Illinois Addiction Treatment Guide

Every year, thousands of people enroll in addiction treatment programs in Illinois. Often, people seek out their own solutions rather than getting a referral or facing an intervention from concerned family members.

The Illinois Helpline connects residents with treatment programs. In 2018, 51 percent of people who called the helpline were actively abusing substances. They wanted to stop, and they knew treatment could help.

• Early intervention. These pre-treatment programs help people to cut back on dangerous habits before addictions form.
• Case management. Professionals design programs to help people develop healthy habits.
• Outpatient counseling. People work with mental health professionals alone or in groups to support sobriety. They may use medications to cut back on cravings.
• Intensive outpatient treatment. You’ll continue to live at home while you work on your addiction, but you’ll spend a significant amount of time in therapy.
• Detoxification. You’ll have physical and mental health support as you move from intoxication to sobriety.
• Inpatient programs. You’ll live in a treatment facility while you get care around the clock.
• Aftercare. You’ll continue to work on your addiction when your formal program is complete.

These programs should be available throughout the state, but according to The State Journal-Register, there are gaps in coverage. Many services are available in Chicago and some in Springfield, but there are spaces in the state where no help is provided. It’s not uncommon for people to travel long distances to get the help they need.

Public options can also fill up fast, and when they do, you’ll have to wait to get the care you need. Thankfully, there are private companies that can step in and offer help, even when public programs are full.

Public addiction agencies get funding from state or federal sources. Private companies don’t. They cover their expenses through insurance payments, private financial arrangements, grants, and other similar sources.

According to the 2017 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services, there were 607 private treatment facilities operating in Illinois. There were only 24 local, state, or federal facilities in operation.

If you’re searching for treatment, and you can’t or don’t want to wait for public programs to assist you, a private facility is a good choice.

Private facilities offer many services that public programs provide, but they often offer various services that just aren’t available at public offerings.

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State and federal dollars cover some forms of treatment in Illinois, but those programs have faced budget cuts. That means many people in Illinois are forced to pay for their addiction treatment.

• Referrals. Your doctor may need to write a note that outlines why you need care
• Networks. Your plan may cover care at some places but not others.
• Length of treatment. Your insurance program may only let you stay in a program for a short time.
• Copayments. You may have a portion of the bill to pay.

Treatment programs help you to understand your addiction’s past and your sober future. You work with skilled professionals who have licenses in mental health. In your therapy sessions, you learn a great deal. But you might need to learn even more to truly combat your addiction. Support groups can help.

In a support group, you meet with other people who are also in recovery. No mental health professionals lead your meetings. They are informal gatherings, and everyone gets a chance to work as a teacher and a student.

In Illinois, there are three distinct AA chapters:

• Area 19, which covers the Chicago area.
• Area 20, which covers northern Illinois.
• Area 21, which covers southern Illinois.

Each area works independently. All publish a schedule of meetings online, so you can find the one nearest you and determine which meeting time and place is best.

Most Illinois AA meetings are held in hotels, community centers, churches, and other open spaces. You don’t have to pay to attend, and you don’t have to register before you show up. Just find the meeting time and space that’s right for you, and make a point to appear.

We have a facility in Illinois, and we have others in:

• Pennsylvania
• Colorado
• Arizona
• New Jersey

We believe in tailoring treatment to meet the unique needs of our patients. No two people have the same history, and they shouldn’t have the same treatment program. We offer a wide variety of resources and services, so we can create a personalized plan that’s right for you.

Our treatment facilities in Illinois offer:

• Partial hospitalization.
• Intensive outpatient treatment (daytime and nighttime options).
• Medication-assisted treatment.
• Alumni support.

We can connect you with a sober living home, if it’s not safe for you to tackle recovery while living in your old community. And our aftercare programs, including our Aftercare Club, connect you with other alumni members. Each group has a different theme, and they meet weekly to work toward a common goal.

We emphasize community in our treatment programs, and that’s often overlooked by other addiction treatment providers. We know people can lift you up, and we know you’ll feel better when you help others. You’ll find a deep connection with the peers you meet in our treatment program.