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

1. United Community Services Healthcare

Located in Des Moines, United Community Services earned the top spot in our rankings with an overall score of 7.9 points out of 10 possible points, including maximum points in three of the five categories. The center received full points in the category of Rehabilitation Services Provided due to its extensive outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation services for adults, ranging from medication-assisted treatment to detoxification services to a SAMHSA-certified Opioid Treatment Program. It also scored highest in the category of Special Programs for Unique Demographics as it offers a wealth of programs that cater to unique populations, such as individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders, members of the LGBTQ community, clients referred from the court system, and pregnant/postpartum women, among many others.

The center also earned maximum points in the category of Ancillary Services for providing a multitude of services intended to complement and promote clients’ long-term recovery, including housing and transportation assistance, HIV/AIDS education and support, domestic violence services, comprehensive mental health assessments, and many more. It scored lowest in the category of Cost; however, it accepts Medicaid and other state-financed health insurance, Access to Recovery vouchers, government funding for substance abuse treatment, private health insurance, and self-payment as payment methods, in addition to offering a sliding fee scale based on income and other factors.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 10
• Treatment Approaches: 5.55
• Cost: 5.01
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 10
• Ancillary Services: 10

2. Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa

The Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa, located in Centerville, received an overall score of 6.9 points out of 10 points. The center provides outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation services to adolescents and adults, including medication-assisted treatment. It earned its highest score in the category of Ancillary Services for its wealth of services intended to promote and complement clients’ long-term recovery, ranging from employment counseling and training and health education services to individual/group/marital/family counseling to social skills development.

Conversely, the center earned zero points in the category of Special Programs for Unique Demographics for its lack of programs that cater to members of unique populations. It received a high score in the category of Cost as it accepts a wide variety of payment options, such as Medicare, Medicaid and other state-financed health insurance, Access to Recovery (ATR) vouchers, TRICARE, government funding for substance abuse programs, private health insurance, and self-payment, in addition to offering a sliding fee scale based on income and other factors.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 8
• Treatment Approaches: 7.77
• Cost: 8.35
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 0
• Ancillary Services: 8.4

3. Prelude Behavioral Services

With a score of 5.3 out of 10 points, the Des Moines location of Prelude Behavioral Services center received the third spot in our rankings. The center provides outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation services for adolescents and adults, including accepting patients on opioid medication. The center received its highest score in the category of Treatment Approaches for its wide variety of modalities, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-related counseling, anger management, relapse prevention, both 12-step facilitation and Matrix Model approaches, and several more.

Conversely, the center earned its lowest score in the category of Special Programs for Unique Demographics as a result of its limited programs that cater to members of unique populations; however, it does offer programs for individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders and patients who have experienced trauma. For the category of Cost, it accepts Medicaid and other state-financed health insurance, Access to Recovery vouchers, government funding for substance abuse programs, private health insurance, and self-payment as payment options, in addition to offering a sliding fee scale based on income and other factors.

• Rehabilitation Services Provided: 4
• Treatment Approaches: 7.77
• Cost: 5.01
• Special Programs for Unique Demographics: 2.86
• Ancillary Services: 7.28

Start by contacting your referral center

In Iowa, the first step is to contact Your Life Iowa (YLI). YLI is funded by the Iowa Department of Public Health and provides a myriad of resources to individuals battling a substance use disorder, including a searchable database to find local agencies. Advanced search features will narrow down results to agencies that provide residential or outpatient services, medication-assisted treatment, and state-funded services.

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 Iowa Department of Human Services About Iowa Medicaid page.

Use our database to find a treatment center near you

The tool below lists all of the treatment centers in the state of Iowa 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.

Iowa ranks among the top 10 states for veterans engaging in binge drinking

According to the CDC, Iowa ranked among the top 10 states in 2017 for veterans who engaged in binge drinking, with a reported 18.5% of veterans in the state taking part in the dangerous behavior that is often linked to PTSD. This percentage is among the highest for all 50 states; Hawaii reported the greatest percentage of veterans engaging in binge drinking at 21.5%, while Utah was at the bottom of the rankings at 9.1%.

Additional Resources for Parents and Teachers

Through its Bureau of Substance Abuse, the Iowa Department of Public Health funds a variety of prevention and treatment programs through local providers. To find a substance abuse treatment center or program near you, consult the IDPH-sponsored resource, Your Life Iowa.   This website provides a variety of prevention resources, treatment options, and recovery programs for both adolescents and adults.

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 Iowa:

Iowa Department of Human Services (IDHS): The Iowa Department of Human Services website provides residents of Iowa with a variety of mental health initiatives and resources.

Iowa National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): The Iowa branch of NAMI provides information on mental health resources across the state and offers specific sections for adolescents and veterans.

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.

Around 450,000 residents of Iowa 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 Iowa are marginally 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, Iowa witnessed a 36.2% increase in the number of suicides. In 2017, Iowa ranked 32nd in the country for the number of suicides per 100,000 residents.

Iowa has a 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 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 Iowa is slightly 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 significantly higher in Des Moines than the rate across Iowa