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.

Substance Abuse in Texas

17 verified resources.

About Substance Abuse for Fathers

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.

Substance Abuse in Texas

Texas district courts hear family matters across its 254 counties, with many urban counties operating dedicated family courts. The Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division runs enforcement statewide. Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Fort Worth are the largest metros. Texas Legal Services Center, Lone Star Legal Aid, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid cover the state.

17 Resources

1. SAMHSA National Helpline — Free

Free, confidential, 24/7 SAMHSA treatment referral service. Connects callers to state-funded treatment programs, sliding-scale facilities, and support groups in Texas. Call 1-800-662-4357 anytime. English and Spanish available. No insurance or ID required to call. Specialists can help you find detox, residential, and outpatient programs near you based on your location and specific substance use needs. All calls are completely confidential.

1-800-662-4357 · 24/7/365 · Visit Website

2. Texas HHS Adult Substance Use Services — Paid

State-certified network of substance use disorder treatment programs in Texas including outpatient, residential, and detox levels of care. Sliding fee scale — many programs accept Medicaid and are free or low-cost for uninsured residents. Connect through your local OSAR (Outreach, Screening, Assessment and Referral) office. Call 211 to find your nearest OSAR. No one is turned away for inability to pay at state-funded programs. Bring ID and insurance information if you have it.

(877) 541-7905 · Mon-Fri 8-5 · Visit Website

3. Texas OSAR — Outreach, Screening, Assessment & Referral — Free

Free statewide service helping Texans navigate substance abuse treatment — especially uninsured and underinsured individuals. OSAR specialists connect callers to funded treatment programs across all 11 HHS regions. Call 211 or your regional OSAR hotline for a free assessment and referral. OSAR staff are trained to find the right level of care — from outpatient to residential detox. No insurance required. Confidential and available in English and Spanish statewide.

(877) 541-7905 — Option 8 · Mon-Fri 8-5 · Visit Website

4. Center for Health Care Services — San Antonio — Paid

San Antonio's public behavioral health authority with integrated mental health and substance use treatment on a sliding fee scale. Accepts Medicaid. 24-hour crisis line for substance abuse emergencies. Services include outpatient counseling, intensive outpatient, residential treatment, detox, and medication-assisted treatment. No one is turned away for inability to pay for crisis services. Call the 24-hour line to begin the intake and assessment process for San Antonio and Bexar County residents.

(210) 261-1250 · 6800 Park Ten Blvd, Suite 200-S, San Antonio, TX 78213 · Mon-Fri 8-5; 24/7 crisis: (800) 316-9241 · Visit Website

5. The Council on Recovery — Houston — Paid

Houston's oldest nonprofit substance abuse provider since 1946. Outpatient treatment, family recovery programs, and intervention services. Accepts Medicaid and sliding-scale fees. Specialized programming for families and fathers. Located in Houston's Texas Medical Center area. Call for intake and assessment. Fathers in recovery who want to maintain or restore relationships with their children will find family-focused programming designed to address both recovery and parenting needs.

(713) 942-4100 · 303 Jackson Hill St, Houston, TX 77007 · Mon-Fri 8-5 · Visit Website

6. Gateway Community Services — Jacksonville — Paid

Private nonprofit substance abuse treatment leader since 1978 serving East Texas with detox, residential, intensive outpatient, and family counseling. Located in Jacksonville, TX. Accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and military insurance. Call for intake and assessment. Programs include evidence-based therapies, relapse prevention, and family involvement. Residential programs provide a structured recovery environment for men and women in East Texas seeking comprehensive addiction treatment.

(877) 389-9966 · 555 Stockton Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204 · Mon-Fri 8-6; call for residential · Visit Website

7. Alcoholics Anonymous — Texas — Free

Free peer-led recovery meetings across Texas with 24/7 helplines in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and Austin. Open to anyone with a desire to stop drinking — no registration or commitment required. Meetings are available in-person, online, and by phone. Find a meeting at aa.org or call your city's AA helpline. Fathers in recovery often find strong community support through local groups. Completely free, confidential, and welcoming to all backgrounds.

Houston: (713) 686-6300 | Dallas: (214) 887-6699 | SA: (210) 828-6235 · Meetings throughout Texas · Helplines 24/7 · Visit Website

8. Narcotics Anonymous — Texas — Free

Free peer-led recovery meetings across Texas with regional helplines. Open to anyone with a desire to stop using drugs — no registration, fees, or commitment required. Meetings are available in-person, online, and by phone across all major Texas cities and many rural areas. Find a meeting at na.org or call your regional NA helpline. Completely confidential and welcoming to all backgrounds. Fathers in recovery find strong peer support and accountability through local NA groups.

Houston: (713) 661-4200 | Dallas: (888) 629-6757 | Austin: (512) 480-0111 · Meetings throughout Texas · Helplines 24/7 · Visit Website

9. Texas Association of Specialty Courts — Drug Courts — Paid

Network of family drug courts in Texas helping parents address substance use while staying connected to their children. Intensive supervision, case management, and treatment serve as an alternative to incarceration. Courts operate in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and other counties. Participants who complete the program may have charges dismissed and avoid permanent records. Contact your county court or a defense attorney to ask about drug court eligibility requirements.

(936) 294-1227 · Mon-Fri 8-5 · Visit Website

10. Texas HHS 24-Hour Crisis Line — San Antonio Region — Free

Bilingual English/Spanish crisis line covering substance abuse emergencies and mental health crises in the San Antonio area. Provides immediate assessment, de-escalation, and referrals to detox and treatment programs. Available 24/7. No insurance or ID required to call. Counselors can dispatch mobile crisis teams or connect callers directly to inpatient stabilization. Call for yourself or a family member experiencing a substance abuse or mental health emergency in Bexar County.

(800) 316-9241 or (210) 223-7233 · Bexar County and surrounding areas · 24/7/365 · Visit Website

11. Palmer Drug Abuse Program (PDAP) — Houston — Free

Free peer support for young people ages 13-25 struggling with substance use in Houston. Founded in Houston in 1971. Weekly meetings, mentoring, and drug-free social activities available. PDAP is a community-based program where peers support each other in recovery. Multiple Houston locations. No fees, no requirements — just a desire to get help. Parents of struggling young adults are also welcome to participate. Visit pdap.com or call for meeting schedules and locations.

(713) 942-2262 · 6926 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX 77055 · Check website for meeting schedule

12. Cenikor Foundation — Texas Residential Treatment — Paid

Long-term residential substance abuse treatment (6-12 months) at campuses in Houston, Fort Worth, Killeen, and Baton Rouge. Uses a work therapy model where residents contribute to program operations as part of recovery. Accepts Medicaid and self-pay. Call Cenikor Foundation for intake and bed availability. Programs provide structured daily routines, counseling, life skills, and employment preparation. Suitable for men seeking intensive long-term residential addiction recovery in Texas.

(888) 236-4567 · 7222 Almeda Rd, Houston, TX 77054 · Admissions 24/7 · Visit Website

13. Santa Maria Hostel — Houston Women & Family Recovery — Paid

Residential and outpatient treatment for women and families in Houston. Women can bring their children — on-site childcare and children's programming available. Covers substance abuse, trauma, and mental health in an integrated treatment model. Sliding scale fees based on income. Contact Santa Maria Hostel for intake information and current bed availability. Fathers with female partners seeking treatment can learn about family support services and referral options through their intake line.

(713) 691-0900 · 2605 Parker Rd, Houston, TX 77093 · Intake Mon-Fri 8-5 · Visit Website

14. Nexus Recovery Center — Dallas — Paid

Specialized substance abuse treatment for women and their children in Dallas. Residential, outpatient, and aftercare services available. Children can live on campus during the mother's treatment — integrated childcare and children's services provided. Contact Nexus Recovery Center for intake and bed availability. Fathers whose children are placed with a mother in treatment can stay informed about family reunification plans and children's wellbeing through case management staff.

(214) 321-0156 · 8733 La Prada Dr, Dallas, TX 75228 · Admissions Mon-Fri 8-5 · Visit Website

15. Phoenix House Texas — Dallas/Austin — Paid

Outpatient and residential substance abuse treatment in Dallas and Austin including adolescent programs for teens. Evidence-based treatment combining cognitive behavioral therapy, education, and life skills training. Accepts insurance and sliding-scale fees. Contact Phoenix House Texas for intake information and available program options. Adolescent programs support fathers whose children need substance use treatment, with family involvement built into the recovery process.

(888) 286-5027 · 8315 Crosspark Dr, Austin, TX 78754 · Mon-Fri 8-5 · Visit Website

16. SMART Recovery — Texas Meetings — Free

Free, science-based mutual support groups as an alternative to 12-step programs. In-person meetings in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and online options available nationwide. SMART Recovery uses cognitive behavioral tools to help participants manage addictive behaviors. No religious component. Visit smartrecovery.org to find a Texas meeting or join an online group. Free to attend — all you need is a desire to change your relationship with substances or addictive behaviors.

Meetings statewide · Check website for meeting times · Visit Website

17. Celebrate Recovery — Texas Chapters — Free

Faith-based recovery program for all hurts, habits, and hang-ups including substance abuse, codependency, and mental health challenges. Free meetings at hundreds of Texas churches across all major cities and many rural areas. Based on Christian principles but open to anyone seeking a supportive community. Find a local Texas chapter at celebraterecovery.com. Meetings typically meet weekly and include small group support, accountability, and faith-based recovery curriculum.

Church-based meetings statewide · Weekly meetings, usually Friday evenings · Visit Website

Substance Abuse — Common Questions

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.