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

1. The Salvation Army Clitheroe Center

Located in Anchorage, The Salvation Army Clitheroe Center provides men’s and women’s residential inpatient services, as well as outpatient rehabilitation services for adults, including medication-assisted treatment, the acceptance of patients on opioid medication, and the employment of medications for psychiatric disorders. It ranked near the top in three out of five categories, which earned it the highest overall score of 6.2 points out of 10 possible points in our rankings.

The category of Treatment Approaches had the highest score due to the variation of behavior therapies offered, including cognitive, dialectical, and rational emotive, among other approaches. Unique populations for whom special programs are available range from military members to patients who have experienced trauma to individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Clitheroe Center scored only four points in the Cost category since it doesn’t accept Medicare or ITU funds. However, it does accept self-payment and TRICARE.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 7.5
• Treatment Approaches: 8
• Cost: 4
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 3
• Ancillary Services: 7.28

2. Bartlett Regional Hospital Rainforest Recovery Center

Rainforest Recovery Center, on the campus of Bartlett Regional Hospital, is located in Juneau, and it received an overall score of 5.9 points out of 10 points. The facility offers outpatient rehabilitation services and residential services to adults. Rainforest Recovery Center received the highest possible score in the category of Ancillary Services due to the wealth of these complementary services available to patients, such as health education services, continuing care, housing services, tobacco cessation counseling, social skills development, and many more.

The center also received a perfect score in the Rehabilitation Services Provided category for the broad range of rehabilitation services offered, including detoxification, the use of medications for psychiatric disorders, and the fact that it accepts clients on opioid medication. The category of Special Programs for Unique Demographics received a low score as the center is limited to treating adults and patients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Rainforest Recovery Center also scored low in the Cost category since it does not accept Medicare or TRIAGE. The center does, however, accept Medicaid, private health insurance and self-payment.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 10
• Treatment Approaches: 4
• Cost: 3
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 2
• Ancillary Services: 10

3. Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services, Inc. Nugen’s Ranch

Located in Wasilla, Nugen’s Ranch provides residential programs for adult women and men, earning it an overall score of 5.5 points out of 10 possible points in our rankings. The center scored low in the category of Rehabilitation Services Provided as it offers general substance abuse services but does not provide medication-assisted treatment for patients addicted to opioids. Treatment approaches at Nugen’s Ranch are plentiful and include cognitive behavioral therapy, 12-step facilitation, motivational interviewing and incentives, relapse prevention, and many more.

Additionally, the wealth of ancillary services elicited a high score in that category and range from housing and transportation assistance to employment counseling and training to treatment for gambling disorders, to name just a few. The center also ranked high in the category of Cost as it accepts Access to Recovery (ATR) vouchers, TRICARE, private health insurance, federal funding for substance abuse programs, and self-payment. However, it does exclude Medicare and Medicaid from its payment options.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 2.5
• Treatment Approaches: 8
• Cost: 7.5
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 2
• Ancillary Services: 9.5

Start by contacting your referral center

In Alaska, the first step is to contact the Division of Behavioral Health via the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. The DBH works statewide to provide a continuum of behavioral health services, including substance use treatment and recovery. To find a treatment provider near you, go to the DBH page on the Alaska DHSS website, and navigate to “Find a Treatment Provider.”

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 Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.

Use our database to find a treatment center near you

The tool below lists all of the treatment centers in the state of Alaska 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 Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) works through the Adolescent Health Program to offer numerous substance abuse resources for parents and teachers. ‘Alaska’s Strategies to Prevent Underage Drinking’ is a detailed guide that offers an overview of underage alcohol use in Alaska, as well as multiple ways to both prevent and combat it. Furthermore, the ‘Get the Facts About Marijuana’ fact sheet outlines the risks of adolescent marijuana use, as well as prevention strategies and a list of resources to contact for assistance.

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 Alaska:

Alaska Department of Health and Social Services: The DHSS website has a section dedicated to helping the public with mental health concerns.

Alaska National Alliance on Mental Illness: The NAMI website provides resources for each state. Navigate to the page dedicated to Alaska. This page offers a multitude of resources for individuals dealing with mental illness, with a link to various crisis resources, including the Veterans Crisis Line.

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.

Nearly 15% of Alaskans 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 Alaska are much higher 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, Alaska witnessed a 37.4% increase in the number of suicides. In 2017, Alaska ranked 2nd in the country for the number of suicides per 100,000 residents.

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

Prescription drug abuse – particularly 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 a 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 Alaska is much higher than 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 the cause and 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 slightly higher in Anchorage than across Alaska