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If you need help finding substance use treatment or recovery support in Massachusetts, call or text the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline at 800-327-5050. It is free, available 24/7, and can connect you with services through a warm handoff. If you are unsure what kind of behavioral health care is needed, call or text the Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) at 833-773-2445 for assessment and referrals. You do not need to know the right service before you reach out.
Choose the right first step
| Your need | Start here | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Substance use treatment, harm reduction, or recovery navigation | Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline, 800-327-5050 | Call or text for free, statewide navigation and warm handoffs; online chat is also available. |
| You are unsure what care is appropriate, or have both mental health and substance use concerns | Behavioral Health Help Line, 833-773-2445 | Free support for Massachusetts residents, with an initial assessment and personalized referrals by call, text, or chat. |
| Immediate behavioral health crisis | A local Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC); BHHL can help connect you. | CBHCs provide in-person crisis support around the clock regardless of insurance. Call 911 if immediate safety requires emergency response. |
| Search for services by town or service type | BHHL Treatment Connection directory | Search mental health and substance use listings, then contact providers to confirm details and openings. |
| Medication treatment connection for opioid or alcohol use disorder | BMC Addiction Warmline, 617-414-4175 | The state lists this as a free, 24/7 connection and referral service; a callback may follow a message depending on the time. |
| Peer or family support alongside treatment | Peer Recovery Support Centers and community supports | Free peer-run spaces, groups, and activities; verify hours and offerings with the center. |
Contact a helpline and explain what is happening
For substance-use-specific navigation
The Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline is the direct starting point if your main question is where to find substance use treatment, harm reduction, or recovery services. Call or text 800-327-5050 any time; the Commonwealth says the service operates 24/7, including holidays, and offers online chat. Helpline specialists can explain options and help make a warm handoff to a service.
For broader behavioral health assessment and referrals
Call or text the BHHL at 833-773-2445, or use its online chat, if you want help sorting out what kind of care to seek, have combined mental health and substance use concerns, or need connection to outpatient, urgent, or crisis services. The service is available 24 hours a day year-round to Massachusetts residents, with or without insurance. It offers individualized support, an initial clinical assessment, and referrals; staff may help you stay connected through the next step and follow up.
You can call even if you cannot yet describe the problem precisely or choose a treatment type. A helpline can help work out a next step, but an individualized level-of-care or medication decision requires assessment by an appropriate clinician.
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Find local services and confirm availability
The BHHL’s Treatment Connection directory lets you search for mental health and substance use services by location and service type. The Commonwealth says listings are updated often, but a listing is not a guarantee that a provider has an opening, offers the specific service you need, or accepts your insurance.
- Search the directory by your town or area and the kind of service you are seeking.
- Contact the provider directly to ask whether it currently offers the service and has openings.
- Ask whether the provider accepts your insurance and whether there are costs or authorization requirements.
- If the search is difficult or the listed options do not fit, call or text BHHL for help navigating alternatives.
Use crisis services when waiting is not appropriate
Massachusetts Community Behavioral Health Centers provide around-the-clock in-person crisis support regardless of insurance. They also offer a range of ongoing services, which can include evaluation, individual and group therapy, peer support, medication for addiction treatment, and referrals. BHHL can help connect you to crisis support.
If there is an immediate safety emergency, use 911 rather than treating a helpline or CBHC as a replacement for emergency response. The BHHL says it connects callers to 911 when needed for immediate safety.
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Helpline navigation does not require insurance, and the state describes both the Substance Use Helpline and BHHL as free. That does not mean every treatment service is free. Ongoing therapy, medication, and other care may be paid through MassHealth, a Health Connector plan, or private or employer insurance. Massachusetts advises people with private insurance to call the number on their insurance card to ask about available services.
- Ask the insurer whether the service and provider are covered, whether the provider is in network, and whether authorization, copays, or other costs apply.
- Ask the treatment provider to confirm its participation in your plan and the expected cost for the specific service.
- If you are uninsured, the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) says it provides access to treatment for uninsured people. A helpline can help you navigate the route.
CBHC crisis services are available regardless of insurance. Routine CBHC services are a separate matter: the state says they are covered by all MassHealth plans and some commercial plans, so check the specific service with the center and your plan.
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Medication connection
The BMC Addiction Warmline, 617-414-4175, is a specialized route for rapid access to medication treatment and linkage for opioid or alcohol use disorders, including methadone. The Commonwealth lists it as free and available 24/7; depending on the time, you may leave a message and receive a callback. It is a connection and referral service, not a promise of immediate prescribing. A clinician must assess medication options for an individual.
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Peer and family support
Massachusetts Peer Recovery Support Centers are free, peer-run places where people in recovery and their families can connect, take part in self-help groups, and join activities. The state also lists community and family options such as Learn to Cope, Al-Anon/Alateen, Allies in Recovery, MOAR, and Nar-Anon. These can complement clinical care; they are not substitutes for treatment when treatment is needed. Contact a center or group to confirm its current hours and activities.
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