A phone number or helpline that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for crisis counseling, referrals, or emotional support.
In the context of addiction treatment:
Could be run by a treatment center, a crisis line, a peer organization, or a national hotline.
What to know:
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Meant for moments when cravings, crises, or emotional distress hit outside regular office hours.
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Can provide immediate de-escalation and connect you to local resources.
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Some are staffed by clinicians, others by trained peers.
Example:
At 2 a.m., someone thinking about using calls a 24/7 helpline and talks with a counselor who helps them ride out the craving and schedule an intake the next morning.