24-hour addiction help Pennsylvania

Help Is Available Any Time

Round-the-clock help covers crisis lines and emergency treatment options, such as:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 or chat online
• Emergency Department
• Mobile Crisis Intervention (MCI) teams
• County Behavioral Health System
• Medical Detoxification

Any time of day or night, you can call or text 988.

Some counties offer mobile crisis teams. If you have been in contact with emergency medical services (EMS) or police, they may be able to connect you with a mobile crisis team for on-site support and assistance. These teams can include behavioral health counselors, peer specialists, and/or nurses who are trained in providing care.

County Screening 24 Hours a Day

Telephone screening covers emergent care needs such as substance withdrawal management, psychiatric care.

Screening helps determine the need for immediate services including medical stabilization (withdrawal management), treatment services, and psychiatric care services. The screening should identify whether or not a level of care assessment is needed.

The SCA can help connect individuals or family members to support and resources for substance use treatment. For example, the SCA might have information about local providers who offer counseling, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), group therapy, or aftercare.

County screening lines stay open after normal business hours; however, there may not be staff available to conduct assessments in person.

SCAs should conduct telephone screening when they cannot meet with the individual in person for an assessment.

Crisis Services for Mental Health and Substance Use

Public crisis services stay open overnight for substance use and mental health crises in Pennsylvania. Here's how to get help in your county or after hours:

• 24/7 Crisis Hotlines
• Behavioral Health Mobile Crisis Services
• Walk-in Mental Health Crisis Centers

The mobile crisis service provides short-term support to people who are experiencing a mental health crisis. This includes emergency responses and community-based services for individuals in acute emotional distress, which may be precipitated by a life event or recent onset of symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts or gestures, behavioral problems, or drug and alcohol use.

In some counties, you may have access to walk-in mental health crisis centers. These facilities provide urgent care services for individuals who are experiencing an acute psychiatric crisis and require a higher level of support than what is available through the local 24-hour hotline.

Crisis Services handles mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders. These crises can be related to suicide attempts, severe depression, or anxiety. They may also include situations where a person is in danger of harming themselves or others; has experienced a recent traumatic event; or feels overwhelmed by symptoms of a psychiatric disorder, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Behavioral health crisis service providers in Pennsylvania offer walk-in services, mobile mental health crisis teams and crisis residential services.

When to Go to the Emergency Room

Hospital emergency rooms come first during medical emergencies. They should be contacted if a person is experiencing an overdose, experiencing thoughts of hurting themselves or someone else, has a plan to hurt themselves/someone else, and is not able to be redirected to another location. If the person can safely wait for crisis services, they should go to a crisis service center instead.

Overdose and active suicide plans belong in the ER. Do not hesitate to call an ambulance if you are concerned about someone's life.

People who experience an overdose should seek immediate treatment in a hospital emergency room (ER). If possible, bring the drugs that were taken with you so healthcare providers know what was used. The ER can also treat other health conditions that may have contributed to the overdose, such as heart problems, infections, and mental illnesses.

If you are unsure whether you should go to an emergency room (ER), call 988 and ask to speak with a counselor or mobile crisis team.

If you're experiencing an acute crisis, consider calling 988, a nationwide network of local crisis centers. These crisis hotlines are confidential and offer free support by trained counselors 24/7.

If someone needs emergency care for any reason, they should go to the ER. If it's not necessary but the person is still experiencing severe symptoms, they can call their doctor or local hospital and ask if they can be treated there.

After-Hours Detox and Withdrawal Help

After-hours detox still needs medical care.

Call your treatment center or provider directly if you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, they may even have an after-hours nurse or counselor on call to help answer any questions you might have or provide emergency help.

If you or a loved one is experiencing withdrawal symptoms from alcohol or drugs, don't attempt to detox on your own. It's crucial to have medical supervision and support during the process.

Screening services should be available at all times, seven days a week for addiction-related crisis services. Screenings may be conducted over the phone or in person.

Medical detox is recommended for individuals who require medical management due to severe symptoms during withdrawal or pre-existing medical conditions.

Help for Family Members at Night

Listening without judgment comes first when having a conversation about addiction. It is normal to feel confused, scared, worried, angry, guilty, or depressed when someone you love struggles with drugs or alcohol.

Family members who notice trouble overnight often have questions about when to seek care. There are a few things to think about when it comes to getting help in the middle of the night.

First, know that 24-hour emergency rooms are available in many communities for crisis situations and can help you or your loved one get connected with mental health or substance use services. You will usually be asked questions about what is going on so they can determine how urgent the situation is. They may also ask if someone feels like hurting themselves or others, which means there is an emergency.

If someone's life is in danger, dial 911 immediately or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

If you suspect an overdose, call 911 right away. You can also give the person naloxone if it's available and they aren't breathing.

For other situations or concerns, call your county drug and alcohol office to talk with someone who will help you understand what to do next.

If the person is receiving outpatient care, it's important for family members to follow up with providers as soon as possible. If there are any concerns about safety, they should call 911 or their local crisis services provider right away.

It's best not to argue, lecture, threaten, or guilt-trip the person you're concerned about. If they agree that something is troubling them, gently ask if he or she has considered getting help from a medical professional or counselor.

If your loved one has a substance use disorder, there are resources to help you understand what that means and how to help them get treatment. The PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) can provide more information about the signs and symptoms of a substance use disorder and how to access treatment for yourself or a family member.

What Happens the Next Day

Level of care assessment follows overnight screening. In this process, an individual's treatment needs are determined by a trained professional who conducts a clinical interview and reviews information about the individual from the screening process. This results in an evidence-based recommendation for the appropriate placement in a treatment program or other service that can help address the identified problems.

The level of care assessment provides guidance on which type of treatment is best for a person who has been screened for addiction. The tool helps determine whether an individual should receive outpatient, intensive outpatient, residential or inpatient services based on the severity of their condition as well as the six dimensions outlined by the ASAM criteria.

Individuals who have been screened as needing emergent care in withdrawal management, psychiatric treatment or prenatal care must be referred for these levels of care before being referred for other services. If no appropriate level of care is available, an individual must receive case management.

Level of care assessments are conducted face-to-face with the individual and the assessment information should be in writing for documentation purposes.

It's not a requirement that people get seen by a substance abuse counselor on the same day they contact an SCA. Instead, the agency should arrange to see the individual within seven days.

LOCA tools may be utilized to assist in conducting level of care assessments.

24-hour addiction help by Pennsylvania city

Addresses and phones are on each city page.