If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, the first question is often: “Is rehab for alcoholics free?”.
The answer depends on where you seek treatment, your financial situation, and the type of programme you choose. If you’re worried about paying for addiction treatment, the good news is that in the UK, there are free rehab options available for those who can’t afford rehab.
So, what are your options if private rehab is out of your budget? Let’s find out. Rehab on for all the information you need about the free rehab routes available, what support the NHS and charities can provide, and alternative ways to cover the cost of treatment if private rehab is out of reach.
In short, yes – there are several ways to get rehab for free in the UK. However, the majority of services are outpatient programmes.
Fully funded residential rehab is much harder to access and usually only available for people with severe, high-risk addictions where community treatments have not been successful. This means you may not get as much support as you would with private rehab, and you may need to recover in your own environment as opposed to a clinical or wellness environment.
The main ways are through the NHS, local authority services, and charities, rather than private clinics. However, there are downsides to this – spaces are limited, and waiting lists can be long.
These options usually focus on outpatient care and community support, though inpatient rehab can sometimes be funded in exceptional cases.
The cost of rehab varies greatly in the UK, but when going private, you can expect to pay between £2,000 and £5,000 per week of residential rehab treatment. Not everybody can afford this. If you’re wondering how to get into rehab without paying, here are the main free resources:
The NHS provides a range of alcohol treatment services, usually accessed through your GP or local drug and alcohol service. These can include:
Through the NHS, you will usually be able to reduce your alcohol or drug intake gradually and safely – usually within a community setting.
Read more: NHS vs Private Rehab
Many local councils provide funding for substance misuse services. In the 2025 – 2026 financial year, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is providing £310 million in additional grants for drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services, making these services an accessible option for those who can’t afford rehab.
Such services may include:
You receive funding through consolidated grants, which fall under a single Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant (DATRIG). This UK-based grant covers substance misuse, rough sleeping support, housing, inpatient detoxification, and more.
You can also get local authority funding for residential rehab – however, this is usually only granted after strict assessments. You will likely need to provide proof that all outpatient options have been tried before making it onto a waiting list for free residential rehab.
Another way of getting free support for addiction is through charities and non-profit organisations. Such organisations include:
It’s important to note that these services don’t always replace full rehab. They can provide ongoing support during recovery, but in many cases, full inpatient rehab gives the best chance of a full recovery.
Such services may include:
You receive funding through consolidated grants, which fall under a single Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant (DATRIG). This UK-based grant covers substance misuse, rough sleeping support, housing, inpatient detoxification, and more.
You can also get local authority funding for residential rehab – however, this is usually only granted after strict assessments. You will likely need to provide proof that all outpatient options have been tried before making it onto a waiting list for free residential rehab.
Yes, young people under 18 can access free treatment for alcohol and drug misuse through NHS services and local authority youth programmes. These may include counselling, early intervention schemes, and in severe cases, referral to inpatient treatment.
Some charities also run specialised youth services designed to help young people struggling with drugs or alcohol.
Sometimes, these free services don’t provide the level of support needed for a young person to make a full recovery from addiction. At Gladstones Clinic, we provide specialist rehab programmes for teenagers struggling with substance misuse, combining clinical expertise with a safe and supportive residential environment.
Not everyone can access free services quickly, and private rehab can seem financially out of reach. However, there are ways to make private treatment more affordable:
Certain health insurance policies cover alcohol and drug rehab, either in full or in part. It’s worth checking with your provider to see if addiction treatment is included.
Coverage can depend on the provider and policy, but insurance may cover:
At Gladstones Clinic, for example, we aim to make our rehab services accessible and affordable, so we work with leading healthcare providers such as AXA, Bupa, Cigna, and more.
You don’t need insurance to pay for rehab, but it can make the overall cost of treatment more manageable. Some employers may also offer health insurance plans that cover addiction treatment, so be sure to check with your employer. Learn more about Private Health Insurance for Rehab
Many private clinics, including Gladstones Clinic, offer flexible payment options that allow the cost of treatment to be spread out. Payment plans can help to:
Some providers may also work with third-party finance companies that specialise in healthcare lending, which means you can access treatment without having to wait for months or years to save.
If you can’t afford rehab yourself, then it could be worth speaking with family members to see if they can help to share the cost. This might involve:
Family involvement shouldn’t end with funding – many clinics (including ourselves at Gladstones Clinic) provide family support services to help relatives cope, rebuild trust, and support their loved one’s recovery journey.
Addiction can affect family members and loved ones just as much as individuals. Fortunately, there are free services available to help loved ones, such as:
Some rehab clinics may also offer family support in the overall cost of rehab treatment. These services offer coping strategies, guidance, and emotional support to families while encouraging healthy ways to support recovery.
Gladstones Clinic provides luxury, bespoke, and executive rehab to clients with the highest expectations. Contact us to discuss your needs.
Yes, NHS addiction services are free, but inpatient rehab places are limited and subject to strict eligibility.
Start by speaking to your GP or contacting your local NHS drug and alcohol service. They can refer you to available programmes.
Yes, outpatient services for drug addiction are free through the NHS and charities, but inpatient drug rehab places are very limited. This is why many people opt for private rehab – for fast and extensive support.
This depends on your area. Some services have waiting times of weeks or months, particularly for inpatient care.
Yes, services like Al-Anon and Families Anonymous provide free support groups for relatives and loved ones.
If you would like to request a callback from our support team, please fill out the form below and we’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible.
