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

1. Millsboro Connections Community Support Programs

The Millsboro branch of Connections Community Support Programs scored an overall 7.1 points out of 10 possible points in our rankings. Connections offers outpatient services for adults, including veterans and young adults, with a focus on offering substance abuse treatment and detoxification services for individuals addicted to opioids, which encompasses heroin. The center had a perfect score for its cost options and ancillary services, as it offers a multitude of complementary services, such as tobacco cessation counseling, social skills development, domestic violence services and more, in an affordable setting in an effort to help patients sustain long-lasting recovery. The center’s lowest scoring category was due to the limited nature of the rehabilitation services it provides, although it does offer medication-assisted treatment.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 5
• Treatment Approaches: 6.3
• Cost: 10
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 6.66
• Ancillary Services: 10

2. Brandywine Counseling & Community Services Newark Treatment Center

The Newark Treatment Center location of Brandywine Counseling & Community Services ranked second with 5.7 points out of 10 points. The center earned one of its highest scores for the rehabilitation services it provides, including numerous outpatient medication-assisted treatment options and even offering a SAMHSA-certified opioid treatment program. It had the highest score in the Cost category, as it accepts Medicare, Medicaid, government funding for substance abuse programs, private health insurance, and self-payment, in addition to using a sliding fee scale based on income and other factors. Brandywine scored lowest regarding its special programs for unique populations, but does still serve patients with co-occurring mental health disorders, military members, pregnant/postpartum women, and individuals with HIV/AIDS.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 6.3
• Treatment Approaches: 5
• Cost: 8
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 3.33
• Ancillary Services: 5

3. Fellowship Health Resources

Located in Georgetown, Fellowship Health Resources earned a score of 5.6 out of 10 points. The center provides special programs for a wide variety of unique populations – members of the LGBTQ community, veterans and active duty military personnel, seniors, pregnant/postpartum women, victims of trauma and domestic violence and more – giving it the highest possible score in this category. FHR also scored 10 out of 10 points in the Cost category due to its accommodation of multiple payment options, such as Medicare, Medicaid and other state-financed health insurance, government funding for substance abuse programs, private health insurance, and self-payment. However, scores for rehabilitation services and treatment approaches were both relatively low due to the limited range of medication-assisted treatments and therapy modalities.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 2.2
• Treatment Approaches: 3.8
• Cost: 10
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 10
• Ancillary Services: 5

4. Aquila of Delaware, Inc. ARGO Institute

Scoring 4 out of 10 points, the ARGO Institute, which is part of Aquila of Delaware, Inc. in Wilmington, ranked fourth in our list of highest-rated low-cost rehabilitation centers in Delaware. The center offers intensive outpatient substance abuse services, and although treatment approaches and ancillary services are limited, the center provides medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence in adults and a trauma-informed treatment approach that also incorporates harm reduction strategies and the 12-step philosophy. Adults and adolescents can receive treatment here, but the center lacks special programs for unique populations, aside from patients with co-occurring mental health disorders. Despite the lack of overall varied services, the facility received a perfect score in the Cost category due to its acceptance of many payment options, including Medicare, Medicaid and other state-financed insurance plans, TRICARE, private health insurance, and self-payment. A payment assistance program and a sliding fee scale based on income and other factors are also available to clients.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 2.2
• Treatment Approaches: 3.8
• Cost: 10
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 1.11
• Ancillary Services: 2.5

Take the first step by entering the START system

In Delaware, the Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Transformation System (START), offered by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), is in place for individuals in the state who are seeking help with substance use disorders. They can enter into this system of care via a hospital admission, a recovery program, a physician referral, or by contacting the local Crisis Hotline directly. The Delaware Treatment and Referral Network (DTRN), which is part of the START system, is also available to help patients transition to providers that will meet their specific care needs. Learn more about START and DTRN here.

The purpose of START is to determine what type of help each individual needs, as well as the resources available for each individual. The Delaware DHSS is 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 Delaware DHSS Medicaid and medical assistance 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 Delaware 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.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD, as of early 2019, nearly one of every three veterans who seeks treatment for a substance use disorder also has a PTSD diagnosis. Similarly, over one in four veterans who has received a diagnosis of PTSD is also struggling with a substance use disorder. Furthermore, for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, one in 10 of those individuals who visits a VA health care facility has a substance use disorder.

Additional Resources for Parents and Teachers

The Delaware DHSS has collaborated with Partnership for Drug-Free Kids to provide resources for parents and caregivers. The co-branded website offers abundant resources specifically for parents. The State of Delaware’s Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families information page also provides information about prevention and early intervention services for families affected by youth substance abuse.

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 Delaware:

Delaware National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): The Delaware branch of NAMI has a website offering resources to assist residents with finding local mental health services, and the organization also provides mental health information specifically for youth and veterans.

Mental Health Association in Delaware: The Delaware MHA website offers educational material on mental health and has a section dedicated to children and adolescents.

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 one hundred thousand Delawareans 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 Delaware are much 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, Delaware witnessed a 5.9% increase in the number of suicides. In 2017, Delaware ranked 43rd in the country for the number of suicides per 100,000 residents.

Delaware has a significantly higher 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 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 Delaware is much lower 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 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 New Castle County than across Delaware