Do I need detox before alcohol rehab?

It depends on how much and how often you drink. Alcohol withdrawal can be medically serious, so if you drink heavily every day we'll arrange a safe medical detox with a trusted Maine partner before you start outpatient treatment. Many people don't need detox at all and can begin PHP or IOP right away. A short phone assessment tells us which is true for you.

Is there medication that helps with alcohol cravings?

Yes. Naltrexone (daily pill or monthly Vivitrol injection), acamprosate, and disulfiram are FDA-approved for alcohol use disorder, and a 2023 JAMA review found naltrexone and acamprosate meaningfully reduce return to heavy drinking. We work hand in hand with trusted local providers who prescribe and manage these medications, coordinating them with your therapy here when they're appropriate for you.

Can I keep working while in alcohol treatment?

In IOP and outpatient, almost always, we run day and evening tracks specifically so people can keep working. PHP takes up most of the day, so many clients use FMLA or short-term leave for that phase and return to work when they step down.

Does MaineCare cover alcohol rehab?

In most cases, yes. MaineCare and nearly all commercial plans cover outpatient alcohol treatment, including PHP, IOP, and medication for alcohol use disorder. We verify your benefits for free, in minutes, with no obligation and nothing on your record.

How long does outpatient alcohol treatment take?

Most people spend two to four weeks in PHP, six to twelve weeks in IOP, and then stay connected through weekly outpatient therapy and alumni support. Length of care is clinical, not fixed, your plan is reviewed as you progress.

Do you offer sober living?

We're outpatient, so you live at home, but if home isn't a stable place to get sober, optional sober living is available through our network of trusted local partners. Ask us and we'll help coordinate it alongside your treatment.

Where is your alcohol rehab located?

Our outpatient center is in Biddeford, Maine, about twenty minutes from downtown Portland and easily reached from Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Scarborough, South Portland, Kennebunk, and Sanford.

A small New England main street in Southern Maine on an autumn afternoon

Alcohol Rehab · Biddeford & Portland, Maine

Alcohol treatment in Southern Maine, without leaving your life behind

Outpatient alcohol rehab in Biddeford, twenty minutes from Portland. PHP, IOP, and outpatient levels of care, FDA-approved medication for alcohol use disorder, therapy that treats what's underneath the drinking, and family support, close to home. MaineCare and most commercial plans accepted.

855-449-7674

No waitlist · MaineCare accepted · Answered 24/7

What the research says

Alcohol use disorder is common, and it is treatable

Every figure below links to the peer-reviewed study or federal source it comes from. Research describes averages across large groups, not a promise about any one person's outcome.

28.9 million

An estimated 28.9 million Americans age 12 and older had alcohol use disorder in the past year, yet only a small fraction received any treatment for it.

Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

178,000

Excessive alcohol use is linked to roughly 178,000 deaths in the United States each year, more than any drug except tobacco.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Medication works

A JAMA systematic review found oral naltrexone and acamprosate significantly reduce return to any drinking and to heavy drinking in adults with alcohol use disorder.

Source: McPheeters et al., JAMA (2023)

Behavioral therapy

Meta-analyses of randomized trials show cognitive behavioral therapy produces meaningful, durable reductions in alcohol and drug use compared with minimal treatment.

Source: Magill et al., Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (2019)

Medically reviewed

Benjamin Crocker, MD

Psychiatrist · Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine · MD, The Ohio State University · Residency & fellowship training at the University of Michigan and LAC+USC Medical Center

Last reviewed August 2026. Read our editorial standards & clinical review process

Accredited & Licensed

LegitScript Certified
Joint Commission Accredited
Maine DHHS Licensed
Psychology Today Verified

When drinking stops being social

You don't have to hit a rock bottom to get help

Most people we treat are working, parenting, and holding things together on the outside. Alcohol use disorder is diagnosed on a spectrum, mild, moderate, or severe, and earlier treatment is easier treatment.

Drinking more, or for longer, than you meant to, most times you drink.
Repeated attempts to cut back that don't hold past a few days or weeks.
Needing more alcohol than you used to for the same effect.
Shakes, sweating, nausea, anxiety, or poor sleep the morning after.
Drinking to manage anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, or chronic pain.
Family, work, or legal consequences that keep stacking up.

Important: alcohol withdrawal can be medically dangerous. If you drink heavily every day, do not stop abruptly on your own, call us and we'll help you arrange a safe medical detox with a trusted Maine partner first.

Clinician meeting one-on-one with a client during alcohol treatment in Maine

Starting treatment in Portland?

We'll check your benefits free in minutes, MaineCare and most major plans accepted.

Call 855-449-7674

Our alcohol program

Three levels of care, one clinical team

PHP

Partial hospitalization

Five days a week, roughly six clinical hours a day, with medical oversight, the highest level of outpatient alcohol treatment. You go home every night.

Learn about PHP

IOP

Intensive outpatient

About three hours a day, several days a week, with day and evening tracks so treatment fits around work, school, and childcare in Southern Maine.

Learn about IOP

Outpatient

Weekly individual and group therapy that keeps you connected long after the intensive phase ends, the long tail of recovery, not an afterthought.

How we treat alcohol use disorder

Medication for alcohol use disorder

Naltrexone (oral or monthly Vivitrol), acamprosate, and disulfiram, prescribed and managed by our medical team when clinically appropriate. Medication reduces cravings so therapy has room to work.

CBT and DBT

Cognitive behavioral therapy to change the thought patterns that lead to a drink, and DBT skills for distress tolerance and emotion regulation.

Trauma-informed care

For many people, alcohol was the solution before it was the problem. We treat trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression alongside the drinking, not after it.

Family therapy

Structured sessions that rebuild trust and teach families in Biddeford, Saco, and Portland what real support looks like day to day.

Relapse prevention

Concrete planning for Maine reality, weddings, tailgates, the brewery scene, holidays, and the first sober summer on the beach.

Case management & aftercare

Help with work paperwork, court or probation requirements, housing, transportation, sober living referrals, and a step-down plan into alumni support.

Our Spaces

Beautiful spaces built for comfort, community, and healing

Where you recover matters. Every room at Portland Treatment was designed to feel calm, open, and human, so you can focus on the work of getting well.

A Welcoming Front Door
The first room you walk into sets the tone. Warm light, real people, and a team that knows your name before you sit down.

Real People at the Front Desk
A friendly face, a calm lobby, and a team ready to help you take the first step without judgment.

Space to Reconnect
Our yoga therapy space is prepared with mats, bolsters, blocks, and room to practice mindful movement at your own pace.

Room to Breathe
Open, bright waiting areas designed to feel like a place you'd actually want to spend time, not a clinic hallway.

One-on-One Support
Private offices where honest conversations happen between clients and clinicians, safe, confidential, and focused on you.

Spaces Made for Connection
Comfortable group lounges where honest conversation happens and community starts to take hold.

Recovery Beyond the Session
Our community room hosts everything from movie nights to ping-pong tournaments, because healing needs joy, too.

Group therapy for alcohol addiction in Biddeford, Maine

Alcohol rehab near you

Drinking culture in Southern Maine is real, so is recovery here

Between the breweries in Portland, summer on the pier in Old Orchard Beach, and long winters inland, alcohol is woven into daily life here in a way that makes it easy to lose the thread. Getting sober in Maine means learning to live in the place you actually live, not a beach in Florida for thirty days.

Our center is in Biddeford, roughly twenty minutes down I-95 from downtown Portland, five minutes from Saco, and an easy drive from Old Orchard Beach, Scarborough, South Portland, Westbrook, Kennebunk, Arundel, and Sanford. You build your recovery among people from the same towns, the same jobs, and the same winters.

Call 855-449-7674 Areas we serve

Insurance

In-network with almost every plan.

Portland Treatment is in-network with Anthem, UMR/UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Harvard Pilgrim, Martin's Point, TRICARE and MaineCare, Cigna is our only out-of-network plan. In-network means contracted rates, lower coinsurance and no balance bill. We verify your benefits free, in minutes, with no obligation.

Free, confidential, no obligation

Or read the coverage guide for your plan, Anthem rehab coverage, Cigna rehab coverage, MaineCare rehab coverage and other accepted insurance plans.

Alcohol treatment questions

Do I need detox before alcohol rehab?: It depends on how much and how often you drink. Alcohol withdrawal can be medically serious, so if you drink heavily every day we'll arrange a safe medical detox with a trusted Maine partner before you start outpatient treatment. Many people don't need detox at all and can begin PHP or IOP right away. A short phone assessment tells us which is true for you.
Is there medication that helps with alcohol cravings?: Yes. Naltrexone (daily pill or monthly Vivitrol injection), acamprosate, and disulfiram are FDA-approved for alcohol use disorder, and a 2023 JAMA review found naltrexone and acamprosate meaningfully reduce return to heavy drinking. We work hand in hand with trusted local providers who prescribe and manage these medications, coordinating them with your therapy here when they're appropriate for you.
Can I keep working while in alcohol treatment?: In IOP and outpatient, almost always, we run day and evening tracks specifically so people can keep working. PHP takes up most of the day, so many clients use FMLA or short-term leave for that phase and return to work when they step down.
Does MaineCare cover alcohol rehab?: In most cases, yes. MaineCare and nearly all commercial plans cover outpatient alcohol treatment, including PHP, IOP, and medication for alcohol use disorder. We verify your benefits for free, in minutes, with no obligation and nothing on your record.
How long does outpatient alcohol treatment take?: Most people spend two to four weeks in PHP, six to twelve weeks in IOP, and then stay connected through weekly outpatient therapy and alumni support. Length of care is clinical, not fixed, your plan is reviewed as you progress.
Do you offer sober living?: We're outpatient, so you live at home, but if home isn't a stable place to get sober, optional sober living is available through our network of trusted local partners. Ask us and we'll help coordinate it alongside your treatment.
Where is your alcohol rehab located?: Our outpatient center is in Biddeford, Maine, about twenty minutes from downtown Portland and easily reached from Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Scarborough, South Portland, Kennebunk, and Sanford.

Sources & references

This page is educational and is not medical advice. Research findings describe group averages; individual results vary. Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening, talk to a medical professional before stopping. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or dial 911 for an emergency.

Keep exploring

Related care at Portland Treatment

Other conditions we treat

Opioid addiction treatment
Therapy, groups and MAT coordination for opioid use.
Fentanyl rehab in Maine
What fentanyl and xylazine change about treatment here.
Benzodiazepine addiction treatment
Safe tapers, medical oversight and outpatient support.
Stimulant addiction treatment in Maine
Cocaine, meth and prescription stimulant care.

Programs that treat it

Partial hospitalization program (PHP) in Biddeford
Our most structured day treatment, five days a week, home each night.
Intensive outpatient program (IOP) in Southern Maine
Nine-plus clinical hours a week with day and evening tracks.
Outpatient program (OP) for ongoing recovery
One to two sessions a week that fit around work and family.
MAT coordination with local prescribers
We partner with local Suboxone, methadone and Vivitrol prescribers.

Serving Southern Maine

Addiction treatment for Portland, Maine
A 20-minute drive down I-95 from the Portland peninsula.
Addiction treatment in Biddeford, Maine
Our home clinic, in the mill district off Route 111.
Addiction treatment for Saco, Maine
Minutes across the river from our Biddeford clinic.
All Southern Maine areas we serve
Every city and town within driving distance of Biddeford.

One drink at a time got you here.
One call can start the way out.