Substance Use & Addiction

The Outpatient Addictions Program helps people get sober and maintain recovery. We offer medication management, along with individual and group counseling, several days a week for people 18 and older.

Intake

Our "walk-in" information and intake time is Tuesday at 11:30 AM. Clients get a comprehensive intake assessment to match them to the most appropriate level of care.

Services

• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): A group-based program is for people who are newly sober or in early recovery. The goal is to help prevent relapse. It is a 4-week program meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 9 am - 12 pm.

• Recovery Groups: Weekly, biweekly and monthly groups (days and evenings) to help people in various stages of recovery (Groups without sobriety, Groups that require sobriety., and Specialty groups, that also focus on topics like DBT, Mindful Recovery and Anxiety Management.
  • Groups without sobriety. These groups are for people in the early stages of thinking about their addiction with no sobriety commitment.
  • Groups that require sobriety. These groups cover topics like relapse prevention, recovery support, emotion management, health and wellness and living with co-occurring psychiatric disorders.
  • Specialty groups. We occasionally offer groups that focus on topics like DBT, Mindful Recovery and Anxiety Management.

• Therapy: The Outpatient Addictions Service (OAS) does offer therapy for some patients, but out capacity is very limited. Most of the care provided is group psychotherapy.

• For dual-diagnosis: CHA has the expertise to help people with both psychiatric and addicton disorders. This includes Medication-Assisted Treatment like Buprenorphine (Suboxone) and Naltrexone. To be eligible for ongoing medication management, you must be enrolled in primary care at CHA and be engaged in group or individual treatment in the Outpatient Addiction Service. 

Location

CHA Central Street Care Center, Somerville
617-591-6051

CHA is part of the Smart Recovery network - offering anonymous peer support for people with addictions and their families/friends.

There are groups throughout New England and also online at www.smartrecovery.org 

Visit our Classes & Events page to see upcoming meetings. (Due to COVID-19, all meetings are offered online). 

You can also call 866-951-5357.

Stress Reduction Research Study

People with Opioid Use Disorder who are prescribed buprenorphine often experience stress, anxiety, pain and craving for substances. This study investigates the effects of different live-online group programs designed to support individuals with Opioid Use Disorder to reduce stress, anxiety, pain and substance use.

Join the Study

Want to join or learn more about this study?

• Fill out the google form here and a member of our research team will contact you.
• If you have any questions, please contact us by email (stressreduction@challiance.org) or by phone at 617-851-8625.

Clinicians can also refer interested patients.

• Please obtain verbal consent to pass on their name, phone number, and email address to our study coordinators. Refer patients by one of the following methods:
  • Email directly to stressreduction@challiance.org.
  • Enter their name, phone number, and email into the google form here.

What to Expect

• You will join one of two online groups with varied approaches to stress reduction.  
• You will be asked to commit to the group program for at least 4 weeks. You will be given the option (and encouraged) to continue the group program for up to 24 weeks.
• Groups will be run by experienced group leaders on Zoom for 90 minutes per week (30 minutes for check-in, with online oral fluid toxicology testing on some weeks, followed by 60 minutes of group). 
• You will continue care and medical management with your usual buprenorphine prescriber and other existing care team members.
• Smartphones are available for people who need them during the study to join live online groups.
• You will be reimbursed for your time by receiving up to $278 in the form of online gift cards and you may have the opportunity to get several lottery picks after completing each study visit.

Overcoming addiction requires support from many people in many places. Please review this list of community resources as you begin or continue your journey to recovery.

Peer Support

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): Meetings for those with addiction looking for peer support. Search online for a meeting http://www.aaboston.org or call 617-426-9444
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA): Meetings for those with addiction looking for peer support. Search online for a meeting http://www.nerna.org/ or call 866-624-3578
• Smart Recovery: Anonymous peer support for people with addictions and their families/friends. Groups throughout New England and online support: www.smartrecovery.org or call 866-951-5357

Family Support

• Al-ateen and Al-anon: help for teenagers and family members of people with alcohol use disorders. Search online for a meeting at http://www.ma-al-anon-alateen.org or call 508-366-0556
• Nar-anon: A 12 Step Program for friends and family of people with drug use disorders (or a problem with drugs). https://www.nar-anon.org
• Learn to Cope: Peer-led support network for family members of people with opioid and other drug addiction. Offers groups throughout MA, online support and training on overdose prevention. Search online for a meeting at www.learn2cope.org or call 508-801-3247

Addictions Advocacy Organizations

• Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR): MOAR works to organize recovering individuals, families and friends into a collective voice to educate the public about the value of recovery from alcohol and other addictions. More at: http://www.moar-recovery.org

This web page provides general information for educational purposes only. The information provided here, or through linkages to other sites, is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, call, consultation or the advice of your physician or other healthcare provider.