USA Gov Emergency Help for Substance Abuse: If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol or drug use, urgent help is available right now — and you don’t have to figure it out alone. This short, practical guide explains immediate hotlines, how to find local treatment, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), support groups, and what to expect when you reach out. All information below is current as of September 2025 and comes from official U.S. government sources.
Immediate help — the national hotline you can call 24/7
USA Gov Emergency Help: If you need treatment referrals or just don’t know where to start, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It’s free, confidential, available 24/7 in English and Spanish, and can refer you to local treatment and support services. If someone is in immediate danger or having suicidal thoughts, call 911 or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
1 — How to find a local treatment program right now
SAMHSA’s FindTreatment.gov is a searchable database of treatment programs across the U.S. — filter by location, type of care (inpatient, outpatient, telehealth), and whether the program provides medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Use it to identify nearby providers, read what services they offer, and get contact details.
Quick action: search by ZIP code on FindTreatment.gov, call a few programs, and ask about intake wait times and whether they accept your insurance or offer sliding-scale fees.
2 — Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): what it is and why it helps
For opioid and alcohol use disorders, evidence-based medications (buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone) combined with counseling improve outcomes and reduce overdose risk. SAMHSA explains MAT options and how to find providers who prescribe these medications. If opioids are involved, ask programs whether they offer buprenorphine or methadone and about take-home policies and counseling support.
Practical tip: if you’re worried about withdrawal or overdose, ask about naloxone (overdose reversal) and how to obtain it locally — many programs or health departments provide it free or low cost.
3 — Choosing the right alcohol treatment program (short checklist)
The NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator helps you sort programs by evidence base and fit — inpatient vs outpatient, level of family involvement, and aftercare planning. Before committing, ask each program:
- Is the treatment voluntary or court-ordered?
- What therapies and supports do you use (counseling, CBT, MAT for alcohol use disorder)?
- What is the expected length and intensity of treatment?
- Do you offer telehealth or sliding-scale fees?
4 — Peer and community support groups that work alongside treatment
Peer support is a powerful complement to formal treatment. Common options include:
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) — in-person and online meetings.
- Narcotics Anonymous (NA) — for people using opioids or other drugs.
- SMART Recovery — a science-based alternative with online and in-person meetings.
- Al-Anon / Alateen / Nar-Anon — support for family and friends.
Find local meeting schedules through the organizations’ websites or ask a treatment provider for recommendations. Peer groups are free and can be used with clinical treatment or MAT.
5 — What to expect when you call or show up
When you contact a hotline or treatment program they will usually:
- Ask about immediate safety (suicidal thoughts, recent overdose).
- Ask about substance use history, medical conditions, and insurance.
- Recommend a level of care (medical detox, inpatient, outpatient, MAT plus counseling).
- Give next steps (appointment, walk-in intake, or referral).
If a program has a waiting list, ask about interim options — harm-reduction services, telehealth counseling, or medication bridge (short-term prescriptions) to reduce risk while you wait.
6 — Low-cost and specialized supports to ask about
Depending on finances and needs, ask programs about:
- Sliding scale fees or Medicaid coverage.
- Telehealth options if travel is a barrier.
- Specialized care: youth/adolescent programs, pregnant persons, LGBTQ+ affirming care, or criminal-justice friendly programs.
- Co-occurring mental health treatment (many people have both substance use and mental health needs).
7 — Recovery is a process — build a short plan right now
- If someone is unsafe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
- Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (SAMHSA) for referrals and immediate guidance.
- Use FindTreatment.gov to locate programs and check wait times.
- Identify at least one support group and one clinical option (counselor, MAT provider, or clinic).
- Ask about naloxone and get it if opioids are involved.
Keep a small card or note with emergency numbers, local treatment contacts, and the phone number for a trusted friend or family member who can help you follow through.
Quick FAQ
Q: Is the SAMHSA helpline the same as 911?
A: No. SAMHSA’s Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) connects you to treatment referrals and resources; call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.
Q: Does FindTreatment.gov cost anything?
A: No — FindTreatment.gov is a free, confidential government resource to locate local programs and services.
Q: Are MAT medications dangerous?
A: MAT medications are evidence-based treatments; when supervised by qualified providers they reduce overdose and help sustain recovery. Discuss benefits and risks with a clinician.
Where to get the official resources (clickable)
- Find help for substance abuse — USA.gov. (USAGov)
https://www.usa.gov/substance-abuse - SAMHSA National Helpline — 1-800-662-HELP (4357). (SAMHSA)
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline - FindTreatment.gov — treatment locator (search by ZIP). (FindTreatment.gov)
https://findtreatment.gov - Alcohol Treatment Navigator — NIAAA. (NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator)
https://alcoholtreatment.niaaa.nih.gov - Medication options & treatment guidance — SAMHSA. (SAMHSA)
https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/options
Disclaimer: This article provides general informational guidance and is not medical or legal advice. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911. Always confirm treatment options and eligibility with official providers and ask about costs, insurance, and confidentiality before beginning any program. The official links above are authoritative sources. Images used in this article are royalty‑free or licensed for commercial use and are provided here for illustrative purposes.