Acadia Healthcare Expands Access To Care

Acadia Healthcare Expands Access to Care for Americans Battling Substance Use Disorders

Acadia Healthcare and its network of affiliates operate at the intersection of America’s expanding mental health and substance use disorder crises. As the nation’s largest standalone behavioral healthcare provider, the company’s affiliated network of facilities has developed extensive capabilities specifically to help support the estimated 48.5 million Americans with substance use disorders recorded in 2023.

Acadia Healthcare Network

The network’s substance use disorder treatment services span multiple levels of care, from medically supervised detoxification and residential programs to partial hospitalization and outpatient services. While adult treatment represents the largest portion of these services, Acadia’s affiliated facilities also provide specialized programming for adolescents struggling with substance use disorders.

Central to Acadia’s network of support are its network of affiliated Comprehensive Treatment Centers (CTCs) focused on medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. These facilities combine FDA-approved medications such as methadone, Suboxone, buprenorphine, and Vivitrol with behavioral therapies including individual and group counseling.

As of the first quarter of 2025, Acadia’s network includes approximately 170 CTCs across over 30 states after adding seven new centers during the quarter, treating over 72,000 patients daily for opioid use disorder.

The network continues to expand access to care through acquisitions and new facility development. In October 2024, Acadia announced the acquisition of three opioid treatment program clinics in South Carolina, rebranded as Clinton Comprehensive Treatment Center, Easley Comprehensive Treatment Center, and Ridgeland Comprehensive Treatment Center. These facilities represented Acadia’s network first CTCs in South Carolina and were designed to offer care to all patients, including those covered by Medicaid.

Acadia Healthcare Treatment Methods and Clinical Support

The network’s reputation in addiction treatment received external recognition in September 2024 when seven Acadia affiliated facilities were named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Addiction Treatment Centers. This marked the fifth consecutive year Acadia affiliated facilities appeared on the list, which evaluates providers based on accreditation data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and surveys of medical professionals in the field.

Treatment approaches across Acadia’s network can incorporate evidence-based interventions tailored to the specific needs of people with substance use disorders. For addiction treatment, these may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, 12-Step programming, and medication management when appropriate. Family therapy is often integrated, recognizing the impact addiction has on entire family systems.

Substance abuse treatment can be provided across four primary service lines. Acute inpatient care provides crisis stabilization for individuals experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms or co-occurring psychiatric conditions. Specialty treatment facilities offer residential recovery programs specifically for addiction. Comprehensive treatment centers focus on medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Finally, residential treatment centers provide longer-term care in a non-hospital environment.

Acadia Healthcare Addresses Need For Services

The demand for these services has grown significantly. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows nearly 108,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2022, with approximately 82,000 of those deaths (about 76%) involving opioids. While the overall number of opioid-involved deaths in 2022 was 10 times the number in 1999, data from 2021 to 2022 showed relatively stable death rates. More recent CDC reports from February 2025 indicate a promising 24% decline in overdose deaths nationally, though overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44.

Acadia Healthcare Battles Stigma

Stigma remains a significant barrier to treatment access, especially in communities where addiction is less understood as a medical condition. This is particularly concerning given Pew research that found that over 85% of people with a substance use disorder do not receive treatment.

Options for specialized treatment of substance use disorder have expanded. Acadia and its network of affiliates combines medication-assisted treatment (MAT) interventions with behavioral therapy components designed to address both the physical dependence and psychological aspects of addiction.

Acadia Healthcare’s Affiliates

Beyond direct clinical interventions, Acadia’s network of affiliates has developed programming for specialized populations. For military veterans and active service members, the company operates programs like the “Red, White and Blue” program at Sierra Tucson, providing targeted care for service members, veterans, and first responders experiencing substance use disorders along with conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder.

In 2024, Acadia and its network of affiliates further expanded its substance use disorder initiatives through a partnership with The Jason Foundation. In May 2024, they launched the Phoenix Division, focused specifically on raising awareness about substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health concerns that can lead to suicidal ideation. This initiative established Community Resource Centers in nearly 50 Acadia network CTCs across the country.