When it comes to reasons why addicted individuals don’t seek out treatment, one of the top barriers is being able to afford it. And it’s true, depending on your level of dependency, severity of abuse, and the specific program you partner with, treating addiction can at times be quite pricey.

However, having proper life insurance can be instrumental in cutting down on these costs substantially. What’s more, numerous private insurers are starting to include coverage for a variety of rehab and treatment programs, due in part to the ever-rising opioid epidemic and the significant uptick in addicted U.S. citizens.

Although private insurers are likely to have a broader range of treatment coverage, that doesn’t mean that you’re completely out of luck if you don’t have health insurance. That’s because there’s also the option of state-funded health insurance.

Addiction in general is particularly costly. Estimates from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) point to a $740 billion annual price tag of countrywide addiction (taking into account costs related to crime, lost work productivity, and health care). It’s no wonder, then, that both state and federal governments are quick to subsidize treatment costs for qualifying U.S. citizens in order to cut down on this economic burden.

Unless you are 65 years or older, blind or disabled, or need long-term services and support (not addiction treatment), you’ll likely only be eligible for Modified Adjusted Gross Income Medicaid coverage, also known as MAGI Medicaid coverage. The cost of this type of coverage will depend on your specific income.

You can apply for MAGI through the Washington State Health Care Authority website.

You can find out how much your insurance provider covers when it comes to addiction treatment by using Evergreen’s helpful insurance verification online form. That way you’ll know exactly what to expect from your addiction recovery program’s bill.

While money is of course one of the top reasons addicts aren’t checking into detox and rehabilitation programs, there is actually another factor at play that many people may not suspect: a lack of knowledge of available community resources in Bothell, Washington.

In fact, the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that almost 10% of addicts that were ready to get clean didn’t do so simply because they weren’t sure where to go for help.

And though a lack of money is a sad and difficult problem to overcome, a lack of knowledge is particularly preventable. That’s why it’s so crucial that you know exactly where to go when you need help for your drug or alcohol addiction.

One of the first places you should look for community resources for addiction recovery is the Mental Health and Addiction Services page on the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services website.

This page has a wealth of resources available to Washington residents including how to go about getting state-funded healthcare, where to look for a treatment center, and even assistance with finding work, housing (like halfway homes or sober living residences), and other after-treatment support programs.

While detoxification and rehabilitation are often considered to be the most important steps in treating drug addiction or alcoholism, the truth is that there is a third factor that ends up being almost just as crucial for sobriety: aftercare.

Aftercare is the continuation of counseling, education, and/or support once official detox and rehab programs have been completed. It can come in the form of continually meeting with an addiction therapist, regularly attending check-up sessions sponsored by an individual clinic, or consistently going to group support meetings like 12 step programs.

There are many different types of 12-step programs. Each program specializes in a certain drug of choice. For example, some support groups connect alcoholics together while others connect drug addicts. The type of principles or techniques used in these meetings will also vary.

These free and anonymous programs are some of the most popular in the world, making them highly accessible. And Bothell, Washington State is no exception. Below are some of the most common 12 step programs in the area along with a bit about them and where to find their meetings near you. 

• Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Bothell, WA – The most recognizable of the 12 step meetings, Alcoholics Anonymous has been helping alcoholics find the support necessary to abstain from drinking since 1935. It operates across the world and has over 2 million members globally.

  Washington AA is split up into two groups: Western Washington Area 72 and Washington State East Area 92.

  Within Bothell itself, Area 72 holds six to eleven meetings every day of the week ranging from 6 a.m. to midnight. To find one near you, simply use the Area 72 meetings search function’s location filters to narrow down the results.

  You can reach the general Area 72 office via mail at:

  • Western Washington Area 72
    702 Kentucky Street, Unit 535
    Bellingham, WA. 98225

  You can also contact the Area 72 Eastside Intergroup at:

  • Phone: (425) 454-9192
  • Email: esig@eastsideintergroup.com
  • Address: 13401 Bel-Red Rd. Suite B6, Bellevue, WA 98005



AA operates under twelve faith-based principles. These principles rely on a ‘Higher Power’ to help recovering alcoholics get their life back on track.

• Bothell, WA Narcotics Anonymous Meetings – Similar to Alcoholics Anonymous in its approach to recovery but different in a few fundamental ways, Narcotics Anonymous is one of the best places to look for recovery support no matter what your substance of abuse is (alcohol included). It was founded in 1953 and has tens of thousands of members.

  While this group is particularly popular, it’s not quite as prolific as AA. Thus, meetings are a bit harder to come by. However, you can find an NA meeting by having a look at their online meeting schedule which is organized by day or by looking at the full list of their scheduled meetings.

  If you’d like to contact Narcotics Anonymous, you can do so by reaching out to the Seattle Area chapter at:

  • Phone: (855) 464-7477 or (206) 790-8888
  • Email: info@seattlena.org
  • Address: Seattle Area Service Committee P.O. Box 70404, Seattle, WA 98127-0404

• Al-Anon & Alateen Meetings in Bothell – Addiction is a disease that impacts the entire family, not just the individual. And when it comes to alcoholism in particular, the destruction to the family unit as a whole can be particularly damaging.

  That’s why Al-Anon and Alateen (for teenagers specifically) are so important when it comes to healing. These support groups were founded for family members of alcoholics and give members the support, advice, and guidance they need to cope with their father, mother, child, or sibling’s addiction and help them finally get sober.

  What’s more, it can help addicted individuals rebuild trust with loved ones now that they’re on the road to recovery.

  You can find a meeting near you by heading over to the Greater Seattle Al-Anon/Alateen meeting schedule.

  You can also contact the chapter directly at:

  • Phone/Fax: (206) 625-0018
  • Email: ais@seattle-al-anon.org
  • Address: 1402 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

• Bothell, Washington ACOA Meetings – Growing up in an alcoholic home can bring with it long-lasting detrimental effects that may extend well into adulthood. For those who have a past involving an alcoholic family member, there is a specific support group that caters to your situation in particular called Adult Children of Alcoholics or ACOA.

  ACOA aims to help members come to terms with their past and to learn how to overcome the problematic characteristics that many ACOA members have in common, often referred to as The Laundry List.

  Using the same principles as other 12 step programs like AA and NA, these group meetings can be instrumental in empowering ACOA members, reducing the harmful effects of codependency, and giving individuals the guidance they need to live happy, productive lives.

  To find an ACOA meeting near you in the Bothell, WA State area, you can use the official ACOA meeting finder search function. This 12 step program is not quite as popular as AA and NA, however, and it may be a bit more difficult to find a meeting close by.

  That being said, the Seattle metropolitan area as a whole hosts a number of meetings that may be within your travel range.

  You can also contact the national ACOA headquarters directly at:

  • Phone: (310) 534-1815
  • Address: AXA WSO P.O Box 811, Lakewood, CA 90714

While 12 step programs like AA and NA have often been cited as being an invaluable resource when it comes to getting clean and staying sober for good, the belief system that these programs are structured around may be a bit off-putting for some people.

For example, one of the core tenets of Alcoholics Anonymous is that members must surrender themselves to what’s called a “higher power.” Religious undertones like these are common among 12 step programs and if spirituality isn’t your thing (or if you believe it doesn’t have a place in addiction treatment) then attending a meeting in these types of groups may not be up your alley.

However, 12 step programs aren’t the only types of support groups available when it comes to addiction. For those who are looking for science-based strategies and a more secular approach to recovery, you may prefer attending SMART Recovery meetings instead.

These meetings are recognized by both NIDA and SAMHSA for their ability to promote sobriety and are focused on self-empowerment rather than powerlessness. What’s more, the techniques taught in these meetings change as addiction science evolves, so you can be sure you’re learning the most up-to-date addiction strategies available.

SMART Recovery is a solid approach to addiction treatment, but it isn’t quite as popular as 12 step meetings. As such, you may have to travel into the city if you can’t make the Tuesday 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bothell meeting.