Meth Rehab Cost: What Treatment Costs With & Without Insurance
Methamphetamine use disorder affects approximately 1.6 million Americans, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Methamphetamine use has resurged dramatically in recent years, with overdose deaths involving psychostimulants (primarily meth) increasing nearly 50-fold from 1999 to 2023. Understanding treatment costs and evidence-based approaches is essential for families seeking effective care.
What Does Meth Rehab Actually Cost?
The cost of inpatient methamphetamine rehabilitation varies based on insurance coverage, program length, and the intensity of behavioral therapy and medical monitoring provided. Like cocaine treatment, meth treatment currently has no FDA-approved medications, so costs focus on behavioral interventions and comprehensive residential care.
With Insurance (PPO)
With a PPO insurance plan, your estimated out-of-pocket costs for a 30-day inpatient methamphetamine rehab program range from $5,500 to $18,000. This includes medical stabilization (5-10 days), residential treatment, and evidence-based behavioral therapies including contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy.
PPO plans offer the most flexibility in facility selection and typically have comprehensive coverage for behavioral health services and extended residential treatment. HMO and EPO plans may require in-network facilities and may limit length of stay.
Without Insurance
Without insurance, the same 30-day program costs between $14,000 and $45,000. Medical stabilization during the acute withdrawal phase — while not medically dangerous like alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal — adds $1,500 to $5,500 for the 5-10 day period when symptoms are most severe.
Under the Affordable Care Act, all marketplace health insurance plans must cover substance use disorder treatment as an essential health benefit. A PPO plan with comprehensive addiction coverage typically costs $350-$700 monthly — dramatically less than paying out of pocket.
The Cost of Meth Detox and Stabilization
Methamphetamine withdrawal is not medically dangerous but can be psychologically severe, with symptoms that can lead to treatment dropout without medical support. The acute phase is longer than cocaine withdrawal and can include psychiatric symptoms requiring monitoring.
| Detox Component | Without Insurance | With PPO Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Medical monitoring & stabilization | $300 – $550/day | $200 – $450/day |
| Typical duration | 5 – 10 days | 5 – 10 days |
| Total stabilization cost | $1,500 – $5,500 | $1,000 – $4,500 |
| Symptom management | Included | Included |
| Psychiatric monitoring | Included | Included |
Methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms typically include:
- Severe depression and anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure)
- Extreme fatigue (sleeping 12-16 hours per day is common)
- Increased appetite (often significant weight gain in early recovery)
- Psychomotor agitation or severe slowing
- Intense, persistent cravings
- Anxiety and paranoia (may persist from active use)
- Possible psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions) in heavy users
These symptoms typically peak around 7-10 days and gradually improve over several weeks, though some cognitive effects and cravings can persist for months.
Evidence-Based Treatment for Methamphetamine Use Disorder
Without FDA-approved medications, methamphetamine treatment relies on evidence-based behavioral therapies. Research from NIDA identifies several approaches with strong research support:
Contingency Management (CM)
Contingency management has the strongest research support for methamphetamine use disorder. It provides tangible rewards (vouchers, prizes) for verified abstinence through drug testing.
How it works: Patients provide urine samples 2-3 times per week. Meth-negative samples earn vouchers or prize entries. Rewards escalate in value with consecutive negative samples, creating strong motivation for sustained abstinence.
Evidence: Multiple studies funded by NIDA show that contingency management significantly improves treatment retention and abstinence rates for methamphetamine use disorder. It’s considered the most effective behavioral intervention for stimulant use disorders.
Availability: CM programs are increasingly covered by insurance under mental health parity laws. Many residential programs include CM as part of their standard treatment approach.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT for methamphetamine use disorder focuses on identifying triggers, developing coping strategies, and addressing the thought patterns that contribute to use and relapse.
Key components:
- Identifying high-risk situations and developing avoidance strategies
- Coping skills training for managing intense cravings
- Addressing cognitive distortions common in early recovery
- Relapse prevention planning and early intervention strategies
- Addressing sleep disturbances and mood regulation
Evidence: CBT shows sustained benefits for meth use disorder, with continued improvement even after treatment ends.
The Matrix Model
The Matrix Model is a comprehensive 16-week outpatient treatment approach specifically designed for stimulant use disorders, developed and tested in Southern California during the 1980s-1990s meth epidemic.
Components: Combines individual CBT, family education, group counseling, 12-step facilitation, regular drug testing, and social support reinforcement. Research shows strong outcomes for methamphetamine use disorder.
Choosing the Right Program Length
| Duration | Best For | Insured Cost Range | Uninsured Cost Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days | Recent meth use, strong support system, limited co-occurring conditions | $5,500 – $18,000 | $14,000 – $45,000 |
| 60 days | Moderate to severe meth use, co-occurring mental health conditions | $11,000 – $36,000 | $28,000 – $90,000 |
| 90+ days | Severe meth use disorder, cognitive impairment, multiple prior treatments | $16,500 – $54,000+ | $42,000 – $135,000+ |
Given the persistent cognitive effects of methamphetamine use and the high relapse rates in early recovery, many clinicians recommend extended residential treatment (90+ days) followed by 6-12 months of intensive outpatient care.
Methamphetamine Crisis Statistics
According to SAMHSA, the CDC, and DEA:
- 1.6 million Americans have methamphetamine use disorder (NSDUH 2023)
- 36,251 deaths involving psychostimulants (primarily meth) in 2023 (CDC)
- 50-fold increase in meth-related overdose deaths since 1999
- 23% of overdoses involving meth also involve fentanyl (CDC 2023)
- Mexican cartel production has driven purity up and prices down, increasing availability
The current methamphetamine supply is dramatically more potent than previous decades. DEA reports that average purity has increased from 39% in 2007 to over 97% in 2024, while prices have decreased.
Cognitive and Neurological Effects
Chronic methamphetamine use affects brain structure and function, which influences treatment approach and expected recovery timeline:
Short-term cognitive effects:
- Impaired memory and learning
- Reduced executive function (planning, decision-making)
- Difficulty with impulse control
- Slowed processing speed
Recovery timeline: Research shows that many cognitive effects improve with sustained abstinence:
- 3-6 months: Sleep patterns and mood begin stabilizing
- 6-12 months: Significant improvement in memory and executive function
- 12-18 months: Brain imaging shows recovery of dopamine system function
- 18-24 months: Continued cognitive improvement, though some deficits may persist
These timelines underscore why extended treatment and ongoing support are essential for methamphetamine use disorder.
Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions
Methamphetamine use disorder frequently co-occurs with mental health conditions:
- Depression — Very common during withdrawal and early abstinence
- Anxiety and paranoia — May persist from active use phase
- Psychotic symptoms — Meth-induced psychosis can occur with heavy use
- ADHD — Some individuals use meth for self-medication
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — Common co-occurrence
Quality treatment programs provide integrated care for both the substance use disorder and co-occurring conditions. This dual diagnosis treatment is covered by insurance under mental health parity laws.
Don’t Have Insurance?
If you’re currently uninsured, getting covered may be more accessible than you think. All ACA-compliant plans cover methamphetamine use disorder treatment as an essential health benefit, including extended residential treatment and evidence-based behavioral therapies. A licensed insurance specialist can help you understand your options and find plans that cover the comprehensive treatment meth use disorder requires.
Sources
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). “Methamphetamine Research Report.” 2024.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). National Survey on Drug Use and Health. 2024.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Drug Overdose Deaths.” 2024.
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “National Drug Threat Assessment.” 2024.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). “Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment.” 2024.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). “Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders.” 2024.
You May Qualify for Coverage That Pays for methamphetamine rehab
Under the Affordable Care Act, all marketplace health insurance plans must cover addiction treatment as an essential health benefit. Monthly premiums for a PPO plan that covers rehab typically range from $350 to $700 — a fraction of the cost of paying out of pocket.
A licensed insurance specialist can help you find the right plan, check for qualifying life events, and get covered — often within days.
Talk to an Insurance Specialist — Free & ConfidentialFrequently Asked Questions
How much does meth rehab cost without insurance?
Without insurance, a 30-day inpatient methamphetamine treatment program typically costs between $14,000 and $45,000. Medical stabilization during the acute withdrawal phase adds $1,500 to $5,500 for the initial 5-10 day period. While there are currently no FDA-approved medications for methamphetamine use disorder, treatment costs cover comprehensive behavioral therapy, medical monitoring, and residential care.
Does insurance cover meth rehab?
Yes. Under the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, all marketplace health insurance plans must cover methamphetamine use disorder treatment as an essential health benefit. This includes residential treatment, medical stabilization, and evidence-based behavioral therapies like contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapy. PPO plans typically offer the broadest facility access.
How long does meth detox take?
Meth detox and acute withdrawal typically lasts 5 to 10 days, though some individuals experience prolonged symptoms for weeks. Methamphetamine withdrawal is not medically dangerous, but it can be psychologically severe — including profound depression, fatigue, increased sleep (12-16 hours daily), intense cravings, and sometimes psychotic symptoms. Medical monitoring improves safety and retention during this vulnerable period.
Is there medication for meth addiction?
There are currently no FDA-approved medications specifically for methamphetamine use disorder. However, research is ongoing for several promising medications including bupropion (Wellbutrin), naltrexone, and mirtazapine. Treatment for meth use disorder focuses on evidence-based behavioral therapies — particularly contingency management (CM) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) — which have demonstrated effectiveness in research studies.
How long should meth rehab last?
Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) indicates that 90 days or longer of treatment produces significantly better outcomes for methamphetamine use disorder. Due to the persistent cognitive effects and intense cravings associated with meth use, many clinicians recommend extended treatment: 90 days of residential care followed by 6-12 months of intensive outpatient treatment and ongoing support.
Does meth damage the brain permanently?
Research shows that chronic methamphetamine use can cause significant changes to brain structure and function, particularly in areas involved in emotion, memory, and decision-making. However, many of these changes show signs of recovery with sustained abstinence. Brain imaging studies indicate that dopamine system function can improve after 12-18 months of abstinence, though some cognitive effects may persist longer.