The money question

Many local residential treatment programs cost thousands of dollars a month, though most offer a limited number of scholarships.

For low-income individuals who don’t have insurance, Vaya Health, a state-supported agency with an office in Asheville, manages government-funded behavioral health and developmental disability services in Western North Carolina.

And for those who don’t qualify for the free programs, there are other possibilities. “We support a variety of treatment services and facilities for substance-use recovery, including many options outside our publicly funded network,” notes Rachel Leonard-Spencer, the organization’s marketing and communications coordinator. If you need help and are on a tight budget, she says, Vaya can help you find treatment. “At the end of the day, all types of quality treatment contribute to building a grassroots recovery community and culture here in WNC.” Those programs, she continues, “help countless individuals enhance their health and quality of life.”

Vaya offers a toll-free, 24/7 access-to-care line at 800-849-6127. It’s available to all WNC residents seeking treatment information or help in a behavioral health crisis. For more information, visit vayahealth.com.

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About Thomas Calder
Thomas Calder received his MFA in Fiction from the University of Houston's Creative Writing Program. His writing has appeared in Gulf Coast, the Miracle Monocle, Juked and elsewhere. His debut novel, The Wind Under the Door, is now available.

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