Alcohol Rehab and Detox in Memphis, TN

Tennessee Department of Health vital statistics report 342 drug overdose deaths among Shelby County residents in 2024, down 157 from 2023. Alcohol appears in local toxicology and treatment demand even when opioids dominate fatal overdoses. Memphis and the surrounding metro also have substantial treatment capacity, with 32 facilities within 30 miles. This page covers what alcohol treatment looks like here, why detox needs medical supervision, and how to start.

What alcohol treatment looks like in Memphis

The SAMHSA treatment locator lists 32 facilities within 30 miles of downtown Memphis (ZIP 38103):

  • 6 offering detoxification (withdrawal management)
  • 8 with residential programs
  • 26 offering outpatient services
  • 8 reporting that they administer or prescribe medication for alcohol use disorder

Public-network anchors include Tennessee's free 24/7 TN REDLINE (1-800-889-9789, call or text) for treatment referrals, the Shelby County Health Department's overdose surveillance program, and TennCare managed care networks. Confirm openings on FindTreatment.gov.

Why alcohol detox needs medical supervision

Alcohol is one of the few substances where stopping suddenly can be life-threatening. Clinical guidance on detoxification describes alcohol withdrawal that can progress to seizures - usually within the first 48 hours - and to delirium tremens (DTs), a state of severe confusion and agitation that can be fatal without medical care. Symptoms can escalate quickly and are hard to predict, so a heavy, long-term drinker should not try to quit alone.

If someone is shaking, sweating heavily, confused, hallucinating, or has had a seizure while cutting back on alcohol, call 911. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988.

The local picture in numbers

  • Tennessee Department of Health vital statistics report 342 drug overdose deaths among Shelby County residents in 2024, down 157 from 2023.
  • Of those 2024 resident deaths, 256 involved opioids and 244 involved fentanyl. Stimulants other than cocaine appeared in 93 deaths and cocaine in 150. The West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center supplies provisional suspected-overdose surveillance to the Shelby County Health Department.
  • Memphis's population is about 621,000, and Shelby County has roughly about 910,000 residents - scale that shapes how people find and pay for care.

Paying for alcohol treatment in Memphis

TennCare covers medically necessary SUD treatment for eligible members, including withdrawal management, outpatient and intensive outpatient care, residential treatment, and medications when clinically appropriate. Most members enroll through BlueCare Tennessee, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee, or Wellpoint (formerly Amerigroup); TennCare Select serves defined special populations. Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA. If you are uninsured, call or text TN REDLINE at 1-800-889-9789.

For alcohol use disorder, medications such as naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram may be part of a treatment plan alongside counseling.

How to start today

  1. If this is a medical emergency, call 911. For a crisis, call or text 988.
  2. Call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through your options with a treatment specialist, or use this form:

Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers, and we check your benefits before you commit.

  1. Search findtreatment.gov with ZIP code 38103 and filter by detox, residential, or outpatient, plus the payment options you need.
  2. Call or text 988. Call or text TN REDLINE at 1-800-889-9789 for treatment referrals.

Memphis has spent years building treatment capacity for exactly this kind of need. For alcohol, the part that most often goes wrong is attempting withdrawal alone - and that is the part medical care can make safe.

Call or text (800) 653-9376 Get help online