Drug & Alcohol Addiction Rehab, Treatment & Recovery Resources in Connecticut

1. Bridges Healthcare, Inc.

Bridges Healthcare, Inc., located in Milford, had the highest score in our rankings with 7.6 points out of 10 possible points. The center provides inpatient and intensive outpatient rehabilitation services for adults, adolescents, and members of the military. The center scored well in almost every category except for Rehabilitation Services Provided, due to its limited substance abuse treatment options, although it does accept patients on opioid medications. Bridges received a perfect score for its wide variety of treatment approaches, which include cognitive behavioral, dialectical and and rational emotive therapies; relapse prevention, motivational interviewing and incentives, both the 12-step and Matrix Model approaches, and more. The center also received the maximum points for its wealth of special programs offered to unique populations, such as members of the LGBT community, victims of domestic violence, pregnant/postpartum women, veterans, patients with co-occurring mental health disorders, clients referred from the court system, and more.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 4.15
• Treatment Approaches: 10
• Cost: 7.77
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 10
• Ancillary Services: 7.74

2. Community Mental Health Affiliates Substance Abuse Services

Community Mental Health Affiliates is located in New Britain and earned a score of 7.6 points out of 10 points. The facility offers outpatient rehabilitation services to residents of Central Connecticut. It received a perfect score in the category of Treatment Approaches, offering a wide range of techniques, including anger management, community reinforcement plus vouchers, trauma-related counseling, and many more. It also received a high score for the wealth of ancillary services it provides to clients, ranging from health education and screenings to tobacco cessation counseling to housing and transportation assistance and more. The center scored lowest in the category of Cost, earning just 3.33 points as a result of its somewhat limited payment options. However, it does offer a sliding fee scale to clients based on income and other factors.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 8.3
• Treatment Approaches: 10
• Cost: 3.33
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 8.67
• Ancillary Services: 6.02

3. Connecticut Valley Hospital Addiction Services Division - Middletown Campus

With 7.3 out of 10 points, the Middletown campus of the Connecticut Valley Hospital Addiction Services Division earned the third-highest score in our rankings. The facility offers inpatient rehabilitation services to residents of Central Connecticut. The center received a near-perfect score in the category of Ancillary Services for its extensive range of complementary services, including case management, social skills development, and housing services, among many more. However, the center offers a limited amount of programs aimed at special demographics, although it does cater to individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders, pregnant women, HIV-positive patients, and deaf and hearing-impaired clients. It scored relatively high in the category of Cost given its multitude of payment options, such as Medicare, Medicaid and other state-financed health insurance, TRICARE, Access to Recovery vouchers, private health insurance, and self-payment.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 7.47
• Treatment Approaches: 8.35
• Cost: 7.77
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 3.35
• Ancillary Services: 9.46

Start by contacting your referral center

In Connecticut, the first step is to contact the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) for information on substance abuse services in your region. Rehabilitation facilities are located in the five regions serviced by the DMHAS across the state. To find the contact information for addiction services in your area, visit the DMHAS website.

The purpose of a referral center is to determine what type of help each individual needs, as well as the resources available for each individual. The referral center is also the first point of contact for anyone who may need assistance paying for treatment. To learn if you qualify for low-income Medicaid services, and to determine eligibility, visit the Connecticut DHHS Medicaid information page.

Use our database to find a treatment center near you

The tool below lists all of the treatment centers in the state of Connecticut recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Input your zip code and select the filter icon to find relevant treatment centers near you.

Substance use disorder and PTSD go hand-in-hand for many veterans

Veterans face unique challenges that can place them at higher risk for a substance use disorder (SUD) than the general population. The primary factor leading to this increased risk is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while other situations, such as unemployment, homelessness and chronic pain, can also be contributing factors. Furthermore, individuals – including veterans – with a substance use disorder are more likely to develop PTSD, so the problem is cyclical in nature.

Additional Resources for Parents and Teachers

The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) offers substance abuse services in five regions of the state. Each center works with youth and adults in a particular region of Connecticut to prevent substance abuse, and each has unique resources for families in the region. To find a center near you, check the DMHAS listing.

Mental Health Resources & Treatment

If you or someone you love is suffering from mental health issues, such as depression, PTSD, eating disorders, or severe anxiety, there are many resources from which to receive help.

Below are a few ways to receive immediate assistance, as advised by MentalHealth.gov:

Emergency Services: If your life (or someone else’s life) is in danger, always start by dialing 911 to gain immediate access to emergency services.

Suicide Prevention: The number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is: 800-273-8255. You can also initiate a private live online chat.

Veterans Crisis Line: Dial the National Suicide Prevention LIfeline at 800-273-8255 and press “1” to talk to someone immediately. You can also access help with a private online chat or text 838255.

Here are two ways to find a provider of mental health treatment in Connecticut:

Connecticut Department of Health and Human Services: The DHHS website has a section dedicated to helping the general public with mental health concerns, including a mental illness information page and a directory of Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) in the state.

Connecticut National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): The NAMI website has a section with resources and guidance for young adults in Connecticut who are struggling with mental illness. Young adults can also visit Turning Point CT, a website dedicated to helping adolescents overcome mental health issues. For veterans, NAMI offers support groups in Newington and West Haven, with details found on the support group information page.

Individuals who have both substance use and mental health disorders may benefit from dual-diagnosis rehab facilities. Use the appropriate filter in our tool above to find rehabilitation centers with treatment programs designed to meet the unique challenge posed by co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.

Contact the appropriate local organization to find an AA or NA meeting near you

The tool below lists the contact information for local organizations that will connect you to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings near you. Since meeting times and locations change periodically, contact the local groups that coordinate the meetings to ensure that the information is up to date.

Over half a million Connecticut residents suffer from mental illness every year

As discussed earlier in this guide, there is a strong link between substance use disorders and mental health disorders. When an individual is afflicted with both of these issues at the same time, health professionals refer to it as co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders or a “dual diagnosis.” Consequently, the prevalence of mental health issues in a given state can also help us to understand the level of substance abuse.

Suicide rates in Connecticut are significantly lower than the national average

The Centers for Disease Control reports that suicide is the leading cause of death in the United States: The suicide rate has risen in nearly every state from 1999 to 2016, with that rate increasing by more than 30% in half of all 50 states since 1999. Suicide is an act that is often linked to substance abuse. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, substance abuse is a primary risk factor for both adults and adolescents who attempt and/or complete suicide, and this is particularly true for at-risk populations.

Furthermore, the relationship between substance abuse and suicide is multi-faceted and complex. Persons who have substance abuse issues typically also carry other risk factors for suicide, including depression, impulsive behavior, and other struggles with relationships, finances, illness, or unemployment that make them more likely to engage in self-harm. Between 1999 and 2016, Connecticut witnessed a 19.2% increase in suicides. In 2017, Connecticut ranked 45th in the country for the number of suicides per 100,000 residents.

Connecticut has a much lower opioid prescribing rate than the overall U.S. rate

Prescription drug abuse – particularly in the form of opioids – has become an epidemic in the United States. While it is difficult to estimate how many individuals use these drugs as prescribed and how many abuse them, the Centers for Disease Control has researched the variation in opioid prescriptions between states, establishing a direct connection between an increased level of opioid prescriptions with the greater potential for dependence and abuse. Across the United States in 2017, 191 million prescriptions for opioids were written by physicians, ultimately leading one in four patients who begins long-term opioid therapy to an addiction.

The rate of homelessness in Connecticut is over half the national average

A high rate of homelessness in an area indicates a greater potential for substance abuse issues. Homelessness has been shown to be linked to substance abuse as both a cause and a result; some individuals become homeless due to a substance use disorder, while other individuals who are already homeless frequently turn to substance use to dull the pain and desperation of their situation.

The 2018 Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Point-in-Time Count reported approximately 552,830 homeless individuals in the United States, the equivalent of 17 of every 10,000 U.S. residents. This number represents a decrease of 4.1% since 2014 when the number of homeless persons in the U.S. was around 576,450. Furthermore, homelessness across the United States has decreased by 15% since 2007, the year that HUD began collecting data on the homeless population.

Drug- and alcohol-induced deaths are lower in Bridgeport than across Connecticut