Best Substance Abuse in Massachusetts — 14 resources

About Substance Abuse

Substance abuse treatment in the US is delivered through state-licensed treatment providers, nonprofit recovery programs (AA, NA, SMART Recovery), hospital-based detox, methadone clinics, and sober living houses. SAMHSA's National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) provides free, confidential referrals to local treatment 24/7. Most states fund a network of publicly-supported treatment centers that accept uninsured and Medicaid clients; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration maintains a national treatment locator at findtreatment.gov. Fathers dealing with substance issues during custody disputes often need documented treatment compliance — court-ordered programs exist for this specific purpose. Recovery support includes peer recovery specialists, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and drug courts. This directory pulls together the state's single state agency for SUD, treatment finders, mutual aid meetings, and MAT providers.

14 Resources

1. Massachusetts BSAS (Bureau of Substance Addiction Services) — Free

State bureau within the Department of Public Health overseeing substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery services in Massachusetts. Funds and regulates treatment programs across all 14 counties including detox, residential, outpatient, and medication for addiction treatment. Individuals seeking treatment should call the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline at 800-327-5050 or the state Behavioral Health Help Line at 833-773-2445 for live referral to BSAS-funded programs.

617-624-5111 · 250 Washington St, Boston, MA 02108 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

2. SAMHSA National Helpline — Free

Free, confidential 24/7 federal helpline for substance use and mental health treatment referrals. Callers are connected to Massachusetts treatment facilities, community organizations, and support groups regardless of insurance status. English and Spanish speakers always available; other languages through interpreter. No appointment, ID, or insurance required to call. Have your ZIP code and a general sense of preferred treatment type (detox, outpatient, residential) ready.

1-800-662-4357 · National · 24/7 · Visit Website

3. Bay Cove Human Services (Boston)

Major Boston-area provider offering substance use treatment including detox, residential rehabilitation, outpatient counseling, medication for addiction treatment, and recovery support across multiple sites in Boston and nearby communities. Accepts MassHealth and commercial insurance; some programs available for uninsured through BSAS funding. Call the intake line to be screened; bring photo ID, insurance cards, a list of current medications, and any prior treatment records.

617-371-3000 · 66 Canal St, Boston, MA 02114 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm; some 24/7 programs · Visit Website

4. Alcoholics Anonymous - Greater Boston — Free

Greater Boston AA Intergroup providing a 24-hour hotline, meeting directories (in-person and online), literature, and connections to local AA groups across eastern Massachusetts. Meetings are free and open to anyone with a desire to stop drinking; no registration, referral, or insurance required. Find a meeting by neighborhood, day, or format (open, closed, speaker, step study) at aaboston.org. Online and hybrid meetings are also listed.

617-426-9444 · 12 Channel St, Suite 604, Boston, MA 02210 · 24/7 hotline; meetings daily · Visit Website

5. Narcotics Anonymous - New England Region — Free

Regional NA meeting network with hundreds of weekly meetings across Massachusetts in person and online. The 24/7 helpline connects callers to a volunteer who can find the nearest meeting. Meetings are free and open to anyone with a desire to stop using; no registration, referral, or insurance required. Search by city, day, or format at nerna.org. NA welcomes all substances, not just narcotics.

866-624-3578 · Meetings statewide · 24/7 helpline; meetings daily · Visit Website

6. FindTreatment.gov (SAMHSA Locator) — Free

Federal treatment locator with a searchable database of licensed substance use treatment providers across Massachusetts. Filter by treatment type (detox, residential, outpatient, methadone/MAT), payment options (MassHealth, commercial, sliding scale), age group, and language. Also connects to the national helpline. Free to use; no registration required. Have your ZIP code, insurance info, and a sense of the level of care you need ready when searching.

1-800-662-4357 · Online resource (search by MA zip code) · Online 24/7 · Visit Website

7. AdCare Hospital (Worcester)

Leading addiction treatment hospital in central Massachusetts providing medically monitored detox, inpatient rehabilitation, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and aftercare for substance use disorders. Accepts MassHealth, commercial insurance, and Medicare; some self-pay options. Admissions 24/7 by phone. Bring photo ID, insurance cards, a list of current medications, and any prior treatment records when admitting. Outpatient offices in several MA cities.

508-799-9000 · 107 Lincoln St, Worcester, MA 01605 · Admissions 24/7 · Visit Website

8. Gosnold Treatment Center (Cape Cod)

Comprehensive addiction treatment provider on Cape Cod offering medically monitored detox, inpatient rehabilitation, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, recovery housing, and family programs for substance use disorders. Accepts MassHealth, commercial insurance, and Medicare. Admissions 24/7 by phone. Bring photo ID, insurance cards, a list of current medications, and any prior treatment records at admission. Serves residents statewide with Cape bed availability.

508-540-6550 · 200 Ter Heun Dr, Falmouth, MA 02540 · Admissions 24/7 · Visit Website

9. Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR) — Free

Statewide recovery advocacy organization offering peer support, recovery coaching, legislative advocacy, and community resources for people in recovery and their families. Also trains recovery coaches and supports the Recovery Community Centers network across Massachusetts. Free peer support and recovery community events. Call or visit the website for upcoming meetings, training, and coach connections. No referral, insurance, or registration required.

617-423-6627 · Boston, MA · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

10. Learn to Cope (Massachusetts) — Free

Peer-led support network for parents, partners, and family members of people with substance use disorder. Free weekly support group meetings at dozens of locations across Massachusetts and online; groups include narcan training and education on treatment options. No referral, insurance, or registration required to attend. Find a meeting by town or day on the website. Confidential and anonymous; first-time attendees always welcome without advance notice.

508-738-5148 · Support groups across Massachusetts · Weekly evening meetings · Visit Website

11. High Point Treatment Center (New Bedford)

Southeastern Massachusetts treatment provider offering medically monitored detox, residential rehabilitation, outpatient counseling, and medication for addiction treatment across sites in New Bedford, Brockton, Plymouth, and Taunton. Accepts MassHealth, commercial insurance, and Medicare; some BSAS-funded beds available for uninsured. Admissions 24/7 by phone. Bring photo ID, insurance cards, a list of medications, and any prior treatment records at admission.

508-997-3381 · 1233 County St, New Bedford, MA 02746 · Admissions 24/7 · Visit Website

12. Spectrum Health Systems (Worcester)

Major Massachusetts substance abuse treatment provider offering residential rehabilitation, outpatient counseling, medication for addiction treatment (including methadone), and recovery support services at multiple locations across central and eastern Massachusetts. Accepts MassHealth, commercial insurance, and Medicare. Call intake to schedule; bring photo ID, insurance cards, a list of current medications, and any prior treatment records. Residential admissions available 24/7.

508-792-5400 · 10 Mechanic St, Suite 302, Worcester, MA 01608 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; residential 24/7 · Visit Website

13. Recovery Centers of America - Danvers

Inpatient addiction treatment center on Boston's North Shore offering medically supervised detox, residential rehabilitation, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient for adults with substance use disorders. Accepts many commercial insurance plans; MassHealth acceptance varies and should be confirmed at intake. Admissions available 24/7 by phone. Bring photo ID, insurance cards, a list of current medications, and any prior treatment records when admitting.

844-823-3361 · Danvers, MA 01923 · Admissions 24/7 · Visit Website

14. Al-Anon Family Groups - Massachusetts — Free

Free peer-led support groups across Massachusetts for families and friends of people with alcohol problems, with additional Alateen groups for teens affected by someone else's drinking. Meetings include 12-step format, literature discussion, and shared experience. No registration, insurance, or referral required. Find a meeting by town, day, or format (open, closed, beginners, Alateen) on the website. Confidential and anonymous; first-time attendees welcome.

508-366-0556 · Meetings statewide · Meeting times vary · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many substance abuse resources are in Massachusetts?
Men's Corner tracks 14 substance abuse resources for men and fathers in Massachusetts.
Are substance abuse resources in Massachusetts free?
8 of the 14 listed substance abuse resources in Massachusetts are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Massachusetts have substance abuse resources?
Listings span cities including Boston, Worcester, Falmouth, New Bedford, Danvers.
What are some examples of substance abuse resources in Massachusetts?
Featured entries include Massachusetts BSAS (Bureau of Substance Addiction Services), SAMHSA National Helpline, Bay Cove Human Services (Boston), Alcoholics Anonymous - Greater Boston, Narcotics Anonymous - New England Region.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
14 of 14 Massachusetts substance abuse listings include phone numbers.
I need help but have no insurance — where do I start?
Call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (free, 24/7). They'll connect you to state-funded treatment providers that accept uninsured clients. Every state has a Single State Agency for Substance Use that funds community treatment on sliding-scale fees.
What's MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment)?
MAT combines medications (methadone, buprenorphine/Suboxone, naltrexone/Vivitrol) with counseling to treat opioid and alcohol use disorders. It's evidence-based, reduces overdose risk substantially, and is covered by Medicaid and most private insurance. Find providers at findtreatment.gov.
Will going to rehab hurt my custody case?
Voluntarily seeking treatment is almost always viewed favorably by courts — it shows responsibility and commitment to sobriety. Coordinate with your attorney so treatment documentation supports your case. Court-ordered programs through drug courts specifically protect custody rights.
How long is treatment?
Detox: 3–7 days. Residential rehab: 30–90 days typically. Intensive outpatient: 8–12 weeks, 9–15 hours per week. Standard outpatient: months to years. Aftercare and peer support (AA, NA, SMART Recovery) is ongoing and free.