Addiction Hotlines in Massachusetts

What Are Addiction Hotlines?

Addiction affects millions of people in the United States. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2022, there were 29.5 million people, aged 12 or older, with an alcohol use disorder (AUD), 27.2 million with a drug use disorder (DUD), and 8 million  with both an AUD and DUD.²

Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease, characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behavior and use despite the harmful consequences.³ And addiction can impact all aspects of your life, including your physical and mental health, your family and other loved ones, your finances, and your community. Luckily, an addiction treatment program, based on evidence-based interventions and therapies, can help. Reaching out to an addiction hotline can be a beneficial first step towards recovery. That’s because addiction helplines, which are completely confidential and available 24/7, provide referrals to local treatment facilities, mutual-help groups, and community-based organizations for free.⁴

Free Drug and Alcohol Addiction Hotlines in Massachusetts

If you live in Massachusetts, you have access to several free drug and alcohol addiction hotlines. These hotlines may address drug addiction, alcohol use disorder, mental health crises, or all of these. If you are ready to get help and seek treatment for yourself or a family member, an addiction hotline is a good place to start.

• American Addiction Centers’ (AAC) Helpline: AAC offers comprehensive addiction resource help. Call (866) 929-7369, the free, confidential hotline 24/7 if you feel lost, if you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom, or if you are unsure where to turn to for help. Call if you’re suffering from the side effects of addiction or withdrawal and want treatment. Or call if you’re ready to discuss your treatment options with one of our knowledgeable and compassionate admissions navigators—many of whom are in recovery themselves.
• The Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline: To be connected to resources in Massachusetts, call (800) 327-5050. Funded by the Bureau of Addiction Services by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, this addiction hotline provides caring and nonjudgmental support and resources—that are funded and/or licensed by the MA Department of Public Health—for harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.
• Massachusetts Addiction Hotline. Call (866) 210-1303 to speak to a specialist, who can provide free, confidential information about addiction and mental health, talk about next steps, and provide local resources for treatment for free.
• Substance Abuse Hotline: Massachusetts: Trained specialists, who are in recovery themselves—and understand what it’s like to need help, find treatment, and achieve lasting sobriety—can provide referrals to healthcare professionals and addiction treatment providers throughout the state of Massachusetts. Call (855) 701-0479.
• The Boys Town ​National Hotline: The Boys Town National Hotline, which is accredited by the American Association of Suicidology (AAS), helps teens dealing with substance misuse. Call (800) 448-3000 to talk to an English- or Spanish-speaking, specially trained Boys Town counselor 24/7. (Translation services are also available for more than 100 languages).
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline. Call (800) 662-4357 to connect with an English- or Spanish-speaking specialist, who can help you find local treatment, support groups, and community-based organizations.

Addiction hotlines are a great place to begin your path to recovery and to gather information and resources. Helplines are not the place to contact if you or someone else is experiencing a medical or mental health emergency. In those instances, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Texting Massachusetts Addiction Hotlines Instead of Calling

If you’re not ready to talk or simply prefer texting to talking, you can access a qualified representative and treatment information and resources via text through various outlets, including:

• AAC. Our addiction text line provides information with no obligation to enter treatment and the ability to opt out at any time. Sign up for text support here to get information about rehab programs to fit your needs, treatment costs, and payment options.
• The Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline: Text HOPE to 800327 in Massachusetts to find licensed and approved substance use treatment and recovery services nearby.
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline HELP4U text messaging service. Message your zip code to 435748 to receive treatment referrals via text.
• Crisis Text Line. Text HOME to 741741 to be connected with a volunteer crisis counselor 24/7.
• Behavioral Health Help Line. Text (833) 773-2445 to be connected to a full range of treatment for mental health and substance use in Massachusetts, including resources for outpatient, urgent, and immediate crisis care.
• Samaritans Helpline. Text 988 if you feel lonely, hopeless, or suicidal. The Samaritans work to prevent suicide and support individuals who have lost someone to suicide.

Are All Massachusetts Addiction Helplines Free?

Helplines provide information and resources for free. The only exception may be texting helplines, which may incur charges, depending on your data plan and cellular carrier.

Can You Call a Massachusetts Addiction Hotline for a Loved One?

Yes, you can call a helpline for a family member or other loved one. The trained specialists can provide information and resources for those who struggle with substance use and for the individuals who care about them.

What Happens When You Call an Addiction Hotline?

When you call an addiction helpline, you may be asked questions so that you get the appropriate information and resources. You may be asked your name and age, where you’re located, whether you’re calling for yourself or someone else, current substance use, substance use history, how substance use might be impacting your life, questions about suicidal thoughts, and other immediate dangers, for instance.

Is the Conversation Confidential?

All calls to a hotline are confidential. If you prefer, you can remain anonymous, too. You will, however, need to give your general location so the specialist can research local resources for you.

How Do You Know if You Should Call a Massachusetts Drug or Alcohol Addiction Hotline?

If you or a loved one struggle with addiction, calling or texting a drug hotline number is a good first step. You can gather the information and resources needed to move forward with recovery.

You may be wondering how to know if substance use treatment is necessary. While only a healthcare professional can make a formal diagnosis, there are criteria that clinicians use to make a diagnosis of a substance use disorder, which are outlines in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Some of the criteria include:⁵

• Consuming the substance in larger amounts and for a longer amount of time than intended.
• Experiencing a persistent desire to cut down or stop use but being unsuccessful in your attempts.
• Spending a great deal of time obtaining, using, or recovering from the effects of substance use.
• Experiencing craving, or a pressing desire to use the substance.
• Failing to fulfill major obligations at work, school, or home.
• Continuing to use the substance despite it causing significant social or interpersonal problems.
• Reducing or discontinuing recreational, social, or occupational activities because of substance use.
• Continuing to use the substance in physically unsafe situations.
• Continuing substance use despite knowing that it has caused or exacerbated physical or psychological problems.

Getting Help for Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Massachusetts

A substance misuse treatment program can aid in breaking the cycle of addiction. You can start your recovery journey by contacting AAC at . In Massachusetts, AAC operates AdCare Hospital and AdCare Outpatient Facility—both located in Worcester. AdCare Hospital provides medically managed detox services and AdCare Outpatient Facility offers day treatment, an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and a standard outpatient program. Reach out and speak to one of our admission navigators, who can listen to your story, explain your options, answer your questions, verify your insurance, and help you begin your recovery journey today.