Continuum of Care Treatment Services

TDMHSAS contracts with community-based organizations for a continuum of substance use treatment services.  These services are funded through multiple sources.  Tennessee state funding in this area more than doubled from fiscal year 2018 to 2023.  Federal funding including the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services (SUPTRS) block grant dollars also pays for a large portion of services.  Additional federal grants in recent years have helped Tennessee respond to the opioid crisis and the rise of stimulant use including methamphetamine. 

Eligibility Criteria

TDMHSAS substance use treatment services are  intended for Tennesseans with the greatest needs and the least ability to pay.  The eligibility criteria include patients who:

  • Have a primary diagnosis of alcohol and drug use or abuse
  • Are indigent and has no other financial means of getting help
  • Are not eligible for Tennessee’s Medicaid program, TennCare or other types of insurance
  • Have used all of their TennCare or other insurance benefits for alcohol and drug abuse treatment (have reached their maximum limit)
  • Meets the one hundred thirty-eight percent (138%) federal poverty guidelines

Levels of Care

Levels of care offered by treatment providers are guided by the American Society of Addiction Management (ASAM) criteria.  This evidence-based assessment translates a patient's needs into the clinically-appropriate level of care.  Click the links below to learn more about levels of care.

This encompasses a wide range of non-residential services for individuals with a primary or secondary addiction diagnosis.  This level of care allows service recipients to go about their daily lives in the community. Services include individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, or any combination of such counseling services that are usually scheduled on a periodic basis.

This level of care is a structured, non-residential treatment program consisting of multiple face-to-face therapeutic contacts per week. This is an alternative to residential treatment for persons with substance abuse-related disorders who cannot be treated exclusively in an outpatient setting. Intensive outpatient services provide the client with an intensive and ongoing treatment program designed to assist them in modifying problem behavior and to acquire the skills necessary to live as independently as possible. Services include individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, or any combination of such counseling services.

This level is an alternative to residential treatment for persons with substance abuse-related disorders who cannot be treated exclusively in an outpatient setting. An intensive, partial hospitalization service is operated to provide the client with an intensive and ongoing treatment program designed to assist the client to modify problem behavior and to acquire the skills necessary to live as independently as possible.

This is a structured, residential treatment program including services such as individual counseling, group counseling, family counseling, alcohol and drug abuse education. These activities include a minimum of one counseling contact and one educational lecture or seminar per week.

This level is a structured, residential treatment program encompassing individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, or any combination of such counseling services. Residential rehabilitation services are designed to restore the severely dysfunctional alcohol and/or drug-dependent person to levels of functioning appropriate to that individual. The services may be provided in a hospital or a residential setting and are not appropriate for persons experiencing withdrawal symptoms. An essential aspect of residential rehabilitation is the ongoing, structured use of therapy to achieve the goal of rehabilitation. This therapy includes a minimum of five counseling contacts per week and a minimum of five lectures or seminars per week.

This level of care is a 24/7 residential social detoxification program. Social Withdrawal Management services are designed to facilitate the withdrawal of the alcohol and/or drug dependent person and could include the limited use of medication. Social Withdrawal Management is a residential service which takes place in a supportive environment. Withdrawal management may also include provision of individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy or any combination of such counseling services.

This level of care is also 24/7 residential but services are delivered by medical and nursing professionals.  The Medical Withdrawal Management residential facility will provide medically-supervised evaluation and withdrawal management under a defined set of physician-approved policies and physician-monitored procedures or clinical protocols. Individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy or any combination of such counseling services may be included.

For More Information

If you need a free and confidential referral to treatment services for yourself or someone you know, call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789.

If you have concerns about accessing services for yourself, a child, or family member, contact our Helpline:
Phone: 800-560-5767
Email: OCA.TDMHSAS@tn.gov
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except for state holidays)

For more information about TDMHSAS substance use disorder treatment services, contact:

Taryn Sloss
Assistant Commissioner
taryn.sloss@tn.gov
  Linda McCorkle
Director, Treatment and Recovery Support Services
linda.mccorkle@tn.gov