Start with the admission plan
An admission is the first step into a treatment setting. PRIMARY — SAMHSA treatment overview.
The plan depends on the setting and the person’s needs. PRIMARY — NIDA treatment questions.
Call before you leave if the arrival instructions are unclear.
Bring basic information
| Bring or write down | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Photo identification | The program can confirm who is arriving. |
| Insurance card, if you have one | Staff can review the plan details with you. |
| Current medication list | Staff can ask about medicines and health needs. |
| Questions and goals | You can remember what you want to discuss. |
| Emergency contact details | The program can explain its contact process. |
SAMHSA recommends bringing identification, insurance information, and a medication list when available. PRIMARY — SAMHSA starting treatment.
Bring the medicine bottles if making a list feels hard. PRIMARY — SAMHSA starting treatment.
Ask what you may bring
Each program sets its own rules for personal items.
Ask about medicines, food, phones, tobacco, clothing, and toiletries. PRIMARY — SAMHSA starting treatment.
Ask what must stay at home before you pack.
Do not guess about an item that could affect safety or privacy.
Compare admission settings
| Setting | What happens | Ask first |
|---|---|---|
| Outpatient | You attend appointments and leave the same day. | When is the first appointment? |
| Inpatient | You stay overnight at a hospital or treatment program. | What contact is allowed during the stay? |
| Residential | You live at the treatment program for a period of time. | What items and routines are allowed? |
SAMHSA describes outpatient, inpatient, and residential care in these terms. PRIMARY — SAMHSA treatment overview.
A clinician or treatment team should help decide which setting fits. PRIMARY — NIDA treatment questions.
Prepare your medication list
Write each medicine name, dose, and usual time.
Include prescribed medicines, over-the-counter products, and supplements.
Tell staff about allergies and recent changes.
Do not stop a prescribed medicine to prepare for admission.
Ask a clinician what to do if a medicine is running low.
Plan the trip and home tasks
SAMHSA recommends planning transportation before treatment starts. PRIMARY — SAMHSA starting treatment.
Plan for work, school, children, pets, and bills.
Ask who can help with tasks while you attend treatment.
For telehealth, charge your device and check your connection. PRIMARY — SAMHSA starting treatment.
Ask what the first meeting covers
| Topic | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Who will meet with me first? |
| Treatment plan | When will we discuss the plan? |
| Health needs | Who handles urgent health concerns? |
| Family contact | When may family or friends call? |
| Next step | What happens after this meeting? |
NIDA says treatment should fit the person’s needs rather than follow one fixed plan. PRIMARY — NIDA treatment questions.
Ask how the program reviews and changes the plan over time. PRIMARY — NIDA treatment questions.
Ask about payment before arrival
Ask which services the program bills and what you may owe.
Ask whether the plan needs authorization before care begins. PRIMARY — HealthCare.gov substance use coverage.
Marketplace plans cover substance use treatment, but plan details still differ. PRIMARY — HealthCare.gov substance use coverage.
Ask for written answers about deductibles, copays, and services.
Know when to seek urgent help
An admission appointment is not an emergency service.
Call 911 for immediate danger or a medical emergency. PRIMARY — MedlinePlus substance use disorder.
Call or text 988 during a mental health or suicide crisis. PRIMARY — SAMHSA crisis support.
Do not wait for a routine intake call during urgent danger.
Use a treatment directory carefully
FindTreatment.gov helps people locate treatment services. PRIMARY — FindTreatment.gov.
Listings are a starting point, not a promise about a program.
Call the program and confirm its current services, rules, and arrival plan.
Our live directory count
This table shows a number from our own database. It is read when the page loads.
| Measure | Live count |
|---|---|
| Published facilities | 19,605 |
Source file: asb_facility_stats_public.
Source URL: the live aSoberBed stats endpoint. https://asoberbed.com/api/stats.
Extraction date: September 23, 2026.
How this site is paid for
Facilities pay a flat listing fee to be listed here.
The fee does not change what you see, or the order you see it in.
Nobody pays us for a referral or an admission.
We do not sell placement in treatment.