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Three free numbers and when to use each one: 911, 988 and SAMHSA's National Helpline.

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Updated October 2026. Sources are linked on this page.

Illustration of a man sitting at a kitchen table by a sunlit window, looking out at a garden

The short answer

Not breathing
Call 911 now if someone is not breathing or cannot be woken, and give naloxone if you have it.
In crisis
Call or text 988 for a crisis or thoughts of suicide, free, at any hour.
Need treatment
Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, for free and confidential treatment referral.

Call 911 when someone is not breathing or will not wake

This is the number for a possible overdose. Do not wait to be sure. CDC’s advice is to treat it like an overdose if you cannot tell.

Tell the dispatcher that someone is not breathing or cannot be woken, and give your address. Then take these first steps, which follow CDC guidance:

  1. Give naloxone if you have it.
  2. Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
  3. Lay them on their side so they do not choke.
  4. Stay with them until help arrives.

The naloxone guide shows how to use the nasal spray and how to spot an overdose. Most states have laws that may protect the person who calls for help, though the details vary by state.

Call or text 988 in a crisis

988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Use it for thoughts of suicide, for emotional distress you cannot manage, or for a crisis around alcohol or drug use. You can also use it when you are worried about someone else.

What happens when you call

You hear a short greeting with options, including one for veterans and one for Spanish. After a brief wait, a trained counselor answers, asks about your safety, listens and shares resources. If you text 988, you answer a few short questions first and are then connected to a counselor.

It is free and confidential, and it is open 24 hours a day, every day. There is also online chat at 988lifeline.org.

Call 1-800-662-4357 to find treatment

This is SAMHSA’s National Helpline. It is for the moment you or someone you love wants treatment and does not know where to start.

  • It is free and confidential.
  • It is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
  • It works in English and Spanish.
  • It is for family members as well as the person using.

What happens when you call

A trained information specialist answers. They do not give counseling. They refer you to local treatment programs, support groups and community organizations, and they can transfer you to services in your state.

SAMHSA says they will not ask for personal information. They may ask for your ZIP code so they can find help near you. You do not need insurance to call. If you have none, they can refer you to your state’s office for state-funded programs, or to places that charge on a sliding scale or take Medicaid or Medicare.

You can also text your ZIP code to 435748 to get options by text. That service is in English only, and message rates may apply.

When it is not an emergency

If nobody is in danger this minute, you have time to read and compare.

Opiate Help is an information site, not a medical provider or a crisis service. The three numbers above are run by public agencies, and they are the right place to turn in an emergency.

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Questions people ask us

Which number do I call for an overdose?

Call 911. If someone is not breathing, is breathing very slowly or cannot be woken, that is a medical emergency. Give naloxone if you have it, lay the person on their side and stay with them. 988 and the SAMHSA helpline are not emergency medical services and cannot send an ambulance.

Is 988 only for people thinking about suicide?

No. The 988 Lifeline says it is for mental health struggles, emotional distress and alcohol or drug use concerns, and for people who just need someone to talk to. You can also contact it when you are worried about a friend or relative. It is free, confidential and open all day, every day.

Does the SAMHSA helpline cost anything?

No. SAMHSA's National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, is a free and confidential referral service that runs 24 hours a day in English and Spanish. You do not need insurance to call. If you have none, the staff can refer you to your state's office for state-funded treatment programs.

Will the SAMHSA helpline give me counseling?

No. SAMHSA says its helpline does not provide counseling. Trained information specialists answer, refer you to local treatment, support groups and community organizations, and can transfer you to state services. If you need to talk to a counselor right away, call or text 988.

Sources

This page is general information, not medical advice. Talk with a clinician about your own situation.

Need help right now?

Someone is not breathing: call 911 Crisis or thoughts of suicide: call or text 988 Free treatment referral, 24/7: 1-800-662-4357 (SAMHSA National Helpline)