these stressors, knowing what they are may empower you to get help when it’s needed.

Parental Substance Use

If an adolescent is close to an adult who has a substance use disorder,5 they may be at a higher risk for developing one themselves. For some young people, this is simply a way of enacting the same behavior they’ve seen modeled. Others may use substances in order to cope with the stress of an unstable home life.

Strained familial relationships, financial insecurity, and similar issues can be hugely impactful. However, instability refers to more than these external circumstances. These teens may also have genetic predispositions to substance use disorders, as well as other mental health diagnoses.

Co-Occurring Disorders

Certain mental health concerns, such as depression and ADHD,6 make teens and young adults more likely to misuse substances. In some cases, this is an attempt to self-medicate. However, it’s not always that simple.

For teens with multiple diagnoses, the root cause of substance use can easily become a question of the chicken or the egg. As their brain chemistry continues to change, due to either normal development or unhealthy habits, they may begin to develop co-occurring disorders that make substance use even more appealing.

Whatever the cause of this behavior, few teens have the resources to pull out of this cycle without external interventions. In some cases, inpatient treatment is the most effective way to begin recovery.

Choosing a Rehab for a Young Adult

If you’re a parent or guardian supporting a struggling teenager, it can be difficult to know what’s best for them. And even if you’re confident that they should go to rehab, you may or may not be legally allowed to make that decision on their behalf

In some U.S. states, a parent can unilaterally decide to send a teen to rehab. In other areas, minors’ consent is also required. This varies widely based on the client’s exact age and geographical location. It’s best to learn what your family’s options are before making any specific plans regarding residential treatment.

The client’s age will also help determine which treatment program is best for them. For example, while it may seem that children and younger teens are more likely to grow out of a difficult phase, they may actually be in greater need of interventions. According to one study, “people are most likely to begin abusing drugs during adolescence,7 and the longer adolescents defer experimentation, the less likely they are to develop long-term drug abuse problems.”

Many rehabs often treat a wide variety of mental health concerns, not limited to substance use disorders. Teens and young adults may also benefit from rehab if they’re struggling with eating disorders, personality disorders, or even PTSD. Each of these diagnoses requires a slightly different approach to treatment, possibly including different levels of family involvement.

Some teens are able to live at home during treatment, receiving in-person support from family and friends while they begin recovery. Others may benefit from traveling to rehab. This gives clients both physical and emotional space from the challenges of daily life. It can also teach young people to set boundaries with those who enable their substance use. While this change of scenery may seem drastic, it has the potential to be extremely helpful. Remember that there is no one right way to heal; just the right way for each individual person.

Types of Teen Rehab Programs

If and when you’re ready to choose a rehab center, it’s best to learn as much as possible about the available options. Various programs specialize in treating different conditions, and each takes a unique approach to the process of healing. Because of this, it’s best to choose a facility that is qualified to meet your teen’s unique needs.

Substance Use and Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are extremely common among adolescents. As of 2018, as many as 10% of young women suffered from an eating disorder.8 What’s more, a growing body of research links eating disorders with addiction.9 One theory even suggests that anorexia nervosa is in fact “an addiction to the body’s endogenous opioids.” A number of rehabs focus on helping clients with one or both of these diagnoses.

Gender-Specific Treatment

For some clients, having space from people of different genders can feel like a much-needed break. This gender-specific approach to recovery may be especially helpful for adolescents. Studies show that young men and women exhibit “unique patterns of substance use,”10 and may therefore benefit from distinct approaches to treatment.

Some rehabs focus on treating young women. The program at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery, on the other hand, is tailored to meet the needs of young men, as well as non-binary and gender non-conforming teens. Although it is an LGBTQ+-affirming rehab, it is probably not the right fit for cis women.

Foothills at Red Oak
Foothills at Red Oak in Ellenboro, North Carolina has specialized programs for young men, non-binary and gender non-conforming teens.

In this protected environment, clients are invited to explore their developing identities. According to staff, “​​Adolescence is a time of self-discovery and identity formation…If one successfully navigates the tasks during this stage of life, one emerges with a solid sense of identity. This is a sense of knowing oneself despite the chaos and pressures of the world around them and is paramount to making healthy, value-based decisions.”

Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapy can be hugely beneficial for people of all ages. In this group of modalities, you may go skiing, river rafting, or rock climbing. Some rehabs even take their clients on adventure outings, where they might hike the lip of a volcano or swim with the dolphins.

These experiences aren’t just fun excursions; they’re also ways to practice the skills learned in talk therapy in a different context. They can also encourage clients to develop new hobbies, and help to restore the connection between mind and body. The latter is especially important for teens in recovery.

By surfing, horseback riding, or just playing sports, young people can get back in touch with their bodies and learn how it feels to be physically healthy. Experts theorize that this has a lasting impact on their continued sobriety and health. According to one study, “continued physical health for rehabilitated adolescent drug addicts is crucial…since it could enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation.”11

With this in mind, some adolescent rehab programs have a special focus on physical activity. Pacific Quest, for example, is a wilderness therapy program located on Hawaii’s Big Island. Here, clients participate in outdoor programming which may include hiking, paddle boarding, swimming, sailing, and more. Participants also perform community service during their time in residence. Through this process, they are encouraged to learn how to engage with nature, their communities, and themselves in a healthy way.

Personalized Treatment

There are numerous ways to approach recovery. Although many teens benefit from highly structured rehab programs, others may require a more nuanced approach. For these clients, personalized treatment may be the best option.

Pacific Teen Treatment, for example, treats only six clients at a time. Each teen is assigned a primary, secondary, and family therapist. Their team of providers works together to carry out a highly individualized plan of care. This approach may not be appropriate for all clients—especially those who want to focus on improving their interpersonal dynamics within a larger cohort. But it can be extremely effective for families who are committed to healing their relationships with one another.

Family Therapy

Adolescent substance misuse impacts family dynamics.12 According to one group of experts, “every chemically dependent person has a significant impact on the lives of several other people.” Because of this, it’s important for the parents, siblings, and other relatives of these clients to engage in their own healing processes.

In many cases, family therapy is a productive way to approach this. Most adolescent rehab programs offer some version of family therapy. This may include in-person sessions, video chats, or regularly scheduled phone calls.

Pacific Teen Treatment
A peek inside the calming environment at Pacific Teen Treatment in Malibu, California, where family therapy is a key area of focus.

Some facilities may limit clients’ communication with people outside of their cohort. Often, these programs restrict cell phone use during rehab. Others may prohibit calls or visits at the beginning of the program, but encourage this type of contact after some time has passed. Every rehab has its own unique guidelines, and those guidelines may vary from one client to another.

Therapy isn’t easy. This process may bring up traumatic memories and shine a light on difficult family dynamics. Even so, it is often an essential component of helping a teen recover from substance misuse.

Growing Beyond Substance Use

Substance use disorders are serious conditions. At any age, and especially for teenagers, this behavior should not be dismissed as “just a phase.” That being said, it can be temporary. It’s always possible to heal and grow beyond unhealthy habits.

A person’s adolescent years are powerfully creative. Over time, teens will inevitably learn more about themselves, defining their identities and discovering their own needs, goals, and values. It’s extremely important to connect these clients with the help they need and deserve. It’s also important to trust the process.

To see reviews, virtually tour facilities, and more, see our curated list of adolescent rehab programs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rehab Programs for Teens

Why are teen rehabs important for addressing substance abuse and mental health in adolescents?

Teen rehabs play a crucial role in providing specialized treatment for adolescents who face substance abuse and mental health issues. Through therapy, education, and support, these programs help teens and young adults overcome challenges and develop skills for long-term recovery.

What treatment approaches are used in teen rehabs?

Teen rehabs use a variety of treatment approaches:

• evidence-based treatment, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT); 
• individual and group counseling; 
• experiential therapies, like adventure outings;
• family therapy; 
• and more.

These approaches aim to address the unique needs of teenagers and support their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

How long do teens typically stay in rehab?

The duration of teen rehab programs vary depending on the severity of the issue, individual needs, and treatment plans. Most programs range from 30 to 90 days, while others extend for longer. The focus is to provide comprehensive support and equip teens with the tools for sustainable recovery.

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How Can I Pay for Treatment? 6 Ways to Afford Mental Health and Addiction Care

Cost shouldn’t stand between you and the mental health or addiction treatment you need. While treatment programs can be expensive, there are ways to make care more affordable. 

These are some of the most common ways people pay for treatment. We’ll help you understand what to expect, what questions to ask, and how to find the financial support that works for your situation. If you’re ready to start your recovery process, you may have more options than you think to help cover the costs.

Bar chart comparing the average cost of treatment for addiction and mental health care with and without insurance across 5 program types: medical detox, inpatient rehab, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and individual therapy.

1. Use Your Insurance Benefits

Most health insurance plans in the U.S. do cover mental health and addiction treatment.1 Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed, insurance companies are required to treat mental health services the same way they treat medical services. This means your coverage for therapy, rehab, or other treatment can’t be more restrictive than coverage for things like surgery or hospital stays.

However, insurance companies decide what they think is “medically necessary,”2 which means they might say no to treatment even when your doctor recommends it. Your insurance may cover some or all of your treatment costs; eligibility depends on your plan and whether they approve your care.

Most private rehab centers accept insurance and offer multiple payment options to help make treatment accessible. Some facilities also accept Medicare or Medicaid, though coverage can vary by state and provider.

How to Verify Benefits and Understand Behavioral Health Coverage

Before starting treatment, call your insurance company directly to understand your benefits. A customer service representative can walk you through your coverage details and help you understand what you’ll pay out of pocket.

Here are the key questions to ask your insurance provider:

  • What treatment programs does my policy cover?
  • Does my plan cover the full spectrum of care (detox, rehab, and continuing care)?
  • How much will I need to pay out of pocket?
  • What will my deductible and copayment be?
  • How many days of treatment are covered?
  • Will my insurance cover prescribed medications?
  • Does my plan cover out-of-network treatment centers?

You can also ask your treatment center’s admissions team to help verify your benefits. Many centers have staff who specialize in insurance and can help you understand your coverage before you start treatment.

Infographic showing key financial questions to ask before entering addiction or mental health treatment, including what to ask your treatment center and insurance company about coverage, out-of-pocket costs, and payment options.

2. Understand Treatment Costs by Level of Care

The cost of your treatment will also depend on how intensive it is. Here’s what you can expect for detox, inpatient, outpatient, and ongoing therapy:

Medical Detox

Some inpatient rehabs have detox facilities on-site; in other cases, detox is handled at a separate facility. In either case, medical detox is usually an additional cost above and beyond the price of your residential treatment program. 

Medical detox costs3 vary widely based on the level of care you need. Standard inpatient detox typically costs $250–$800 per day, while supervised detox with 24/7 medical care runs $500–$650 per day. Outpatient detox costs around $1,000 per day but has lower overall costs since you go home each night. 

Keep in mind that these are general ranges. Your actual costs will depend on your insurance coverage, the specific facility you choose, and your individual needs while in treatment.

Inpatient (Residential) Treatment

In the U.S., most 30-day programs at private facilities cost between $25,000 to $50,000 per month, though the prices of residential rehab programs can range from under $10,000 to upwards of $80,000. If you travel to countries with lower costs of living, such as Thailand or India, programs often cost under $15,000 per month.

If you’re considering traveling for treatment, see our article on choosing between local and destination rehabs.

Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs)

These programs, which offer more intensive care than outpatient but allow you to go home each night, typically cost $3,500 to upwards of $10,000 at private facilities.

Learn more about the differences between intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) to find the right level of care for your needs in our guide: IOP vs. PHP: Which Treatment Is Best for You?

Outpatient Programs

Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) in the U.S. range from $3,500 to over $10,000 depending on the length and number of sessions. Individual therapy with a private practitioner typically costs $65 to $250 per hour.

Graphic listing common mistakes people make when paying for addiction or mental health treatment, including assuming insurance covers everything, not asking for a cost breakdown, skipping questions about payment plans, and falling for predatory marketing.

3. Know How to Access Out-of-Network Providers

Sometimes the treatment program you really want to attend is not in your insurance network. This doesn’t mean you can’t access care there, but it does mean you’ll likely pay more out of pocket.

Options If Your Preferred Provider Isn’t Covered

If your preferred treatment center is out-of-network, you have several options. First, ask your insurance company if they offer any out-of-network benefits. Some plans will still cover a percentage of costs, even at non-network treatment facilities.

You can also ask the treatment center about their self-pay rates or cash pay discounts. Some centers have relationships with financing companies that can help you create affordable payment plans.

Another option is to ask your insurance company about single-case agreements. In some situations, especially when in-network options are limited, insurance companies will agree to cover an out-of-network health care provider at in-network rates.

Find more details in our complete guide to using insurance to pay for inpatient drug rehab.

4. Ask About Payment Plans and Sliding Scales

Treatment centers understand that cost can be a barrier to care. That’s why most facilities offer flexible payment options to help make treatment more affordable.

What to Ask When Money Is Tight

If you’re concerned about costs, be upfront with your rehab’s admissions staff about your financial situation. Often, facilities can work with you to create a payment plan that fits your budget. Ask about:

  • Interest-free payment plans that let you spread costs over several months
  • Sliding-scale fees based on your income
  • Discounts for paying your balance in full upfront
  • Work-trade arrangements where you can reduce costs by helping with facility operations
  • Scholarships or hardship funds they might have available

Don’t be afraid to negotiate. Treatment centers want to help people get the care they need, and some have flexibility in their pricing. The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised by what options are available.

5. Apply for Grants, Scholarships, and State Funding

Beyond insurance and payment plans, there are other sources of funding that can help cover treatment costs.

Public Resources and Nonprofit Support

Many states offer funding for addiction and mental health care through grants4 and public programs. Contact your state’s department of health or substance abuse agency to learn about programs in your area. These programs often have income requirements and may have waiting lists, but they can provide significant financial assistance.

Some nonprofit organizations also offer substance use disorder treatment scholarships. These might be available through professional associations, religious organizations, or foundations focused on mental illness and substance use disorders. Search online for “addiction treatment scholarships” or “mental health treatment grants” in your area.

If you’re a veteran, you may qualify for treatment through the VA healthcare system. Students might find resources through their college or university counseling centers, which often provide low-cost or free behavioral health services.

Always be wary of addiction treatment scams and rehab-owned referral sites posing as objective resources when searching for help online. Learn more in our article on how to avoid common addiction treatment center scams.

6. Get Help From an Insurance Advocate or Case Manager

Navigating insurance and treatment costs can be overwhelming, especially when you’re already facing a crisis. But luckily, you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

How Professionals Can Help Reduce Financial Stress

Many treatment centers employ insurance specialists or case managers who can help you understand your benefits and find ways to make treatment affordable. These professionals know the ins and outs of insurance coverage and can advocate on your behalf.

If your insurance claim gets denied, these advocates can help you appeal the decision. You have the right to appeal any denied claim through your insurance company’s internal review process, or through an independent external review if needed.

Some community-based organizations also have independent patient advocates or social workers who specialize in helping people access health care. Your doctor, local health department, or the 211 helpline (dial 2-1-1) can help you find these resources in your area.

Get Started Today

The most important step is to start exploring your options. Call your insurance company, reach out to treatment centers, and ask questions about costs and payment options. Treatment is an investment in your health and future, and there are people and resources available to help make it accessible.

You deserve support. And with the right financial planning, you can access the care you need.

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Gender-Specific Rehab Offers Peer-to-Peer Support

At its best, rehab is a safe, protected environment. And some people feel most supported recovering alongside people of their own gender. This may be especially true if you’re healing from trauma or toxic relationships, or simply want to reduce the time you spend explaining your emotional experience.

It’s important to distinguish between the concepts of gender and biological sex.1 The National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women’s Health defines sex as “a biological classification, encoded in our DNA. Males have XY chromosomes, and females have XX chromosomes.” Most—but certainly not all—people are able to define their biological sex in this way.

Gender, on the other hand, is described as “the socially constructed roles, behaviors, expressions, and identities of girls, women, boys, men, and gender diverse people. It influences how people perceive themselves and each other, and how they act and interact.” Gender and sex, as defined here, don’t match up for everyone. Because of this, some clients may consider attending a rehab that caters to people with LGBTQ+ identities.

Significant research has been done into the differences between men and women with substance use disorders. There is still much to learn about the relationship between gender and addiction, especially regarding trans, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming clients. Not every rehab offers gender-specific treatment. And of the ones that do, some may be more welcoming of trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people. LGBTQ+ clients may want to prioritize rehab programs that are explicitly supportive of their life experiences.

People of any demographic may benefit from attending rehab with a cohort of people who share an aspect of their specific identity. You may feel safe among people with a similar vocation, age, religion, or gender. Being in a group of people like you can facilitate communication, and cut down on any potential distractions from recovery. This focused approach may also give you insights into your relationship with addiction, especially as it relates to your unique identity.

Gender-Specific Risk Factors for Substance Use Disorders

People of different genders face differing social pressures. For example, men often feel that they have to make a certain amount of money, repress their emotions, and project an image of strength. Women, on the other hand, often themselves in caretaking roles, prioritizing their loved ones’ needs over their own. All of these social pressures can contribute to mental health issues and substance use disorders. However, they often cause men and women to experience different kinds of distress.

Trauma

Anyone can be affected by trauma. Many people develop PTSD or CPTSD as a result of traumatic experiences, and these conditions often affect people with substance use disorders. However, research shows that women entering rehab for drug addiction2 self-report “much greater proportions of past and current physical and sexual abuse than men.”

Attending a women-only rehab program may let clients heal among peers who share their understanding of trauma, which allows you to speak in shorthand. This cuts down on the emotional labor that’s necessary to describe your perspective. As a result, you may get more immediate and fulfilling support from the people in your group. Those with co-occurring PTSD and addiction, or who otherwise have concerns about underlying trauma, may also want to consider attending a rehab that offers trauma-informed care.

sunrise recovery ranch mens rehab
In the men’s program at Sunrise Recovery Ranch, clients work through “the pain, embarrassment, anger, and fear surrounding an addiction that can ultimately lead to relapsing.”

Shame

Although “the rate of substance abuse and dependence is higher among men3 than it is among women,” men tend to enter treatment later in the course of addiction than women do. This may be because there is a greater stigma attached to the idea of seeking help among men than there is among women. That stigma is isolating and extremely harmful. As a result, men may feel it’s better to suffer in silence than it is to get the help they need and deserve.

In a men’s rehab program, clients can work through some of this socially imposed shame among people who innately understand the pressures they face in their daily lives. Just by being present with each other, clients are reminded that they’re not alone. This facilitates community building, which is an important part of recovery.

Co-Occurring Disorders

Dual diagnoses can contribute to addictive tendencies for people of any gender. Research suggests that the prevalence of certain diagnoses varies between men and women.

One study on gender differences in substance use disorders4 found that women “have a significantly higher prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, than do men, and these disorders typically predate the onset of substance-abuse problems.” However, Glen R. Hanson, Acting Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, believes this data may be misleading. He explains, “Depression is much more common among women than men in the general public. This gender difference is much less pronounced among drug abusers. Possible explanations are that depression is a more potent risk factor for drug abuse among men than among women, or that drug abuse is more likely to cause depression among men5 than among women.”

Because of these distinctions, men, and women may require radically different kinds of therapy and medical treatment. By working with a team that specializes in rehab for people of your gender, it may be easier to get the specific kind of help you need.

Specific Addictions

Men and women have tendencies to misuse different substances. For instance, when compared to women, men are twice as likely to develop alcohol addictions.6 Experts say, “For most of American history, men were much more likely than women to drink alcohol and use illicit drugs recreationally, while women were more likely to be prescribed drugs as medicine.”7

These distinctions may be due to the different expectations that society places on men and women. Men are encouraged to go out and impress their friends and colleagues. This makes it easy for them to develop—and then to hide—addictive behaviors. On the other hand, women’s health issues are chronically under-researched and misunderstood.8 As this begins to change, there is hope that women may have more resources for healing from substance use disorders.

Susceptibility to Cravings

Overall, “women may be more susceptible [than men] to craving and relapse9 which are key phases of the addiction cycle.” This may be connected to gender-specific tendencies toward depression and anxiety. Hanson writes, “Among men relapse is more likely to be associated with anxiety and positive feelings,10 while among women depression and negative feelings appear to be more common triggers.”

Part of any rehab program includes the process of planning for aftercare. Your specific risk factors for relapse may impact how your team of healthcare providers helps you prepare for life after rehab.

hannahs house womens rehab
Hannah’s House focuses on issues that many women face, including “body image issues, financial inequality, burnout, trauma, and mental health disorders.”

Gender-Specific Approaches to Treatment

If you choose to attend a gender-specific rehab program, you’ll likely spend your time there focused on the common experiences of people who share your gender identity. Although no two people have the exact same history, these commonalities empower clients to teach and learn from each other. Doing this in a protected environment may make it even easier to build strong relationships with your peers.

Treatment for Women

Women-only rehab tends to focus on trauma and relationships with loved ones. In an effort to make clients feel as safe as possible, many of these programs even have all-female teams of therapists and other staff.

Hannah’s House, a rehab center in Texas, is one facility that exclusively treats women. This program focuses on issues that many women face, including “body image issues, financial inequality, burnout, trauma, and mental health disorders.” Their clinicians are experts in these specific areas. In fact, ““each primary therapist is a masters-level clinician, experienced in treating…physical and sexual trauma, disordered eating, body-image issues, self-harm issues, and other challenges commonly facing women with addictions.”

While Hannah’s House only treats women, some rehab centers offer separate treatment programs for both women and men. If you attend this type of program, you’ll be surrounded by people of your gender, although both programs may take place on the same campus.

Sunrise Recovery Ranch, for example, is structured this way. They recognize that “The unfortunate reality is that many women who have abused or become addicted to alcohol,11 cocaine, heroin, stimulants, or prescription painkillers have also experienced domestic violence, assault, or other forms of trauma.” While these and other issues may impact people of any gender, their program honors the fact that “addressing them in a mixed-gender setting may preclude some women from receiving the full benefit of the therapeutic experience.”

Treatment for Men

It’s true that, in many cultures, men experience less societal oppression than women. However, the presence of women in a treatment program may still be a trigger for some men, either as a distraction from the emotional work at hand or due to the pressure to present a certain image.

In the men’s program at Sunrise Recovery Ranch, clients work through “the pain, embarrassment, anger, and fear surrounding an addiction that can ultimately lead to relapsing.” By doing this surrounded only by men, they may be able to get some much-needed space from these emotions. This allows clients to hone certain skills, such as emotion regulation and distress tolerance, before returning to their lives outside of treatment.

Soberman’s Estate, in Arizona, is a men’s-only rehab. Unlike Sunrise Recovery Ranch, there are no women on-site at the facility. This program is designed for professional men aged 30-80, and provides treatment with a focus on the emotional issues unique to men with substance use disorders. They honor the fact that “it takes courage to reach out for help, and that confidentiality and convenience are important to you.”

This luxury rehab provides amenities that may be of particular interest to the clients they serve. Specifically, it offers clients access to a putting green, a fire pit, and a farm-to-table menu. Rehab is hard work, but recovery doesn’t have to take place in isolation. This is a place where men can learn or relearn how to enjoy the healthy pleasures that life has to offer.

Specialized Care for People of Different Genders

Individualized treatment can be extremely helpful for anyone in recovery, regardless of gender. Alex Spritzer, Family Addiction and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at The Hope House Scottsdale, says, “The biggest takeaway I’ve ever learned from addiction medicine is that everyone’s going to be different and they’re going to require different needs. Looking at relapse rates and the challenges people have in staying sober, there’s a uniqueness about that.”

This philosophy can be applied specifically, by creating a bespoke treatment regimen for every individual client, or more broadly, by offering unique programs to people of diverse identities. It’s especially important in the context of gender because women and men often have such different social experiences of addiction.

One study found that although “women and men have similar outcomes after treatment for substance use disorders…women might experience greater sensitivity to stress or the cues associated with the drug.”12 Furthermore, “women who are addicted experience greater stigma than do men; this combined with less social support means more isolation and greater risk for relapse for women than men.”

These differences not only impact each individual client’s experience of addiction; they also change the way other people treat men and women with substance use disorders. And recovery isn’t just about improving your mental health; it’s also about improving your life and your relationships. With that in mind, gender-specific programs may take different approaches to medical treatment, types of therapy, and even the length of a client’s stay in a residential program.

The Question of Gender

While these programs may be very helpful to some, they are not effective for all clients. If you’re not concerned with the way your experience of gender has affected your substance use, it may be unnecessary to find a gender-specific program. In addition, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and transgender clients may find these programs to be isolating, or even to exacerbate dysphoria.

Other clients may benefit from seeking treatment with a co-ed group, in which they have the opportunity to learn from people whose life experiences are vastly different from their own. It’s important to find a program that makes you feel safe, but doesn’t isolate you from the interactions that will help you grow.

Reconnect With Yourself Through Community

Gender-specific rehab is a protected space. Clients can trust that they already share certain experiences with the other people in their cohort. When everyone in the room has the same basic understanding of one aspect of your identity, it’s easier to share tactics for how to effectively navigate the world around you.

These programs offer you insight into the ways that your experience of gender may impact your relationship with substances. Many people turn to substances as a way of numbing the pain or dissociating from the trauma caused by social pressures. Being surrounded by people who you know have been subject to those same challenges can be extremely validating.

Perhaps most importantly, gender-specific rehab allows you to connect with your peers in a unique way. As you watch the people in your cohort learn and grow, reintegrating the different aspects of their identities, you may find it easier to do the same. This can support you in learning the skills you need to find joy and meaning in life throughout recovery.

If you’d like to begin recovery in a gender-specific rehab, learn more about these programs in our searchable list.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gender-Specific Addiction Treatment

What is gender-specific addiction treatment?

Gender-specific addiction treatment refers to rehab programs that cater specifically to people of a particular gender. These programs recognize the unique experiences, social pressures, and risk factors associated with substance use disorders based on gender. They provide a safe and supportive environment for recovery, addressing gender-related trauma, relationship dynamics, and other specific needs.

How does gender-specific rehab benefit people in recovery?

By being surrounded by peers who share their gender identity, people in recovery can connect with others with similar experiences, reducing the need to self-censor their experiences. This safe environment allows patients to go deeper into their healing journey and facilitates communication, community building, and a deeper understanding of addiction.

Are gender-specific rehab programs suitable for everyone?

Gender-specific rehab programs may not be suitable for everyone. While they provide valuable support and understanding for many, those who don’t feel their gender identity significantly impacts their substance use may not require a gender-specific program. Additionally, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and transgender folks may find these programs isolating. It’s important to find a rehab program that aligns with your specific needs and makes you feel safe while also allowing for diverse interactions and growth.

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Experts Weigh In on Individualized Care

Recovery is an extremely personal process. Each person’s needs are different, whether you’re healing from a broken leg or a substance use disorder. With that in mind, many rehabs offer individualized treatment.

As Jan Gerber, CEO of Paracelsus Recovery, explains:

“Every person is very different, and this one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, mental health, and addiction rarely works well. Everybody has a different background: culturally, in terms of their family values, political views, hobbies, what gives meaning to their lives, and their lack of purpose in their lives.”

Most rehab facilities offer some aspects of individualized care, such as one-on-one talk therapy. However, some programs take this approach much further. Certain residential rehab centers offer every individual client a completely bespoke experience, tailored to meet their exact needs.

What Is Individualized Rehab?

If you choose to attend an individualized rehab program, the treatment process may begin even before you arrive. You’ll begin by going through a detailed intake process, in which providers get to know you. Dr. Christine Merzeder, Senior Clinical Coordinator at Paracelsus Recovery, says,

“We start with an interview on the telephone or people write their own history of how they think their situation is. Then we work our way through the medical file. There’s no routine – it’s always something very, very different. Every client is a very individual case.”

Paracelsus individualized care
Paracelsus Recovery goes to great lengths to offer individualized care to each client.

Once your team is familiar with your personal needs and priorities, they’ll collaborate with you to create a treatment protocol that fits your values, needs, and goals. For example, some clients may benefit from 12-Step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Others might prefer to focus on one-to-one therapy. At White River Manor, for example, groups are not mandatory. Jeanine Fourie, Therapeutic Director and Co-Owner of the facility, firmly believes:

“Each client is here for their own treatment, and their own journey of recovery…it’s important for us that they feel that they get what they need out of their time with us. We accommodate what each client specifically needs.”

These bespoke programs offer benefits that may be hard to find in more structured rehabs. Notably, clients are more active in the process of choosing which therapies they’ll engage in. This allows you to practice making healthy choices in a safe context, surrounded by treatment providers who can provide structure as needed.

Who Is a Candidate for Individualized Care?

Individualized care isn’t for everyone. If you’d prefer to recover in a more structured and predictable environment, you may prefer a different style of treatment. However, certain demographics are more likely to benefit from a highly personalized approach.

Dual Diagnosis

Many people with substance use concerns present with co-occurring disorders. And clients with co-occurring conditions often find great value in programs tailored to meet their unique needs. For example, if you’re in recovery from both substance use and PTSD, you may require a very different treatment plan than a person recovering from both substance use and treatment-resistant depression.

The Hope House Scottsdale, for example, offers individualized care to treat dual diagnoses. According to their philosophy, “There isn’t one way to treat mental health problems.” This program utilizes a variety of treatment options—such as biofeedback, EMDR, family therapy, CBT, DBT, and group therapy—to treat clients with substance use disorders and additional mental health concerns.

Executive Clients

Like any other demographic, high-level executives are sometimes subject to substance use disorders. However, high-achieving people often have a unique set of needs during recovery. You may be unable to step away from work or family commitments to get the help you need. You may also be accustomed to a certain standard of living, and concerned about spending time without necessary amenities.

A number of rehab facilities offer executive treatment programs, which are specifically designed to address these concerns.Giles Fourie, Director and Co-Owner of White River Manor, says,

“A lot of business executives, business owners and professionals come through our program. And that’s because we offer our clients the ability to use their phones, to work from the luxury of their rooms or the business center, and keep whatever they need to keep going at their office still running.”

This approach makes recovery accessible for clients with demanding schedules. Individualized care is often a good solution for people who need to balance their health with their responsibilities, instead of sacrificing one for the other.

White River Manor lobby
A peek into White River Manor in South Africa.

High-Profile Clients

Individualized care programs tend to have a strong emphasis on discretion, which may be important to high-profile clients. Safe from prying eyes, you’ll be able to focus entirely on your own healing process.

It’s important to note that while these environments are protected, they don’t have to be isolating. Clients are often encouraged to continue the activities that make them feel the most grounded and capable. For example, Orenda at Futures is home to an addiction and mental health treatment program specifically designed for athletes. In residence here, clients continue to train throughout the recovery process.

Recovery in Private, But Not Alone

Research suggests a link between social isolation and substance abuse.1 And many clients benefit from honing their interpersonal skills during rehab. Individualized care often offers a greater degree of privacy, but doesn’t have to be isolating.

Of course, your specific rehab program will determine how you connect with the people around you. In some facilities, you’ll go through recovery with a small cohort of peers. Soberman’s Estate, for example, hosts a maximum of 10 people at a time. This format allows clients to find common ground and build relationships with each other. You’ll also be able to practice social skills in a safe, supervised context, which may alleviate concerns about falling back into unhealthy patterns.

Dr. Thomas Gazda of Soberman’s Estate is very focused on providing individualized care to each of his clients:

“When I sit down with a patient, I want to know more about them. I want to know about their background. What are their passions in life? What passions have they lost during their addiction? Have they become bored or distracted by something? What are they getting away from? Those things kind of come out…It’s very individualized.”

Clients are able to receive a high level of personal attention, as well as observe their peers in recovery. For many people, this is an effective way to balance their need for a specific type of treatment with the universal need for community.

Other programs take individualized care a step further, treating only one client at a time. Mercui Recovery is one such rehab center. Clients are hosted in a remote wilderness location, far from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Each person’s experience is unique, and “every client service is customized for the individual, every time.” This experience would likely not be a good fit for people who want to focus on peer-to-peer support during rehab. However, this unfettered access to your clinical team gives clients the time to create a comprehensive aftercare plan before completing the program. That plan may include a network of family and loved ones, local support groups, continued therapy, and medical care.

Mercui Recovery
A look at one of Mercui Recovery’s properties.

For many clients, the experience of individualized care is “the first time in their life that they pool all their medical information together,” says Dr. Christine Merzeder, Senior Clinical Coordinator of Paracelsus Recovery.

“With one client at a time, the knowledge base and communication base are very efficient. It’s a lot of being alert and not missing any information, and there’s no standard clinical path you can develop for that because every case is individual…it’s efficient, it’s fast, it involves the client and their family. And when they leave they get a written summary with all the findings and recommendations.”

In some highly individualized programs, you’ll be able to stay in touch with your friends, family, and possibly even your colleagues. This is most often true of rehabs that treat only one person at a time, and those that cater to high-achieving professionals. This strategy allows you to connect with people from afar, and then process your recent interactions with them during therapy. Even without on-site peer support, you’ll be able to practice interpersonal relationships. By engaging with the people who matter the most, you can learn not only about general social skills, but about how those skills can have the greatest possible impact within your own community.

Choosing an Individualized Care Program

Although individualized care aims to meet your unique needs, not every program will offer the exact mix of programming and amenities that’s right for you. It’s important to find a rehab center whose treatment philosophy aligns with yours. In the right context, you’ll be surrounded by providers with expertise that applies to your experience, and able to engage in activities that support your personal healing process. There are many different therapeutic modalities to choose from, and individualized therapy invites you to do just that.

Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapy is a way to process your emotions from a brand-new perspective. Rehab programs around the world offer a wide variety of activities that you may find engaging or inspiring. For example, if you want a fully embodied, adventurous experience, several rehab centers in Orange County invite clients to go surfing. At The ‘Ohana, in Hawaii, you can swim with the dolphins. Activities like these invite you to examine your behavioral habits in a greater context, and not just in a private room with a talk therapist.

The Ohana Hawaii
The ‘Ohana in Hawaii

Holistic Treatment

There are countless ways to approach healing. It’s quite common for individualized treatment programs to offer holistic care, with the intention to heal the body as well as the mind. You may have the opportunity to receive massage, reiki, acupuncture, or similar treatment modalities. These techniques encourage clients to learn about mindfulness, come into the present moment, and accept themselves just as they are.

Outpatient Care

Recovery is important, but it’s not always convenient. But you don’t have to delay your own healing process. Many clients choose to attend intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), which may be more feasible than residential treatment.

For example, Evolve Treatment Centers has several locations in California, treating adolescents from 12 to 17 years of age. This program allows them to continue living at home and going to school, while still engaging in treatment that’s tailored to meet their needs. Because of this flexibility, clients can get the help they need without interrupting this important chapter of their lives.

Bespoke Treatment Puts You Back in the Driver’s Seat

People of many demographics can benefit from individualized treatment programs. Alex Spritzer, Family Addiction and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at The Hope House Scottsdale, says,

“For example, a middle-aged mom of two children going through a separation is going to have very unique needs…versus someone who might per se not have a family, not be married, might be a single male, youthful, 18 years old. Considering where the person exists before the disease process, their home environment is really essential to their recovery.” In the context of individualized treatment, healthcare providers seek to honor each client’s experience, providing the best possible care for that particular person, at that particular time in their life.

However, bespoke care isn’t right for everyone. For some clients, it may be overwhelming or counterproductive to take such an active role in designing their own treatment course. Individualized treatment is founded on the idea that your unique needs are important. If what you need is a predefined structure, it’s important to respect that.

Rehab is, among other things, a way to regain control of your own life. When you begin treatment by working with a team to assess and understand what your life entails, you will almost certainly learn a great deal about your needs, goals, and values. This process mirrors the process of recovery itself.

If you think bespoke treatment may be right for you, learn more about rehabs offering individualized care here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Individualized Addiction Treatment

What is individualized care in rehab?

Individualized care is a type of treatment that is tailored to the needs of each individual. This can involve a number of factors, such as the individual’s substance use history, mental health history, and personal goals.

What are some of the different types of individualized care available in rehab?

Types of individualized treatments available in rehab include: one-on-one therapy (where you discuss your individual needs and goals with a therapist), experiential therapy (to help you process emotions from a new perspective), and holistic treatments (like massage, Reiki, and acupuncture).

What are the benefits of individualized care in rehab?

Individualized care in rehab can help you get the most out of treatment by addressing your specific needs. Your therapists and treatment team will consider your substance use history, your mental health, and personal goals when creating a treatment plan for you. This attention to detail can help you stay on track and motivated during recovery.

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LGBTQ+-Affirming Rehab

As an LGBTQ+ person, it can be hard to find supportive, affirming healthcare. People in this community face unique barriers to treatment. You may struggle to find providers who are both willing and able to give you the care you need. In some cases, it can actually be dangerous to disclose certain aspects of your life to a doctor.  And even staunch allies sometimes lack cultural competency, requiring clients to do the emotional labor of describing their own identities at every appointment. When you expect the very act of getting help to be such hard work, recovery can be daunting.

Fortunately, as time goes on, more and more healthcare providers are starting to understand the needs of the LGBTQ+ population. Information is readily available in ways it hasn’t always been, and people are actively learning what it means to be respectful. And it’s not just about reading up on theory. There are a number of rehabs that cater to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ clients.

Addiction in the LGBTQ+ Community

Historically, research has shown that LGBTQ+ people are at higher risk for substance use disorders1 than other populations. A 2012 study found that “between 20 percent to 30 percent of gay and transgender people abuse substances, compared to about 9 percent of the general population.” This finding was supported by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2015, which asserted that lesbian, gay, and bisexual people were “more likely than their sexual majority counterparts to have substance use and mental health issues.”2

Addiction is a mental health issue, and queer communities often lack access to effective mental health care. Recovery is the process of healing yourself as a whole person, reintegrating different aspects of your identity, and focusing on the parts of your life that bring you joy. In order to do that, it’s important to work with healthcare providers who encourage you to be the best and most authentic version of yourself. As time goes on, providers are learning more about what it means to do that for LGBTQ+ people. Thankfully, there are a growing number of resources available for LGBTQ+ people in the process of recovery.

caron ocean drive
Caron Ocean Drive in Boca Raton, Florida has on-staff endocrinologists who work closely with transgender clients.

What Is LGBTQ+-Affirming Care?

As with any demographic, LGBTQ+ affirming care is not one-size-fits-all. Skilled healthcare providers understand that there is more to you than your gender or sexuality. However, certain types of treatment are especially important to people with these identities.

Respectful Therapy

The goal of therapy is to become your best self, not to change or “fix” who you are. Culturally competent therapists honor their clients’ identities. By helping clients define and understand their own personal values, therapists encourage them to build joyful, sustainable lives. 

It’s important to find a therapist who is willing to meet you where you are, whether or not you subscribe to dominant cultural norms. For example, the United Recovery Project offers LGBTQ+ clients “resources designed to address the unique challenges and needs of those within this community” and “a space where you can feel at home and respected.”

Medical Support for Trans Clients

When seeking any kind of medical care, trans clients may be concerned about the way prescriptions interact with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Addiction recovery adds a deeper layer to this concern, because the detox process is yet another change in body chemistry. However, it’s absolutely possible to start recovery without losing access to the prescription medication you need. 

Finding the right balance of medications can be hard, and it can take time. Some rehab facilities, like Caron Ocean Drive, have staff endocrinologists who work closely with transgender clients. These experts are there to ensure your access to gender-affirming care3 throughout the process of detox and recovery.

Body Image Therapy

Rehab isn’t just for substance addiction. Many people also attend inpatient programs for various mental health conditions, including eating disorders. For example, providers at The Emily Program Seattle aim to offer all clients a positive experience of treatment—including LGBTQ+ people.

The providers at this facility are well-trained in the nuances of gender-affirming care. According to one of their published resources, “16% of transgender individuals have been diagnosed with an eating disorder. Eating disorders in the transgender community4 may be partially attributed to the attempt to more closely match a person’s physical appearance to their gender identity. Transgender men may rely on their eating disorder to lose weight, and thus, lose feminine curves and appear more muscular. Transgender women may engage in disorder[ed] eating in an attempt to lose muscle and appear more petite.”

the emily program
The Emily Program in Seattle, Washington offers inclusive treatment for eating disorders: a common condition in the transgender community.

Chosen Family Therapy

For the LGBTQ+ community, “family” is a complex and often painful concept. Many of those in this demographic are closer to their chosen families than their families of origin. Whether your family is defined by shared DNA, experience, or values, your health has an impact on your loved ones. Because of this, family therapy can be an important part of recovery.

The providers at Caron Ocean Drive recognize both the importance and complexity of family in LGBTQ+ communities:

“Family engagement is critical to treatment success so we invite those you identify as your family of choice to take part in education that enables them to better understand substance use disorder, mental health disorders, and how to best support you in recovery as well as attend to their recovery and emotional health.“

LGBTQ+ Youth

Historically, it’s been difficult to find adequate health care for young LGBTQ+ people. At its worst, treatment was once intended to force these vulnerable clients into living inauthentic lives. Mental health care has come a long way since that time, and there’s still a long way to go. 

Thankfully, there are now many resources available that aim to support LGBTQ+ youth in the process of coming out and growing into healthy adults. Providers today are proactively creating programs to support this population. With or without support from their families of origin, LGBTQ+ youth deserve high-quality care.

In particular, the providers at Paradigm Teen Treatment recognize that “One of the most vulnerable populations among youth today are LGBTQ teens.”6 This rehab center has a special focus on family therapy. They explicitly encourage parents to accept and support young people in the process of coming out. This is not just intended to heal family dynamics, but also to connect young clients with more community resources. Providers teach that when a family can accept a teen as they are, “it helps a community to do the same.”

At any age, LGBTQ+ clients face unique stressors. Culturally competent healthcare providers recognize that recovery will not make these hardships disappear. Instead, queer-friendly rehab programs are designed to help you navigate whatever life brings your way.

paradigm teen treatment
Paradigm Teen Treatment in Malibu, California encourages family members to support and accept young people in the process of coming out.

Treating Mental Health in LGBTQ+ Communities

Certain factors put LGBTQ+ people at higher risk7 for mental health concerns. Specifically, people in this demographic may face discrimination, harassment, a lack of access to adequate healthcare, and family rejection. These external stressors can exacerbate underlying mental health conditions. When your mental health takes a hit, it can be all too easy to return to unhealthy coping mechanisms. 

With or without a diagnosed mental illness, many LGBTQ+ people experience minority stress.8 This state is the result of living under discriminatory conditions that are, according to researchers, “unique (not experienced by nonstigmatized populations), chronic (related to social and cultural structures) and socially based (social processes, institutions and structures).” Even people without severe trauma can be worn down by daily life in difficult circumstances. Minority stress is common among people who experience oppression,9 including queer and BIPOC communities. 

People who experience more severe, specific trauma are likely to develop mental health disorders. For example, LGBTQ+ youth are at higher risk for PTSD.10 Many luxury rehabs offer trauma-informed care, which is designed to respect these clients’ unique needs and boundaries. Your providers will pay careful attention to your personal history, triggers, and treatment goals. This process encourages clients to understand the relationship between their trauma and substance use. The better you understand your own emotional experience, the better equipped you’ll be to handle stress in a healthy and sustainable way. 

As prevalent as stress and trauma are among LGBTQ+ clients, no experience is universal. Many rehab facilities pride themselves on offering bespoke treatment, tailoring the program to suit each individual client. If you have a specific mental health concern, it may be helpful to find a program that offers treatment for co-occurring disorders. Remember: there are as many ways to heal as there are people in recovery. You have the right to find a rehab program that honors every aspect of your health and your identity.

Take Pride in the Healing Process

Navigating the healthcare system can be hard for anyone, and even harder for queer folks. Members of minority populations are often taught that asking for help means admitting your lifestyle is problematic, and that’s simply untrue. LGBTQ-affirming care is designed to honor and support you, just as you are. In the right rehab program, you can learn to let go of unhealthy behaviors, while still celebrating your authentic self.

To find a program that suits your unique needs, you can connect directly with a rehab facility that offers LGBTQ+-affirming care.

Frequently Asked Questions About LGBTQ-Affirming Rehab

What is LGBTQ+-affirming rehab?

LGBTQ+ affirming rehab is a type of rehab program designed specifically for people in the LGBTQ+ community. These programs aim to create a safe therapeutic environment where people can explore their issues without fear of retraumatization.

Why is LGBTQ+-affirming rehab important?

Members of the LGBTQ+ community face unique challenges when seeking treatment for addiction or mental health issues. These can include discrimination, lack of understanding, and lack of access to appropriate resources. Affirming rehab programs provide safe, supportive spaces where people can receive the care they deserve.

How do LGBTQ+-affirming rehab programs differ from traditional rehab programs?

LGBTQ+-affirming rehabs may take a trauma-informed approach to treatment that assumes a history of identity-based trauma. They may also offer LGBTQ+-only housing, groups, or entire programs. The goal of LGBTQ+-only spaces and LGBTQ-focused care is to allow LGBTQ+ clients to engage in therapy without the self-censoring that would stall progress in a mainstream treatment setting.

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Attending Rehab as a High-Level Executive

Addiction can affect anyone, even high-level executives. According to a 2012 study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), people who worked in management had the third highest rate of illicit drug use1 of any surveyed profession. This issue is invisible to many people, which makes it even harder for executives to seek the addiction recovery help they need. 

Executives face unique stressors. With so many people depending on you, including employees, loved ones, and colleagues, it can be hard to recognize the signs of abuse. You may be so focused on your lengthy to-do list that you simply don’t have time to consider your own well-being. And even if you do recognize that you have a problem, it can be even harder to get help. Many executives feel like they don’t have the time or freedom to step away from work in order to begin recovery. 

As difficult as this process may appear, there are options available. Some rehab centers offer treatment plans tailored to meet the unique needs of high achievers, without isolating you from your responsibilities.

Understanding Addiction Among Executives

According to popular perception, high achievers have it easy. That just isn’t true. In order to maintain your lifestyle, you may face extreme pressures coming from many different directions, including the workplace, home, and social situations. In these circles, it’s often important to maintain appearances. Because of this, many executives have no way of knowing how common it is for people like them to struggle with substance use and mental health. Everyone’s experience is unique, but a few concerns in particular are extremely common among this demographic.

Anxiety

With great power comes great responsibility, and with great responsibility comes a great risk of anxiety. If you’ve ever lost sleep over a board meeting, had to stop and catch your breath on your way to a gala, or spent hours replaying a sound bite from your last business lunch, this might be something to consider. According to experts, “Studies indicate that approx. 10–40% of alcoholics have a panic-related anxiety disorder,2 and about 10–20% of anxiety disorder patients abuse alcohol or other drugs.”

Perfectionism

When an entire team of people relies on you, you may feel that you need to be the best of the best. As Louise Stanger, LCSW, writes “People in powerful positions are associated with strength, confidence, and a rock solid moral compass. Unfortunately, our society still views addiction as a weakness or moral failure, which sharply contradicts the key qualities of successful individuals. Add in public visibility and it can be difficult for an influential CEO or celebrity to seek help3 in an honest and open way.”

When you feel like you can’t ask for help, it’s natural to develop coping mechanisms that replace community support. You may even feel like substance abuse is what’s helping you to succeed. In reality, though, addiction is far more likely to hold you back. Research suggests that there may be a connection between perfectionism and substance misuse.4

However, there’s a way to make perfectionism work for you. Positive perfectionism is the attitude of striving to achieve high goals “while maintaining the ability to be satisfied with one’s performance.” Striking this balance may help you recover from substance misuse. 

If you’re a high achiever, there are likely aspects of your life and your personality that you don’t want to lose, even temporarily. Going to rehab can help you reintegrate the aspects of life that you find fulfilling, while stepping away from that which doesn’t serve you.

Unique Amenities at Executive Rehab Facilities

When selecting a rehab, high achievers have a very specific set of needs. There are a number of luxury rehab programs that are tailored to meet those needs, helping you heal in a way that won’t undermine your lifestyle. 

Discretion

mercui confidentiality
Mercui Recovery offers life and business coaching as part of their personalized treatment program at their centers in Malibu, Aspen, and Costa Palma, Mexico.

Luxury rehabs offer the utmost discretion. Some even serve only one client at a time. 

Mercui Recovery, a facility with locations in Malibu, Aspen, and Costa Palma, Mexico, is one of these. The program offers each guest treatment from several different schools of thought. You may do yoga and meditate, or participate in specialized therapies such as DBT or CBT. Most notably, Mercui Recovery also offers life and business coaching. Clients are not expected to simply step away from their entire life in order to focus on recovery. Instead, clinicians take a holistic approach, helping you heal every aspect of your life. This highly personalized program ensures that your specific concerns will be addressed during treatment.

Bespoke Treatment

white river manor suite
White River Manor in Mpumalanga, South Africa has an on-site business center that makes it easy for executive clients to work remotely during their stay.

Personalized addiction treatment means more than just connecting with the right therapist. Jan Gerber, CEO of Paracelsus Recovery, explains that “every person is very different, and this one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, mental health, and addiction rarely works well. Everybody has a different background: culturally, in terms of their family values, political views, hobbies, what gives meaning to their lives, and their lack of purpose in their lives. We can only help somebody recover from all these factors that have fueled an addiction if you individually attend to all these underlying reasons. And you can only do that when you individually tailor a treatment so that every client gets exactly what they need.”

Paracelsus is just one of many rehab facilities that work with each guest to create a unique treatment program. If you participate in this type of treatment, you’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of options, from art therapy to rock climbing. White River Manor, in South Africa, even takes guests on safari. 

Contrary to popular belief, rehab doesn’t need to be an isolating experience. Guests can continue to have adventures, learn about themselves in new contexts, and connect with the wider world. 

Stay Connected During Recovery

orenda at futures
Orenda at Futures in Tequesta, Florida connects clients with sober companions to support their return to work after rehab.

Rehab is a protected environment. In some programs, this means that guests have no phone or internet access, in order to focus on themselves instead of the people in their lives. However, this isn’t universally true. It can be especially important for executives to stay connected during their time in rehab. This makes rehab much more accessible to people who can’t take time off work.

Giles Fourie, Director and Co-Owner of White River Manor, says “A lot of business executives, business owners and professionals come through our program. And that’s because we offer our clients the ability to be able to use their phones, to work from the luxury of their rooms or the business center, and keep whatever they need to keep going at their office still running.” The healthcare providers at these facilities have a deep understanding of the stressors that may contribute to your emotional experience. As a result, they’re well-positioned to help you navigate the first stages of recovery.

If you continue to work while you’re in rehab, you may be preparing to return to the office as soon as you complete residential treatment. In that case, you may need to plan for social support in addition to therapeutic care. Some rehabs programs, like Orenda at Futures offer you access to a sober companion who can accompany you to business meetings and social engagements. Having someone there to support you in person can help ease the transition back into daily life after rehab. This external reminder of your new goals and healthy habits can remind you to strike a more sustainable balance, even as life returns to a faster pace.

Making Recovery Work for You

High-powered professionals often prioritize work over their own health. As laudable as this is, it can be unsustainable. Remember: you are the only person who can define what success means to you. It’s possible to achieve your goals while still living a healthy life. 

Rehab facilities that work with executives understand this delicate balance. These programs won’t ask you to walk away from your responsibilities entirely. Instead, they’ll teach you how to maintain a positive relationship with your personal definition of accomplishment. Recovery is not just a way to set down unhealthy patterns. It’s also a way to find balance in your busy life.

To learn more about programs that can help you restore your sense of peace, see our collection of rehabs serving executives.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rehab for Executives

What should I expect from a rehab program for executives?

Executive rehab programs offer personalized treatment plans that take your unique needs and work responsibilities into account. They may have flexible technology use policies and offer greater privacy, such as private accommodation and one-on-one therapy if group therapy isn’t an option for you.

How can I maintain my privacy while attending rehab as a CEO?

CEOs can maintain their privacy during rehab by enrolling in an executive program. These tend to prioritize confidentiality, with bespoke treatment plans and luxurious, single accommodation. Some don’t require group therapy for utmost privacy.

How do I manage my work responsibilities during rehab?

Many executive rehab programs let you stay connected to work during treatment. They may have more flexible technology policies, a business center, and even a sober companion who accompanies you to business meetings and social engagements.