Finding Substance Use Treatment: The Questions People Actually Ask
Finding Substance Use Treatment: straight answers to the questions people actually ask, with the figures behind them.
How to find help for a drug or alcohol problem, from your doctor and the SAMHSA National Helpline to treatment programs.
Key takeaways
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357), free and confidential, 24 hours a day, every day
- Languages: the helpline offers service in English and Spanish
- Most useful single change: Start with your primary care provider, who can assess and refer you.
- Commonest mistake: Programs that promise a quick cure or guaranteed results.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
What is Finding Substance Use Treatment?
How to find help for a drug or alcohol problem, from your doctor and the SAMHSA National Helpline to treatment programs.
Why does it matter?
Knowing where to start removes one of the biggest barriers to getting help.
SAMHSA National Helpline for Finding Substance Use Treatment?
1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357), free and confidential, 24 hours a day, every day.
Online search for Finding Substance Use Treatment?
FindTreatment.gov lists licensed treatment facilities.
Types of care for Finding Substance Use Treatment?
Outpatient, intensive outpatient, residential and medication treatment.
What is the single most useful thing to do?
Start with your primary care provider, who can assess and refer you.
What is the most common mistake?
Programs that promise a quick cure or guaranteed results.
When should I see a doctor?
If you are thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call 911 for an overdose, seizures or someone who cannot be woken.
More questions, answered
Is substance use treatment confidential?
Federal law protects the privacy of substance use treatment records, with stronger protections than for many other health records. In most cases, programs cannot share your information without your consent. Ask a program how it protects privacy if you are worried.
Can I lose my job for seeking treatment?
Federal law may protect people in treatment or recovery from discrimination in some situations, and the Family and Medical Leave Act may let you take unpaid leave for treatment. Protections have limits. Your employer's employee assistance program may also offer confidential help.
How do I spot a bad treatment program?
Warning signs include promises of quick cures, guaranteed results, free travel or rent in exchange for enrolling, refusal to use FDA-approved medicines, and pressure to commit immediately. Check that a program is licensed and accredited, and ask about the staff's qualifications.
What if I cannot afford treatment?
Many programs accept Medicaid, and some offer sliding-scale fees or state-funded services. The SAMHSA National Helpline and FindTreatment.gov can help you find low-cost options. Community health centers may also offer substance use care.
How long does treatment take?
It varies. Some people need a few weeks of intensive care followed by months of outpatient support. Others take medicine for years. Research suggests staying in treatment for an adequate length of time improves results. Your plan should change as you progress.
Do I have to hit rock bottom before getting help?
No. Treatment can help at any stage, and getting help earlier usually leads to better results. You do not need to wait for a crisis. If you are worried about your use, that is enough reason to talk to someone.
Related topics
- The Evidence on Talk Therapy, Without the Hype (Mental Health)
- Sexual Health Services: What Published Guidance Supports (Sexual Health)
- Choosing the Right Care: What Published Guidance Supports (Preventive Care)
- Finding a Primary Care Doctor: What the Evidence Actually Says (Using Health Services)
Where to go next
- Finding Substance Use Treatment in Five Minutes
- Finding Substance Use Treatment: What Published Guidance Supports
- Finding Substance Use Treatment — the reference entry
- Substance Use: The Complete Guide
- Supporting a Family Member With Addiction: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- The Evidence on Safe Disposal of Medicines, Without the Hype
When to speak to a doctor
If you are thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call 911 for an overdose, seizures or someone who cannot be woken.
Where this comes from
- SAMHSA — National Helpline
- SAMHSA — FindTreatment.gov
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Get Help
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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