Reaching out about alcohol or drug use is a decision most people put off for a long time before they make it. If you’re looking for a Pennsylvania addiction hotline, you’re not doing so alone: Pennsylvania substance use data show that 17% of Pennsylvanians aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year. Roughly 1.1 million had an alcohol use disorder, and about 1.1 million had a drug use disorder.
Among Pennsylvanians who needed substance use treatment, about 79.4% of adults and 61.8% of adolescents did not receive it. That gap is substantial. Knowing which treatment route applies to you can make it easier to move from waiting to starting.
There is real progress underneath those numbers. CDC provisional data show drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania fell by roughly 30% between December 2023 and December 2024 — one of the sharper declines in the country. The crisis is serious, and it is easing.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. The National Rehab Hotline at 866-210-1303 is for non-emergency information, support and referrals.
Pennsylvania Addiction Hotline and Crisis Resources
These lines are free and confidential, and most run 24/7. If the first one you try isn’t the right fit, try another. They each serve different needs.
National Rehab Hotline. Open 24/7 to anyone struggling with drug or alcohol use, and to family members calling on someone else’s behalf. Callers are connected with information, guidance and referrals to local treatment resources. Free and confidential. Call 866-210-1303.
PA Get Help Now. Pennsylvania’s state helpline, run through the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Free, confidential and available 24/7, 365 days a year to all Pennsylvanians regardless of insurance, in English and Spanish, with referrals to local treatment and help accessing funding for it. Call 800-662-HELP (4357) or text 717-216-0905.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Supports people experiencing mental health crises, suicidal thoughts and substance use concerns, 24/7 by call or text. When needed, Pennsylvania crisis staff can activate a mobile mental health crisis team. Call or text 988.
Veterans Crisis Line. Confidential support for veterans, service members and their families, including substance use and co-occurring mental health concerns. Available 24/7. Call 988 then press 1, or text 838255.
Crisis Text Line. Text-based support for people who would rather not speak on the phone. Free, confidential and available 24/7. Text HOME to 741741.
Penn Foundation Crisis Line. Trained crisis workers provide support for people experiencing mental health emergencies and can connect callers with the appropriate level of care, 24/7. Call 215-257-6551.
Lenape Valley Foundation (Bucks County). Mobile crisis services for Bucks County residents, including assessment, crisis counseling, referral and follow-up. Call 877-435-7709.
County Single County Authorities (SCAs). Pennsylvania’s county drug and alcohol offices coordinate locally administered treatment services. SCAs can help with treatment funding, assess treatment or service needs and make referrals. PA Get Help Now can connect you to your local office. Availability varies by county.
What Treatment in Pennsylvania Looks Like
Treatment is not a single thing, and knowing the tiers makes the calls easier. Most Pennsylvania programs fall into these categories, often used in sequence:
- Withdrawal management (detox). Short-term, medically supervised stabilization that usually lasts several days. It is a first step rather than treatment in itself.
- Residential and inpatient. Living on site with structured programming, commonly for 30 to 90 days.
- Partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient. Structured treatment several days a week while you live at home, which can work for people who can’t stop working.
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Can include buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone alongside counseling. Pennsylvania has invested heavily in expanding MAT access, and it is the standard of care for opioid use disorder.
- Recovery support. Mutual-aid groups, sober living and peer support — usually free and ongoing rather than time-limited.
Opioids remain a major part of Pennsylvania’s overdose picture. According to Pennsylvania overdose data, fentanyl contributed to 67% of fatal overdoses in the state in 2024. Our fentanyl addiction page covers why synthetic opioids carry a different risk profile. Alcohol affects more people overall: 23% of Pennsylvanians aged 12 or older reported binge drinking in the past month in 2023–2024, and our alcohol addiction hotline page covers dependence and withdrawal.
Free and Low-Cost Pennsylvania Rehab
If cost is what’s stopping you, free rehab in Pennsylvania may be available through several publicly funded routes into treatment. These are some options worth trying:
Medical Assistance (Pennsylvania Medicaid). Pennsylvanians enrolled in Medicaid can receive substance use disorder treatment through the Behavioral HealthChoices program. You can apply through COMPASS or your county assistance office.
County Single County Authorities. Pennsylvania’s county drug and alcohol offices receive state and federal funding and can help with treatment funding, assess treatment or service needs and make referrals. Contact your county SCA.
Daystar Center for Spiritual Recovery (Harrisburg). Long-term residential substance use treatment in Harrisburg, with its program described as lasting three to six months. Contact the center about admission requirements and available funding or insurance options. Call 717-230-9898.
Public Health Management Corporation — CHANCES (Philadelphia). Outpatient and intensive outpatient substance use treatment, including medication options and support services. Call 215-923-0218.
Gaudenzia. A nonprofit with locations across Pennsylvania offering withdrawal management, residential and outpatient treatment, medication-assisted treatment and programs for people involved with the criminal justice system. Some locations accept Medicaid and can help with county funding. Call 833-976-4357.
Beyond named facilities, Pennsylvania’s treatment locator can help you compare licensed programs by location, services, insurance and other payment options. Mutual-aid groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous may also provide free ongoing peer support alongside or after formal treatment.
One practical note: treatment availability varies by location and level of care. If the program you contact can’t admit you right away, ask what other treatment or support is available while you wait.
Talk Through Your Pennsylvania Options
Working out which county office applies, what Medical Assistance covers and which level of care fits your situation is a lot to sort through alone. Our substance abuse hotline page explains how these lines can help. If you’re in or near Philadelphia, our Philadelphia rehab hotline page covers city-specific resources.
If you’re calling about someone else, our guides for families supporting a loved one and for teen substance use cover how to approach the conversation.
When you’re ready to take the next step, help is just a phone call away. Call the National Rehab Hotline at 866-210-1303, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. You don’t have to face this alone.
FAQ: Pennsylvania Addiction Hotlines
- Is the PA addiction hotline free?
Yes. Calls to 866-210-1303 are free and confidential, and the line is open 24/7. There is no cost to call and no obligation to enter treatment afterward. - What is PA Get Help Now?
PA Get Help Now is Pennsylvania’s state substance use helpline, operated through the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. It is free, confidential and open 24/7, 365 days a year to all Pennsylvanians, with support by phone, text or live chat. Reach it at 800-662-HELP (4357) or by text at 717-216-0905. - Can I get rehab in Pennsylvania without insurance?
Yes. Pennsylvania’s county drug and alcohol offices, known as Single County Authorities, can help with treatment funding, assess treatment or service needs and make referrals. PA Get Help Now also helps people who are uninsured or underinsured connect with care. - How many people in Pennsylvania need treatment and don’t get it?
Current state figures show about 1.53 million adults who needed substance use treatment did not receive it in 2023–2024, or 79.4% of adults who needed it. Among adolescents aged 12 to 17, about 52,000 did not receive needed treatment, or 61.8%. - What is a Single County Authority?
Each Pennsylvania county has a designated drug and alcohol office known as a Single County Authority, or SCA. These offices administer local treatment programs and can help with treatment funding, assess service needs and make referrals. PA Get Help Now can connect you with your local office. - Can I call on behalf of someone else?
Yes. Family members and friends can call for guidance about helping someone they care about, including how to approach the conversation and find treatment resources.
However you got here, calling 866-210-1303 costs nothing and commits you to nothing.