Opioid Addiction Hotline

Opioids are a class of drugs that include powerful prescription pain medications as well as street drugs. Some opioids are derived from the opium poppy plant, while others are synthetic opioids that are man-made in a laboratory. ^[1] The most common types of opioids include: ^[2]

• Pain pills such as OxyContin, Vicodin, and Percodan, which are prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain.
• Synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, which are powerful pain relievers.
• The illegal drug heroin.

Opioid drugs are highly addictive. Their misuse and abuse has reached epidemic proportions and is a public health crisis in the United States. In 2022, over 8.4 million Americans reported misusing prescription pain pills within the past year and 2.4 million within the past month. In addition, 1 million people reported past-year use of heroin and 700,000 reported using heroin within the past month. ^[3] Nearly 107,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2021. Over 75% of these deaths involved an opioid drug. From 2020 to 2021, opioid-associated deaths increased by 15%. While deaths involving prescription opioids remained the same and deaths involving heroin decreased by 32%, deaths involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl rose by over 22%. ^[4]

If you or a loved one has become addicted to opioid drugs, it is vital that you get help as soon as possible. Opioid addiction can lead to devastating and tragic consequences for your family. Our opioid hotline can be your first step towards overcoming an opioid use disorder and saving yourself and your loved ones from its severe consequences.

What is an Opioid Hotline?

Our opioid hotline is a toll-free telephone number where callers can obtain free information about opioid use disorder and addiction. You do not need health insurance to call the helpline.

All calls to our opioid hotline are completely private and confidential. You will not get into trouble with law enforcement for calling, and you can choose to remain anonymous.

Our opioid helpline operates around the clock, 7 days of the week, providing support, guidance, and information about opioid abuse and addiction. You can call our opioid helpline to get answers to all your questions and obtain information about opioid addiction treatment programs nearby. However, you will not be under any compulsion to start treatment after your call.

You can think of our helpline as having a helpful, knowledgeable, and non-judgmental friend available to provide advice. Calling our opioid hotline can help you organize your thoughts and decide on the next steps. If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid addiction, call the National Drug Helpline on (844) 289-0879^ℹ for free, confidential guidance and support any time of the day or night.

What Questions Can an Opioid Hotline Answer?

You can get answers to all your questions about opioid use and addiction from our opioid helpline. Some of the most common questions that people ask when they call our hotline include:

• What are the symptoms of opioid drug addiction?
• How do I know if a loved one is misusing opioid drugs?
• What health effects can opioid drug use have?
• What precautions should I take to prevent an opioid overdose?
• Are there any opioid rehabs near me?
• Will insurance cover the cost of opioid rehab?
• How can I prevent opioid addiction in myself or a loved one?

If you have other questions besides the ones listed above, don’t hesitate to ask. Feel free to discuss whatever is on your mind without fear of reprimand or judgment.

Opioid Helplines

If you are in an emergency or a crisis, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Opioid hotlines are not equipped to deal with emergencies. If you are looking for information, guidance, and resources, you can call the following opioid helplines.

National Drug Helpline (844) 289-0879^ℹ

The National Drug Helpline is a 24/7 opioid helpline that provides free and confidential information to individuals and families battling opioid addiction. Call to learn more about treatment options in your area and get answers to your questions about opioid use and addiction.

SAMHSA 1-800-662-HELP (4357)          

The U.S. government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) operates a free, confidential, 24/7 opioid hotline where you can access national resources and referral services in English and Spanish.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

You can call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention hotline during a mental health crisis or if you are having suicidal thoughts.

National Poison Control 1-800-222-1222

The U.S. Poison Control provides callers with information about the prevention and treatment of opioid poisoning or overdose.

Risk Factors for Opioid Use and Addiction

Anyone can become addicted to opioid drugs; however, some people are at higher risk of developing an opioid use disorder, including those with: ^[5]

• Past or current problematic use of other substances
• Co-occurring psychiatric disorders
• Unstable social and family environments
• Younger age

In addition, studies have also found that deaths related to opioid use are higher in middle-aged people with psychiatric comorbidities and a history of substance use problems. Older adults are at increased risk of accidental misuse and overdose of prescription opioids, for example, due to multiple prescriptions for chronic diseases as well as slowed metabolism that can alter how drugs are broken down by their body. Interestingly, studies have shown that 80% of people who used heroin reported that they first misused prescription pain pills. In other words, misuse or abuse of prescription pain pills often progresses to use of the illegal street drug heroin. However, more recent data suggests that heroin is increasingly the first opioid people abuse. ^[6]

Symptoms of Opioid Abuse

Some of the common symptoms of opioid abuse include:

• Slowed breathing
• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Euphoria

Of these symptoms, slowed breathing is potentially the most dangerous, as it can result in too little oxygen reaching the brain, leading to short- and long-term neurological and psychological effects, some of which may be irreversible.

Cost of Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment

The cost of opioid addiction treatment varies by location and depends on several factors, such as the severity and duration of the opioid use disorder and the presence of co-occurring mental health conditions. In general, you can expect to pay:

$250 to $800 per day for medically supervised detox

$3,000 to $10,000 for a month-long intensive outpatient program

$1,400 to $10,000 for 8–12 weeks of outpatient rehab

$5,000 to $80,000+ for inpatient (residential) treatment

Most health insurance policies cover opioid addiction treatment costs, at least partially.

Treatment Options for Opioid Addiction

In 2020, over 2.7 million people over the age of 12 in the United States were diagnosed with an opioid use disorder in the past year, including 2.3 million people with prescription opioid use disorder. Over 80,000 deaths occurred as a result of drug overdoses involving opioids in 2021. ^[7]

Fortunately, there is a range of effective treatments for opioid use disorder that can help people addicted to these drugs achieve and sustain recovery. In addition to counseling and behavioral therapies, several effective medications are available, including buprenorphine (Subutex, Suboxone), methadone, and naltrexone (Vivitrol). Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorders helps to decrease drug use by controlling drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, MAT is associated with better social functioning and increased retention in treatment. Medications can also lower the risk of opioid-related overdose deaths. A rescue medicine called naloxone can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in an emergency. If you or a loved one is using opioids, look into getting a naloxone auto-injector or nasal spray to keep on hand. ^[8]

It is especially important for pregnant women who are abusing opioids to seek addiction treatment. Treatment of opioid-dependent pregnant women not only improves the health of the drug user but also improves outcomes in their babies. Babies born to mothers who use opioid drugs during the pregnancy can develop a dependence on the drug, which can lead to a serious condition called neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). This is a collection of symptoms that occur when babies born to opioid-addicted mothers develop withdrawal symptoms after birth. ^[9]

Can I Call an Opioid Hotline for a Loved One?

Yes, opioid hotlines are open to anyone who wants information or guidance about opioid abuse and addiction. If someone you love is misusing opioid drugs, you can call the National Drug Helpline on (844) 289-0879^ℹ and gain access to a wealth of resources and information as well as support and advice.

What Questions Will They Ask Me When I Call an Opioid Helpline?

There is a stigma attached to opioid abuse, and for this reason, many people hesitate to speak to friends, colleagues, and family members about their addiction. Our opioid hotline is like a helpful, knowledgeable, and non-judgmental friend who can help you find rehab resources or simply provide an ear for your concerns.

It can be overwhelming to call an opioid helpline, especially if you are doing it for the first time. It helps to know some of the questions that the compassionate and helpful advisors may ask, such as:

• Which opioid drug(s) are you using?
• How long have you been using the drug?
• How often do you use the drug?
• Are your loved ones aware of your addiction?
• Do you have any co-occurring mental health conditions?
• Have you received treatment for opioid addiction before?
• Are you using any other drugs besides opioids?
• Are you ready to start treatment for opioid addiction?

You don’t have to answer any question you’re not comfortable answering. However, the more information you provide to the advisor who answers your call, the more valuable the information and resources they can help you access, including opioid addiction treatment programs in your area.

Are Opioid Helplines Free?

Our opioid hotline is a toll-free number, so there’s no charge to call. The National Drug Helpline (844) 289-0879^ℹ offers free information and guidance about opioid abuse, addiction, and recovery. You do not need health insurance to call the National Drug Helpline. However, should you choose to start treatment, you will need insurance or pay out-of-pocket.

Opioid misuse and abuse has serious health consequences, including a potentially fatal opioid overdose. There are also various psychosocial effects of opioid abuse, such as legal troubles, financial messes, problems at work, and breakdowns in relationships. Reach out to our opioid helpline today and get your life back on track.

Last updated: March 15, 2024