New helpline connects Californians to same-day opioid treatment support

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Aug 25, 2026

New helpline connects Californians to same-day opioid treatment support

What you need to know: Governor Newsom today launched CA Bridge Connect, a free statewide call- and text-based service offering immediate help and support to Californians seeking treatment for opioid use. This is part of California's "no wrong door" approach to care, as we build a system that gives everyone access to the services and resources they need to get back on their feet and live a healthy life.

To get help, call 1-800-944-1807 or text 1-833-308-0461.

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today launched CA Bridge Connect, a free statewide call- and text-based service offering immediate help and support to Californians seeking treatment for opioid use. This is part of a broader strategy to take on the opioid and overdose epidemic, which includes expanding access to addiction treatment.

CA Bridge Connect makes it easier for Californians to find the right help, at the right time, so more people can begin treatment and take their next step toward recovery.

Governor Gavin Newsom

The confidential helpline serves people seeking help, families, caregivers, and clinicians, regardless of insurance coverage. People reaching out can get same-day referrals to Behavioral Health Navigators who can assess a person's needs; coordinate real-time referrals to clinics, emergency departments, community providers, and telehealth providers; and, when appropriate, prescribe Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT), an evidence-based approach to treating opioid use disorder.

"CA Bridge Connect further enforces our commitment to ensuring Californians have access to timely substance use treatment when and where they need it," said Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Director Michelle Baass. "We are building a system that prioritizes care, dignity, and recovery."

When someone is ready to seek treatment for opioid use disorder, help should be easy to find and easy to access. CA Bridge Connect gives Californians a direct, same-day route to lifesaving care. This access to evidence-based treatment, including MAT, is vital to preventing overdoses and improving health outcomes.

"CA Bridge Connect partners with addiction treatment providers across the State who have truly embraced compassionate, evidence-based addiction care," said Arianna Campbell, DMSc, MPH, PA-C, co-founder of CA Bridge. "Accessing treatment can be difficult in fragmented health systems. Through strong clinical partnerships and dedicated Behavioral Health Navigators, we are committed to making it easier for anyone to access care quickly. No one should face addiction alone."

No wrong door to care

California takes a "no wrong door" approach to care, building a system that gives everyone access to the services and resources they need to get back on their feet and live a healthy life. CA Bridge Connect offers Californians another entry point to care, building on a longstanding partnership with the Public Health Institute's CA Bridge program, the country's largest emergency department-based opioid addiction treatment model.

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CA Bridge launched in 2018 to expand low-barrier access to MAT, supporting hospitals, street medicine teams, and community-based providers in helping Californians access evidence-based care immediately. California's approach to care proves that people struggling with addiction want help — it just has to be accessible. Forty percent of patients offered treatment in the emergency department accepted, and when they saw a substance use navigator, that number rose to 85%. Even patients coming to the emergency department for issues unrelated to their substance use accepted treatment when it was offered more than half of the time.

Both CA Bridge and CA Bridge Connect are simplified entry points to care, supporting statewide efforts to reduce barriers, expand treatment access, and strengthen connections across California's behavioral health system.

DHCS partnered with California-based 988 crisis call centers and the Addiction Treatment Locator, Analysis and Standards (ATLAS) treatment locator to add CA Bridge Connect as a resource within those systems.

Addressing the opioid and overdose epidemic

The overdose epidemic claims thousands of lives each year throughout the nation — and California is combating this through an all-hands-on-deck approach. A critical component of that is overdose prevention services and methods like naloxone, which is capable of reversing opioid overdoses swiftly and effectively.

The state is offering CalRx-branded over-the-counter naloxone at a significantly lower price, while eligible California entities can receive free naloxone kits from the Naloxone Distribution Project, whose kits have reversed over 460,000 overdoses.

Among other actions and legislation focused on addressing and treating the opioid crisis, in 2022, the Governor signed SB 184, which requires treatment facilities to either offer MAT directly to clients or have an effective referral process in place with narcotic treatment programs, community health centers, or other MAT providers. In 2024, he signed AB 2376 (Bains) to increase the number of hospital beds available for the treatment of substance use disorder, including MAT, by giving facilities new flexibility in managing their treatment slots. There are a number of projects focused on expanding MAT access, including the Tribal MAT Project, MAT Access Points, the California Hub & Spoke System, and more.

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The state is also taking aggressive action to target fentanyl trafficking and disrupt the supply of deadly illicit drugs in the state, including partnering with local law enforcement and expanding the California National Guard's role in drug interdiction across the state and at the border.

If you or someone you know needs help: call 1-800-944-1807 or text 1-833-308-0461, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. For more information on opioids and how you can protect yourself and loved ones, visit Opioids.CA.GOV, a one-stop shop for Californians seeking resources on prevention and treatment.

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