Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Services are a Single Call Away
Health Department Launches VTHelplink Referral Resource
BURLINGTON, VT – The Vermont Department of Health has launched VTHelplink, a new, single source clearinghouse for Vermonters to receive free, confidential and personalized information and referrals to substance use prevention, treatment and recovery services throughout the state.
“The global pandemic has not erased the continued urgent need for substance use-related services for Vermonters,” said Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD. “In fact, the extraordinary steps required to stop the spread of COVID-19 creates new challenges for people living with substance use disorder to get the services they need.”
VTHelplink features a call center of trained staff and clinicians. Callers can get information, referrals, resources and educational materials on substance use for themselves, family and friends, or on behalf of clients.
At the VTHelplink.org website, in addition to information resources, an online screening tool is available that Vermonters can use to learn about treatment options that meet their needs. People can also securely chat online with call center staff through the website.
The system also includes an appointment board designed to increase accessibility of treatment appointments by tracking availability by level of service (e.g., residential treatment) and population (e.g., people who are pregnant).
Dr. Levine said centralized coordination of substance use treatment and recovery services has been in the works for the past several years and complements the statewide referral and information services provided by Vermont211.
“These are more than simply difficult times, and we have no more important a mission than to do everything we can to create an infrastructure that bridges the challenges we face during this pandemic. VTHelplink is key resource for anyone who needs or wants to get treatment and succeed in their recovery,” said Dr. Levine. “We are all in this together, and we will persevere.”
Here’s how you can reach VTHelplink:
Dial 802-565-LINK (5465). The call center is open 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. weekdays, and 8:00 a.m to -6:00 p.m. weekends and holidays, 365 days per year.
Visit VTHelplink.org
For up to date COVID-19 information, guidance and resources go to healthvermont.gov.
Online Recovery Resources and Meetings
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many in-person recovery meetings across the nation are being cancelled and moved to an online format. It is imperative that the recovery community still has a connection to support groups in these uncertain times. Below is a list of online recovery resources and meetings.
Unity Recovery
Offering online recovery support groups which will be available four times daily at 9AM, 12PM, 3PM, and 9PM EST.
12step.org
Offers a variety of online meetings and various other outside resources
AA Intergroup
Offers online meetings with specialized topics with a variety of meeting formats (i.e. chat, text, e-mail, etc.)
Addiction Recovery Guide
Offers a variety of online communications, including chat rooms, message boards, etc. They also offer online media and online meetings with specific meeting topics (i.e. cocaine anonymous)
In The Rooms
Offers online meetings with specialized topics. They have multiple modalities, including 12 step, non-12 step, over all wellness, and overall mental health.
LifeRing
Provides online meetings using Zoom. They already have a set schedule for all 7 days of the week with various speakers already scheduled.
NA Recovery
Offers a recovery chat rooms using text chat. They also provide other recovery resources such as testimonies, readings, etc.
Never Alone Club
Offers daily online meetings with 24/7 text chat with other members. They also offer a variety of extra resources, such as meditation for NA, relapse prevention, and other recovery-oriented resources.
NA Voices
Specifically a narcotics anonymous forum and recovery community that uses text chat, Skype, and phone calls
Smart Recovery
Offers online meetings and an online community with message boards and a chat room
StepChat
Offers a variety of meetings based on an already set schedule using text chat
Women for Sobriety
Offers online support with open forums where women can share and seek support 24/7 plus text messaging support schedules 2 times a day. They also offer phone support.
