Last updated October 2025

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a long-term, treatable disease that happens when someone repeatedly uses addictive drugs, making it harder for them to complete their daily responsibilities. An individual’s SUD is influenced by several factors, including their reasons for use, environment, frequency of use, tolerance, the types of drugs they use, and more. Because of this, treatment to stop or reduce substance use requires personalized care that addresses a person’s physical, mental, and social health.   

This page describes different types of substance use treatment, organized by different substances.  

Ready for treatment right now? Find walk-in substance use disorder treatment in Philly.

To learn more about SUD treatment program options in Philadelphia, visit the Department of Behavioral Health’s addiction services.  

Looking for information on xylazine wound treatment? Visit our xylazine and wound care page.  

This page is still under development. Reach out to SUPHR Medical Program Manager Shelby Kehoe at shelby.kehoe@phila.gov.

Substance use treatment

Treatment types - by substance

opioids
Alcohol
stimulants
Nicotine

NOTE: Polysubstance use 

Polysubstance use is when two or more drugs are taken at the same time or close together. Often, if someone is using one drug, they are using another on purpose to increase or decrease the effects of the drug. Or they are using multiple drugs without knowing, because the drug they are using contained substances they didn’t know about.  

Using multiple drugs at once is more dangerous than using one at a time, because the substances can have interactions that the user does not expect. The street drug supply is unpredictable and always changing, so often people are dependent on multiple substances at once. Learn more about the local drug supply on SUPHR’s drug checking page. 

If someone is seeking treatment for addiction to one substance, it is likely that they will need more than one type of substance use treatment. 

Opioid Use Disorder treatment 

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder   

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) are medications that help people manage opioid dependence by decreasing cravings and withdrawal symptoms and/or blocking the euphoric effects of opioids that make them so addictive.  

Medication options include buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone. Taking buprenorphine or methadone reduces risk for overdose and death. Many people find counseling and other support helpful, and some people with OUD may achieve recovery with the use of medication alone. No one should be denied MOUD because they decline to participate in counseling or other support services. 

A healthcare provider can help you decide which option makes sense for you. This can happen during an assessment at a substance use treatment facility, while speaking with your doctor during an appointment, or when receiving care at a hospital or crisis center. All medications for OUD are safe to take long-term.  

Types of MOUD  

Methadone  

  • Methadone is a medication that decreases opioid cravings and blocks the effects of opioids.  

  • Methadone can only be provided by a SAMHSA-certified opioid treatment program/clinic. 

  • Methadone is taken daily as a powder, liquid, or pill under the supervision of a healthcare provider in a licensed clinic. Depending on an individual’s treatment plan, methadone doses can be taken home and used between visits to the clinic.   

  • Opioid treatment programs/methadone clinics are required to offer counseling, but choosing not to attend counseling should not prevent someone from receiving methadone. 

  • Methadone is safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.   

Buprenorphine (Bupe, Suboxone, or Subutex)  

  • Buprenorphine is a medication that reduces opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms.   

  • Bupe is picked up at a pharmacy and taken at home, without direct supervision of a healthcare provider.  

  • Bupe is safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.   

 

Extended-Release Buprenorphine (Brixadi or Sublocade) 

  • Brixadi and Sublocade are extended-release injectable forms of buprenorphine. Like other forms, they reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms. If someone is interested in Brixadi or Sublocade, the choice between them will depend on their individual needs. 

  • Brixadi and Sublocade differ in their dosing flexibility and frequency. Brixadi can be injected weekly or monthly, while Sublocade is injected monthly. Both medications are administered by a healthcare professional, commonly by a pharmacist at a pharmacy. View the resources from Acme Pharmacy or Sunray Drugs to find a participating location.  

  • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your healthcare provider before use of Brixadi or Sublocade. 

Naltrexone (Vivitrol) 

  • Naltrexone is a medication that reduces opioid cravings and blocks the effects of opioids. It is different from methadone and buprenorphine because it requires someone to off opioid for a week before starting.  

  • This medication is prescribed for both opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. When prescribed for MOUD, it is given as a monthly shot by a healthcare provider.   

  • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your healthcare provider before use.  

Alcohol Use Disorder treatment   

Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder (MAUD)

People with AUD can use medication to support recovery. The three FDA-approved medications for AUD are naltrexone, disulfiram and acamprosate. A healthcare provider can help you decide which option is best for you.   

Some people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) may require assessment, supervised detox, and formal treatment. If you use alcohol heavily, you should talk to a healthcare provider to decide if you need supervised detoxification. 

Types of MAUD

Naltrexone (Vivitrol)  

  • Naltrexone is a medication that reduces alcohol cravings and blocks the effects of alcohol.  

  • This medication is prescribed for both opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. When used for AUD, it can be taken as a daily pill or an extended-release injectable.  

  • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your healthcare provider before use.  

Disulfiram  

  • Disulfiram is a medication that blocks the body’s ability to process alcohol. It causes nausea, headaches and dizziness, when someone drinks.  

  • This medication is taken as a daily pill.   

  • This medication is not approved for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.   

Acamprosate  

  • Acamprosate is a medication that reduces alcohol cravings.   

  • This medication is taken as a pill three times daily.  

  • This medication is not approved for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.  

Support groups

Social support is a key part of recovery. The following organizations have in-person and virtual meetings to support people in recovery.   

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) 

Medication-assisted treatment is a term that refers to treatment courses that combine medications for substance use disorders with behavioral health supports, like cognitive behavioral therapy or support groups. 

NOTE ON LANGUAGE: The language used to describe medications and other treatments for OUD has changed over time and will continue to evolve.  

Medical and behavioral health providers may use different language, and patients may recognize or identify with different terms, depending on their personal experience of the OUD treatment system. It’s important to recognize those differences while also working toward building a common understanding. 

Treating stimulant use disorder (StUD) is different than other substance use disorders, because unlike opioids or alcohol, there are no FDA-approved medications to treat stimulant dependence. However, there is evidence that shows some medications are effective for treating stimulant use disorder.    

Which medications a doctor might prescribe would depend on several factors, including the type of stimulant someone is using and their health history.   

Stimulant use disorder treatment 

Medications for treating StUD 

Psychostimulant medications  

Psychostimulant medications are prescribed by an addiction medicine specialist or a psychiatrist. If a patient takes one of these medications, they may have to be monitored more closely, which could include more frequent clinic visits, drug testing, and checks with the state’s prescription drug monitoring program.  

Medications for cocaine use disorder 

  • Modafinil - Recommended for patients who, in addition to cocaine use disorder, also have: 

    • Alcohol use disorder 

  • Topiramate and extended-release mixed amphetamine salts - Recommended for patients who also have: 

    • Alcohol use disorder 

    • ADHD 

  • Long-acting amphetamine formulation - Recommended for patients who also have: 

    • ADHD

Medications for Amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) use disorder 

  • Long-acting methylphenidate formulations - Recommended for patients, in addition to ATS use disorder, also have: 

    • ADHD 

Non-psychostimulant medications 

These medications can be prescribed by a primary care clinician. 

Medications for cocaine use disorder 

  • Bupropion - Recommended for patients who, in addition to cocaine use disorder, also have:

    • Tobacco use disorder 

    • Depression 

  • Topiramate - Recommended for patients who also have: 

    • Alcohol use disorder 

 

Medications for Amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) use disorder 

  • Bupropion 

  • Bupropion + Naltrexone - Recommended for patients, in addition to ATS use disorder, also have: 

    • Alcohol use disorder 

    • Tobacco use disorder 

    • Depression 

  • Topiramate - Recommended for patients who also have: 

    • Alcohol use disorder 

  • Mirtazapine - Recommended for patients who also have: 

    • Depression 

Behavioral treatments 

There are effective behavioral treatment methods for addressing StUD.  

  • Contingency management is the gold standard for StUD treatment. Contingency management provides patients with rewards for participating in treatment. 

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a behavioral health treatment where negative beliefs about the self or the world are challenged, with the goal of changing behavior. CBT can be done in both one-on-one and group settings.  

  • The community reinforcement approach is a therapy method where clinicians work with patients to make changes to aspects of their lives that conflict with their recovery or other aspects of healthy living.  

Smoking cessation treatment  

There are two types of medications that can help you stop smoking, with and without nicotine.     

Medications with nicotine (nicotine replacement therapy) 

  • These medications contain small amounts of nicotine that help fight off cravings and withdrawal symptoms.   

  • These medications are available as over-the-counter (meaning you do not need a prescription) products like gums, patches, and lozenges, or prescriptions inhalers and nasal sprays.   

Over the counter (does not require a prescription): 

Prescription: 

 

 Get free nicotine patches at any of the five Department of Public Health Resource Hubs.   

Medications without nicotine   

Instead of providing small amounts of nicotine to stop or decrease symptoms, these medications make nicotine less enjoyable.  

Non-nicotine Medication (Prescription) 

Studies show that combining medications, such as the nicotine patch and the nicotine lozenge, can increase your chances of quitting. 

Visit SmokeFreePhilly.org to learn more about tobacco cessation resources in the city.  

Behavioral treatments 

There are effective behavioral treatment methods for addressing StUD.  

  • Contingency management is the gold standard for StUD treatment. Contingency management provides patients with rewards for participating in treatment. 

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a behavioral health treatment where negative beliefs about the self or the world are challenged, with the goal of changing behavior. CBT can be done in both one-on-one and group settings.  

  • The community reinforcement approach is a therapy method where clinicians work with patients to make changes to aspects of their lives that conflict with their recovery or other aspects of healthy living.  

Find help now 

There is a range of treatment types that can address a patient’s needs, which is usually determined during an initial assessment. This process determines the seriousness of a patient’s substance use disorder and refers them to treatment that best fits their needs.  

This could be an outpatient, partially outpatient, inpatient, or long-term inpatient program. Treatment plans usually involve a combination of medication and therapies that address the full impact of substance use. 

For individuals without health insurance:  

  • CareConnect Warmline is an online, low-barrier clinic aimed at improving access to substance use treatment, perinatal substance use treatment, and reproductive psychiatry in Philadelphia, Bucks County, Montgomery County, Chester County, and Delaware County. They offer virtual buprenorphine prescriptions, peer support, resource connection, and provider-to-provider consultations. Call 484-278-1679 from 9AM–9PM to speak with a Substance Use Navigator who can help connect patients to care.  

  • DBHIDS Behavioral Health Special Initiative at 215-546-1200.  

For individuals with health insurance:  

  • CareConnect Warmline is an online, low-barrier clinic aimed at improving access to substance use treatment, perinatal substance use treatment, and reproductive psychiatry in Philadelphia, Bucks County, Montgomery County, Chester County, and Delaware County. They offer virtual buprenorphine prescriptions, peer support, resource connection, and provider-to-provider consultations. Call 484-278-1679 from 9AM–9PM to speak with a Substance Use Navigator who can help connect patients to care.  

Ready to go to treatment right now?  

You can walk into any Crisis Response Center (CRC) in Philadelphia and ask for help:   

  • Einstein CRC (Germantown) 5501 Old York Rd.  

  • Friends Hospital CRC (Northeast) 4641 Roosevelt Blvd.  

  • Pennsylvania Hospital CRC (Center City/South) 801 Spruce St.  

  • Temple University/Episcopal CRC (North) 100 E. Lehigh Ave.  

  • Hospital of UPENN, HUP – Cedar Avenue CRC (West) 501 S. 54th St.