Residential Rehab Centers in Boston

What is residential treatment for substance use in Boston?

Residential treatment is live-in care. A person stays at the program day and night, with 24-hour staffing and a structured schedule of therapy and support. The ASAM Criteria, published by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, place residential care at Level 3. Its sub-levels run from lower-intensity care at 3.1 to medically managed care at 3.7. A level describes how intensive the care is and is not a certification. Read more on residential programs.

Boston’s residential listings sit in urban neighborhoods between 30 and 140 feet above sea level. The Muddy River is the most common nearby river, a median of 2 miles away. Boston Logan International is the nearest major airport for every listing, a median of 4.5 miles away, which helps families flying in for visits. Stay lengths are set by each program and range from a few weeks to several months, as each listing shows.

Some Boston programs list on-site withdrawal management, and others expect people to finish detox in Boston before admission. Withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines can be dangerous and needs a medical assessment first. In an emergency, call 911. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988.

How can I check a Boston program’s license?

Massachusetts licenses substance use disorder treatment programs through the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) at the Department of Public Health, under 105 CMR 164.000. Ask intake staff for the program’s BSAS license, then look it up on the state’s licensing pages. Before admission, also ask who is on staff overnight, whether medications for opioid use disorder can be started or continued on site, and what the phone and visiting rules are.

Does MassHealth or private insurance pay for residential treatment in Boston?

MassHealth and private insurers pay for substance use disorder treatment, but coverage rules vary by plan and level of care. Since October 2015, state law has required MassHealth and state-regulated insurers to cover acute treatment and clinical stabilization services without prior authorization. For longer residential rehabilitation, ask your plan whether approval is needed and how many days it allows. Each listing shows the payment types and insurers a provider reports. Learn more on Medicaid-accepting programs.

Boston residents without insurance can ask about programs funded through BSAS or browse state-funded rehab in Boston. The city’s PAATHS line, 1-855-494-4057, also helps people find an open place.

What happens after a residential stay in Boston ends?

Most people step down to a less intensive level of care after a residential stay. Options include partial hospitalization in Boston, an intensive outpatient program, or recovery housing. Massachusetts runs a voluntary BSAS certification program for sober homes, carried out by the Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing. State agencies and their contracted treatment providers can refer people only to certified homes.

Getting to step-down care is usually possible on the MBTA. Services in the South End and Newmarket area are mainly reached by bus and the Silver Line rather than the subway. For options beyond the city, see residential rehab across Massachusetts, or browse every treatment type on the Boston page.