Break the Stigma Campaign
Substance Use Disorder, like cancer and diabetes, is a chronic disease and should be treated like one. Unfortunately getting treatment for the disorder is stigmatized, keeping people from seeking help. Today the opioid crisis is killing people in Western Mass at an alarming rate. Help “break the stigma” – get the facts on substance use disorder and Narcan, and find treatment options and related resources. The difference could mean life or death of a loved one.
Visit https://www.413cares.org/breakthestigma for more information.
Recovery and Treatment Services
Multi-Service Organizations
These behavioral health agencies provide a variety of levels of substance use treatments.
Ad-Care: Provides Substance Use Treatment options throughout Massachusetts, including West Springfield and Worcester. https://adcare.com/
Behavioral Health Network (BHN) Substance Use Treatment options throughout Massachusetts, including Ware, Springfield, Greenfield, and Holyoke. https://bhninc.org
Swift River in Plainfield, Mass offers inpatient treatment, medication assisted treatment, and therapy, among other services. https://swiftriver.com/
Acute Treatment Services (ACT)
Detox: Short-stay inpatient program, in which detox and withdrawal are medically supervised. (Typically 3-7 days for adults, 7-14 days for youth.)
Clinical Stabilization Services (CSS)
Structured, supervised inpatient program that provides further stabilization and services. (typically 14-21 days)
Transitional Support Services (TSS)
A short stay, residential program. (length of stay varies greatly)
There are no detox or acute service programs in the QHSUA service area. Services are available in Greenfield, Springfield, and Worcester. To find a placement visit https://www.mabhaccess.com
Intensive Outpatient Services (IOP)
Outpatient Therapeutic Treatment (Counseling)
Individual and group therapy with a clinically trained substance use counselor.
Psychology Today provides detailed information on available mental health professionals. The site is searchable by services available; insurance, issues, gender, sexuality, ages, types of therapy, services and location. www.psychologytoday.com
Barre- Listening Wellness Center https://www.listeningwellness.org/ (978) 355-3501; and Barre Family Health Center (978) 355-6321
Palmer – Griswold Center https://www.baystatehealth.org/locations/behavioral-health-griswold-center (413) 370-5282
Right Choice – http://www.rightchoicehealthgroup.com/ (413) 370-4300
Ware – Behavioral Health Network (BHN)/Valley Human Services https://bhninc.org/about/locations/bhn-hubs/bhn-valley-human-services/ (413) 967-6241
Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Medication used to support sobriety and manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Found to be the most effective form of treatment when used in conjunction with counseling and support (type and duration varies greatly).
Barre– Barre Family Health Center provide MAT treatment for individuals that have a primary care provider at the health center (978) 355-6321
Palmer- Griswold Center https://www.baystatehealth.org/locations/wing-hospital (413) 284-5400
Right Choice – http://www.rightchoicehealthgroup.com/ (413) 370-4300
Ware – CleanSlate https://www.cleanslatecenters.com/ware-ma (413) 341-1888
Plainfield – Swift River https://swiftriver.com/
Residential Recovery Homes (Halfway House)
Supportive, structured, alcohol and drug-free homes. Offer support with unemployment, education, legal and medical needs, provide support groups, accountability and life-skills. (Typically 4-6 months)
Ware – Gandara, Cornerstone (for women age 18-25) https://gandaracenter.org/cornerstone/ (413) 237-5296
Sober Homes
Sober Home is a broad term describing a sober, safe and healthy living environment that promotes recovery from alcohol and other drug use and associated problems. Sober Homes offer peer-to-peer recovery support. (Duration varies. All Sober Homes are not alike, look for Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing- MASH certified homes) https://mashsoberhousing.org/
Belchertown–http://honestbeginnings.org/ Honest Beginnings (413) 342-8285
Palmer– SMOC Crossroads Program (413) 283-5233
DART (Drug Addiction and Recovery Team) Hampshire County
The DART team is made up of recovery coaches and community police officers specially trained in substance use disorder. They can assist in accessing resources, harm reduction tools like Narcan and provide short or long term support. Visit https://dartma.org/
In Belchertown and Ware, call or text (413) 588-2335
Recovery Coach
A Recovery Coach is a specially trained and certified person, with personal experience with substance use disorder, who helps guides others on their journey to achieving recovery.
Belchertown-through the Northampton Recovery Center https://www.northamptonrecoverycenter.org/ (413) 834-4127
Palmer/ Ware – through Behavioral Health Network (BHN) (413) 271-8078
Peer Recovery Center
Ware – Recovery Center of Hope (formerly the Ware Regional Recovery Center) – https://www.recoverycenterofhope.org/
Belchertown-The NEST https://www.facebook.com/soaar01007/ (413) 324-8285
Northampton- https://www.northamptonrecoverycenter.org/
Athol-https://www.facebook.com/NorthQuabbinRECOVERYcenter/
Gardner- Alyssa’s Place https://www.facebook.com/Alyssas-Place-Peer-Recovery-and-Resource-Center-1036671136361774/
Peer Recovery Meetings
NA meetings can be found in multiple towns/cities of the QHSUA region in Summer 2024! To find other meetings visit: https://nerna.org/meetings-by-area/western-mass/
Ware: “Ware Clean” Sundays 6:30 – 7:30pm at Trinity Episcopal Church (Basement), Park and Pleasant Street, Ware, MA, 01082 (open to addicts + nonaddicts)
Belchertown: “Meeting of the Waters” Tuesdays 7 – 8pm at Belchertown United Congregational Church (Downstairs), 18 Park Street, Belchertown, MA, 01007 (only open to addicts)
Chicopee: “Steps to Freedom” Thursdays 7:15 – 8:30pm at Saint Anne Parish, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA, 01020 (open to addicts + nonaddicts), “Sistahs Steppin'” Tuesday 7 – 8:15pm at Faith United Methodist, 191 Montcalm Street, Chicopee, MA, 01020 (open to addicts + nonaddicts)
Palmer: “Saturday Night Live” Saturdays 6:30 – 7:30pm at 2nd Congregational Church (Schl St Entr, downstairs), 1080 Pleasant Street, Palmer, MA, 01069 (open to addicts + nonaddicts), A New Way of Life” Thursdays 7 – 8pm at Palmer Historical Cultural Center, 2072 Main Street, Three Rivers, MA, 01080 (open to addicts + nonaddicts)
Ludlow: “Indian Orchard New Beginnings” Mondays 7 – 8:15pm at Orchard Covenant Church (Rear Entrance), 95 Berkshire Street, Indian Orchard, MA, 01151 (only open to addicts)
Worcester: ”Narcotics Anonymous” Fridays 7 – 8pm at 1290 Grafton St, Worcester, MA 01604 (only open to addicts)
AA meetings can be found in multiple towns/cities of the QHSUA region in Summer 2024! To find other meetings visit: https://westernmassaa.net/meetings/?tsml-day=any or https://www.aaworcester.org/meetinglist.aspx?grp=wai
Ludlow: “Chapter 2 Group” Tuesdays 7:30pm, “Ludlow Group” Wednesday 7:30pm, “Eye Opener Step Group” Fridays 7:30pm –> all at First Church of Christ, 859 Center St Ludlow, MA 01056 (all open to addicts and nonaddicts to observe), “AA” Wednesdays 7-8pm, at Orchard Covenant Church (Rear Entrance), 95 Berkshire Street, Indian Orchard, MA, 01151 (only open to addicts)
Hampden: “Hampden Step Group” Tuesdays 6pm, “Hampden Group” Fridays 7:30pm –> all at Federated Community Church of Hampden (Downstairs), 590 Main St, Hampden, MA 01036 (all open to addicts and nonaddicts to observe)
Monson: “Green Street Group” Thursdays 6:15pm at Columbia Hall, 22 Green St, Monson, MA 01057 (open to addicts and nonaddicts to observe), “Sober in the Hills” Saturdays 7am at First Church of Monson, 3 High St, Monson, MA 01057, Route 32 (open to addicts and nonaddicts to observe)
Palmer: “Seeking Serenity” Tuesdays 7pm at Saint Paul’s Universalist Church, 1060 Central St, Palmer, MA 01069 (open to addicts and nonaddicts to observe, last tuesday of the month is a speaker meeting), “Palmer Group” Wednesdays 7:30pm at 2nd Congregational Church, 1080 Pleasant St, Palmer, MA 01069 (open to addicts and nonaddicts to observe)
Ware: “Ware It’s At” Mondays – Fridays at 1pm, “Ware Group” Thursdays 7pm –> all at United Church of Ware, 49 Church St, Ware, MA 01082 (open to addicts and nonaddicts to observe), “Ware Saturday Group” Saturdays 9am at Saint Mary’s Church (parking in back of church – use left side door), 59 South St, Ware, MA 01082 (open to addicts and nonaddicts to observe)
Warren: “The New Beginnings Group” Saturdays 10am at St. Paul’s Church, 1082 Main St, Warren, MA 01083 (open to addicts and nonaddicts to observe)
Brimfield: “Hitchcock Academy Group” Fridays 7:30pm at Hitchcock Academy, 2 Brookfield Rd, Brimfield, MA 01010 (open to addicts and nonaddicts to observe)
Brookfield: “Brookfield Common Meeting” Sundays – Saturdays 1pm at Brookfield Common, Common St, Brookfield, MA (open to addicts and nonaddicts), “Brookfield Sunday Morning” Sundays 10am at Brookfield Town Hall, 6 Central St, Brookfield, MA (open to addicts and nonaddicts), “UNLIMITED SOBRIETY Meeting” Wednesdays 7pm at Brookfield Cong Church, 8 Common St, Brookfield, MA (only open to addicts)
Barre: “Women’s Wisdom in Recovery” Sundays 8:30am at American Legion Post 450, 450 S. Barre Rd, Barre, MA (open to addicts and nonaddicts), “S. Barre Group Meeting” Mondays 7:30pm at Covenant Evangelical Ch, 611 South St, Barre, MA (only open to addicts), “PAY IT FORWARD” Saturdays 7pm at Congregational Church, 30 Park St, Barre, MA (open to addicts and nonaddicts)
Family Support Services
Allies in Recovery https://alliesinrecovery.net/ (413) 210-3724
Learn2cope https://www.learn2cope.org/
Belchertown- Speaking Out About Addiction & Recovery (SOAAR) https://www.facebook.com/soaar01007/
Support Your Loved One – a local, ‘fee-for-service’, private consulting support coach for parents and loved ones of those with addiction. https://supportyourlovedone.com
Al-Anon meetings in:
- Ware at St Mary’s Church, 59 South St, Ware, MA, 01082, Saturdays 9:00 AM (Group ID 30798386)
- West Brookfield at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Center, 10 Milk St, West Brookfield, MA, Tuesdays 7:00 PM (Group ID 502526)
- Palmer at Second Congregational Church, 1080 Pleasant St, Palmer, MA, Fridays at 6:00PM (Group ID 30558641)
More information on Al-Anon can be found at the Al Anon website and Al Anon Massachusetts website.
Nicotine cessation
Smoke Free Teens https://teen.smokefree.gov/
Text “VapeFreeMass” to 88709
My Life My Quit Call or text “Start My Quit” to 855-891-9989 for free and confidential help. For more information or to sign up online, visit mylifemyquit.com
QHSUA Disclaimer of Endorsement
Any reference to a specific product, service, agency or provider does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Quaboag Hills Substance Use Alliance (QHSUA) of such products or services, or its producer or provider. The views and opinions expressed in any document on this site or linked website do not necessarily state or reflect the views and opinions of the QHSUA.