Office of Behavioral Health – Substance Use and Addictive Disorders Services

Substance use and Related Disorders services are provided statewide by each regional human service district/authority, or through the Healthy Louisiana plans for the Medicaid population. The districts and authorities provide treatment for people suffering from addictions to drugs, alcohol or gambling, as well as support for their families and friends.

According to federal regulations, persons identified as indigent or Medicaid eligible are considered priority populations. Priority admission is given to the following populations: pregnant women who inject drugs, other pregnant women who abuse substances, and others who inject drugs. For these groups, OBH aims to provide addiction services with no or a minimal waiting period. If care is not available to this priority population within 48 hours, the Office will provide interim treatment services as appropriate.

Below you will find a listing of levels of care or programs offered for Substance Use and Related Disorders:
Treatment Programs

    • Problem Gambling Treatment:
       These services are available to specifically treat gambling disorder. Individuals who wish to access these services can call the Louisiana Problem Gamblers Helpline at 1-877-770-7867. This phone is answered 24/7 by trained helpline specialists. According to state regulations, these services are offered at no cost to residents residing in Louisiana. For more information about problem gambling, please visit our informational webpage here.
    • Addictive Disorders: Atlas is a resource to help people find addiction treatment that will meet their needs. Visit www.treatmentAtlas.org to find substance use disorder treatment in your area.  
    • Withdrawal Management (detox):
       These services are available as medically-monitored inpatient withdrawal management (medically supported) or clinically managed residential withdrawal management (social detox)  levels of care. Medically-monitored services provide immediate, acute care to substance users at moderate to severe health risk, either because of a co-occurring medical condition or because of a severe medical condition resulting from substance use. Clinically-managed detox services treat clients who need immediate care to treat addiction but do not have any urgent health problems.
    • Opioid Treatment Programs:
       These services treat addiction to and physical dependence on opiates (either alone or combined with abuse of other substances) through detoxification and stabilization on methadone. For a list of opioid treatment programs, please visit our webpage here. More information on the opioid epidemic and Louisiana's response is available here. 
    • Outpatient Care (non-intensive and intensive):
       Outpatient services are community based and offers either non-intensive or intensive based levels of services. Non-intensive programs provide professionally-directed screening, assessment, diagnosis, treatment/counseling, supportive services, and aftercare or rehabilitation services. These services are provided in a community setting and are less than nine hours per week. The client receives treatment services with or without medication, when indicated. In intensive programs, services provided to a client last three or more hours per day for three or more days per week, with a minimum of nine treatment hours per week provided.
    • Residential care (co-occurring disorder- mental health and substance use):
      These services provide residential care 24 hours a day, seven days a week and structured treatment activities including, but not limited to, psychiatric and substance use assessments, diagnosis, treatment, habilitation and rehabilitation services to individuals with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders, whose disorders are of sufficient severity to require a residential level of care.
    • Residential Care:
      These services provide nonemergency residential treatment 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include a planned, professionally-implemented regimen for people suffering from substance use disorders. Individuals at this level of care typically are unable to reach or maintain recovery goals on an outpatient basis and need structure and support in their living situation to be able to get better. Individuals at this level may have multiple deficits, which may include substance-related disorders, criminal activity, psychological problems, impaired functioning and disaffiliation from mainstream values. Medical and psychiatric care are provided as warranted. The services range in intensity and the level of services received is based on the level needed; the state uses the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) classification level.
    • Residential Care for Pregnant Women and Women with Dependent Children:
       OBH partners with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to provide substance use disorder treatment services for individuals in the Child Welfare (CW) and Economic Stability Self Sufficiency (ESSS) sections. Persons served are TANF-eligible women with dependent children and currently using addictive substances, or with a history of use and are at risk for relapse. These programs provide residential treatment services to women and their dependent children up to age 12. Services include assessment, individual, group and family counseling, trauma informed services, drug education, relapse prevention, case coordination and collateral consultations, as well as a continuum of evidenced-based curriculum designed to help get families back to their best individual level of functioning. For a list of programs, click here. 

Recovery Homes

  • Oxford House:
     Oxford House is a self-run, self-supported recovery house program for individuals recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction. Oxford Houses assure an alcohol- and drug-free living environment. Oxford House describes a democratically-run, self-supporting and drug-free home environment. The number of residents in a house may range from six to 11; there are houses for men, houses for women, and houses that accept women with children. This community-based approach represents a remarkably effective and low-cost method of preventing relapse. For a list of Oxford Home vacancies, visit https://www.oxfordvacancies.com. 

Prevention Services

OBH offers prevention services within each district and authority throughout the state to decrease and prevent addictive disorders (including but not limited to opioids and stimulants). OBH Prevention Services provides family-focused, evidence-based, outcome-driven and cost-effective services.