Addiction & substance use
Substance Use Resources
These resources support people dealing with alcohol, drugs, and other substance use — whether you're in acute crisis, thinking about getting help, or supporting someone else.
Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information service for individuals and families facing substance use disorders and mental health issues.
Find substance use treatment facilities and programs in your area. Search by location, type of care, and payment options including sliding scale.
Find local AA meetings or online meetings worldwide. The AA website also has a meeting finder for people who prefer not to call.
NA offers recovery meetings for people struggling with drug use. Meetings are available in person and online in dozens of languages.
Science-based, non-12-step support for people seeking recovery from addictive behaviors. Free online and in-person meetings available.
A support network for people who want to reduce or moderate their drinking rather than abstain. Includes online forums and face-to-face meetings.
Resources and information for people practicing harm reduction, including naloxone access, safe use guides, and local program finders.
Mail-order naloxone (Narcan) and harm reduction supplies for people who use opioids. Free in many states.
Mental health
Mental Health Crisis
Addiction and mental health are often deeply connected. These resources support people experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health crises alongside or separate from substance use.
Call or text 988 anytime. Trained counselors are available 24/7 for people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis — not just people in immediate danger.
National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline for people experiencing mental health crises and their families. Peer-led support and local resource referrals.
Search for therapists, psychiatrists, and counselors by location, specialty, insurance, and sliding scale availability. Includes addiction specialists.
Affordable therapy ($30–$80/session) for individuals, couples, and families. Includes therapists who specialize in trauma and addiction.
Self-harm & suicide
If You're Thinking About Ending Your Life
If you're having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please reach out. These thoughts are a signal that you're in more pain than you can handle alone right now — not a verdict on what's possible.
Call or text 988. Available 24/7. Counselors are there for thoughts of suicide and self-harm, not only immediate emergencies.
Text HOME to 741741. A trained crisis counselor will respond within minutes. Helpful if you're in a situation where you can't speak out loud.
Directory of crisis centers worldwide. If you're outside the US, this is the best starting point for finding a local resource.
Safety
Domestic Violence & Personal Safety
Domestic violence and substance use frequently intersect. If you or someone you know is in an unsafe situation, these resources are confidential and available now.
24/7 support for people experiencing domestic violence, including safety planning, local shelter referrals, and support for leaving a relationship.
Prefer not to call? The National Domestic Violence Hotline also offers live chat online. Available 24/7.
Eating disorders
Eating Disorder Support
Disordered eating and addiction share many underlying patterns. These resources offer support for eating disorders specifically.
Free helpline with trained staff available weekdays to provide support, resources, and treatment referrals for eating disorders of all kinds.
For eating disorder crisis support via text, text "NEDA" to 741741.
LGBTQ+ support
LGBTQ+ Crisis & Support
LGBTQ+ individuals face elevated rates of substance use and mental health struggles, often tied to discrimination, family rejection, and minority stress. These resources are affirming and knowledgeable.
Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ young people. TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat available 24/7.
Peer support hotline run by and for trans people. Operators have personal experience with trans issues and are available daily.
When calling 988, press 3 to be connected with a counselor specifically trained in LGBTQ+ issues.
Veterans & first responders
Veterans & First Responder Support
Military veterans and first responders experience substance use disorders at elevated rates and often face unique barriers to asking for help. These resources are designed for — and in many cases operated by — people who understand that.
Confidential crisis support for veterans, service members, and their families. Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online.
Confidential crisis referral service for first responders, public safety employees, and their families. Staffed by current and former public safety personnel.
Outside the US
International Resources
Buoy is currently focused on US-based resources, but crisis support exists in most countries. These directories can help you find local help.
A global directory of crisis helplines organized by country and issue type. One of the most comprehensive international crisis resource databases available.
The International Association for Suicide Prevention maintains a directory of crisis centers in over 50 countries.
Before you call
What to Expect When You Reach Out
A lot of people hesitate to call a crisis line because they don't know what will happen. Here's what you can generally expect — every line operates a little differently, but these answers apply to most of them.
No. Most crisis lines are completely anonymous. You don't have to share your name, location, or any identifying information unless you choose to.
Crisis line counselors prioritize talking with you and do not automatically dispatch emergency services. In rare cases where your life is in immediate danger, they may ask for your location. You are always in control of what you share.
There is no threshold you have to meet. If you're struggling, that is enough. Crisis lines exist for distress, not just emergency — and counselors would rather talk with someone who wasn't sure they needed it than have someone suffer alone.
Mostly listen. A trained counselor will ask about what's going on, help you slow down, and work with you on what feels next. They won't lecture you or tell you what to do. They may offer local referrals if you want them.
Text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line) for a text-based conversation with a trained crisis counselor. This is also a good option if you're in a public place or can't speak privately.
Crisis lines can also help you support a person you're worried about. You don't have to be in crisis yourself to call — they can help you figure out what to do and what to say.
For family & friends
If Someone You Love Is in Crisis
Supporting someone through addiction and crisis is its own kind of hard. These resources are for the people who care about someone who is struggling.
Support groups for family members and friends of people with alcohol use disorder. Alateen is specifically for younger family members.
Support groups for people whose lives have been affected by someone else's drug use. Peer-led, free, available online and in person.
SAMHSA's guide for families and friends on how to help someone with a substance use disorder, including how to approach conversations and what to expect.