68 Digital Resources for Addressing Substance Use Disorders, Addiction and Recovery

For those who experience addiction, there is no magic switch for living substance free. Recovery is a process that includes daily mental and physical challenges, as well as setbacks. But with sustained support from peers, friends, family and professionals such as social workers and counselors, addiction recovery can succeed. OnlineMSWPrograms.com gathered a list of organizations and digital resources that support individuals working toward recovery and that offer advice to their families, friends and communities on how to aid in the process. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

General Information

Specific Populations

Sources of Support

Types of Addiction

Drug Addiction (Substance Use Disorder), Mayo Clinic: overview with information on life-changing complications, when to seek emergency help and what an intervention involves.

Faces and Voices of Recovery: organization for individuals in long-term recovery from drug and alcohol addiction and for their family, friends and community allies.

Finding the Right Addiction Treatment Program, Familydoctor.org: guide to treatment ranging from inpatient/residential, intensive outpatient, sober living, outpatient and support groups.

National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers: organization with public directory of members who are licensed addiction service providers.

Recovery.org: website with “Pro-Corner” blog from professionals writing about recovery topics and treatment navigation resources and a helpline; Recovery.org is part of the Recovery.com care-navigation network.

Secular Organizations for Sobriety: nonprofit network of local groups with in-person and online meetings to help those living with alcohol and drug addiction.

Shatterproof: organization with information on where to get help in a crisis and types of aftercare or post-treatment support.

Smart Recovery: network of support groups for any addiction that provides online and in-person meetings as well as a toolbox with worksheets and exercises to help manage recovery.

Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction, National Institute on Drug Abuse: Science-based primer explaining how addiction affects the brain and behavior, plus an overview of prevention and treatment concepts (web version + downloadable content). 

Drug Use and Addiction, Medline Plus: Continuously updated consumer health hub with overviews, treatment info, research links, and related topics.

NIDA Publications & DrugFacts (NIDA): Guide with descriptions about various forms of treatment, lifestyle changes necessary for recovery, relapses and support.

FindTreatment.gov (SAMHSA): Federal treatment locator plus “What to Expect” guidance (types of care, paying for treatment, and how to evaluate quality). 

Step-by-Step Guides to Finding Treatment for Drug Use Disorders, NIDA: NIDA’s guided pathways tailored for adults, teens/young adults, and supporters/caregivers (good for student-facing navigation).

SAMHSA National Helpline: 24/7, free, confidential treatment referral and information for mental health and/or substance use disorders: 1-800-662-HELP (4357); TTY 1-800-487-4889. 

CDC Naloxone Toolkit (CDC Overdose Prevention): Practical, clinician-facing toolkit on discussing, prescribing, and reducing stigma around naloxone, useful as “how-to” evidence-based guidance in 2025.

SAMHSA Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit (PDF): Community and clinical overdose prevention guidance (planning, response, and systems considerations).

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LGBT National Help Center: nonprofit that provides online chat and confidential peer support hotlines, including the LGBT National Hotline (888-843-4564), Coming Out Support Hotline (888-688-5428), Youth Talkline (800-246-7743), and Senior Hotline (888-234-7243).

The Trevor Project: 24/7/365 crisis support for LGBTQ young people via phone (1-866-488-7386), text, and chat through its website.

Double Trouble in Recovery (DTR): 12-step fellowship designed for people with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders; includes meeting resources and guidance for starting and supporting DTR groups (see DTR information and manuals for professionals).

Substance Use Disorders, National Alliance on Mental Illness: overview of co-occurring substance use and mental illness (dual diagnosis), with education, treatment considerations, and support resources.

FindTreatment.gov (SAMHSA): federal treatment locator with information on levels of care, what to expect, and cost/payment options.

Resources for Older Adults, SAMHSA: federal resource hub for older-adult substance misuse and mental health, including toolkits and links to support and treatment resources.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for Teens / Parents & Educators: science-based drug education for teens and trusted guidance for parents and educators, including resources on prevention, conversations, and getting help.

“Tips for Teens: The Truth About Substances (SAMHSA): a series of teen-focused fact sheets on commonly misused substances, including short- and long-term effects, warning signs, and prevention-focused facts to support informed decisions.

Substance use treatment for Veterans, VA: overview of VA substance use treatment options plus how to access care and available VA programs and services.

Tobacco / Quit Tobacco (VA): information on quitting plus access to SmokefreeVET, a text message program that sends 3–5 messages per day with tips and encouragement for 6–8 weeks (sign up online or text VET to 47848).

National Veterans Foundation: Lifeline for Vets (888-777-4443) program for veterans and their families.

Women for Sobriety (WFS): nonprofit, women-centered recovery program offering in-person and online meetings plus online community spaces (e.g., forums/message boards and virtual groups) for peer support.

Alcohol Use Disorder, Substance Use Disorder, and Addiction, Office on Women’s Health (HHS): overview of substance use and addiction in women, including risk factors, treatment considerations, and how to get help.

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Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families (ACA): 12-step fellowship for adults who grew up in alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional homes; offers in-person and online meetings and peer support.

Al-Anon: support program, which includes Alateen, for those whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking.

Substance Abuse Resource Center, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: information on what parents should do if they think their teen has a substance abuse problem and what role drug tests may have in teen substance use treatment.

Partnership to End Addiction nonprofit providing science-informed guidance and free support for parents/caregivers (including help navigating treatment and supporting recovery).

Family Resource Center, Partnership to End Addiction: hub of parent/caregiver resources (guides, videos, and ways to connect with support specialists) for preventing and addressing youth substance use.

Nar-Anon: support program for those whose lives have been affected by someone else’s substance addiction.

Partnership to End Addiction parent-focused guidance on getting a young person into quality care, navigating insurance, and responding when a child won’t accept help.

What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families, SAMHSA: guide about symptoms, different types of treatment and recovery.

Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network: training and technical assistance hub for the addiction workforce, including telehealth resources, event listings, and guidance for facilitating virtual/online meetings.

Screen and Assess: Use Quick, Effective Methods, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): clinician-focused, step-by-step guidance on alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI), including recommended brief screening tools and what to do after a positive screen, which is useful for work with older adults in primary care and behavioral health settings. 

A Guide to Substance Abuse Services for Primary Care Clinicians, SAMHSA: handbook on office-based interventions, appropriate referrals and specialized treatments.

Children and Family Futures: an organization that conducts research and provides trainings for professionals on topics related to child welfare, including substance use.

NASW Standards for Social Work Practice with Clients with Substance Use Disorders, National Association of Social Workers: handbook on the scope of services that social workers provide to clients with substance use disorders including interventions based on information and evidence-based practices.

National Association for Children of Addiction: organization for social workers, primary care providers, justice system workers, faith leaders, educators and early childhood professionals who work with children in families dealing with addiction.

National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare: national resource center providing information, expert consultation, workforce development resources, and training/technical assistance to child welfare, dependency court, and substance use treatment professionals.

Opioid Epidemic Practical Toolkit: Helping Faith and Community Leaders Bring Hope and Healing to Our Communities, Department of Health and Human Services: information on how the faith community can address opioid addiction by being welcoming and building the capacity to respond to needs.

An Affirming and Effective Substance Use Disorder Curriculum for the LGBTQ+ Community, NAADAC: training for SUD professionals on providing LGBTQ+-affirming treatment, including clinical considerations, stigma/attachment stressors, and recovery support challenges. 

Quitting Tobacco: Helping Your Clients to a Healthier Life, SAMHSA: publication with information on the benefits of offering smoking cessation programs in substance use disorder settings.

Quitting smoking is associated with recovery from other addictions, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): summary of new research supporting integrating smoking cessation into addiction treatment and recovery services.

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Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): 12-step fellowship offering peer support through local groups and meetings; to find meetings, contact a local AA service entity/intergroup or use AA’s Meeting Guide app.

NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: search tool to locate providers with guidance on what questions to ask to find quality treatment for an alcohol use disorder.

Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous: network of online groups with virtual meetings available.

Rethinking Drinking, NIAAA: information on alcohol use disorder and tools to help reduce or quit drinking.

Cocaine Anonymous (C.A.): 12-step fellowship offering peer support through local and online meetings for people seeking recovery from cocaine (and other mind-altering substances).

Cocaine, NIDA overview of cocaine’s health effects and risks; notes that treatment for cocaine use disorder typically relies on behavioral therapies (e.g., contingency management), with no FDA-approved medications currently available specifically for cocaine use disorder.

Stimulant Overdose, CDC Overdose Prevention: overview of stimulant (including cocaine) overdose risk, how to recognize an overdose, and prevention/resources.

Marijuana Anonymous (MA): 12-step fellowship offering peer support through in-person and online meetings for people seeking recovery from marijuana use.

Marijuana and CBD: Risks and Resources, SAMHSA: Overview of marijuana/CBD risks plus links to help resources (including the National Helpline and FindTreatment.gov).

Cannabis Facts and Stats, CDC (Cannabis and Public Health): Data-and-research hub covering prevalence/trends and cannabis-related indicators (useful for student research and context).

Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA): 12-step fellowship offering peer support through in-person and online meetings for people seeking recovery from methamphetamine addiction.

Stimulant Overdose, CDC Overdose Prevention: covers stimulant overdose risk (including methamphetamine), how to recognize an overdose, and prevention/resources.

Drug Overdose Deaths Involving Stimulants — United States, January 2018–June 2024, CDC MMWR: updated surveillance and trends for stimulant-involved overdose deaths (including psychostimulants, primarily methamphetamine), plus public health implications.

Medications for Substance Use Disorders, SAMHSA: overview of medication options for treating substance use disorders, including medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), what to expect in treatment, and how to find care.

Narcotics Anonymous: support organization with regular local meetings and a 12-step program to recovery.

Virtual NA Meeting Search, Narcotics Anonymous World Services: official directory to find virtual NA meetings by language and time zone.

Opioid Addiction, Familydoctor.org: information on what treatment to consider and steps to take to break the addiction.

Nicotine Anonymous (NicA): 12-step fellowship offering peer support through in-person, online, hybrid, and phone meetings for people seeking freedom from nicotine addiction.

Smokefree.gov: quit-smoking tools and programs, including SmokefreeTXT and population-specific text programs such as SmokefreeMOM (pregnancy) and SmokefreeVET (Veterans).

Truth Initiative: quit support for smoking and vaping, including ‘This is Quitting’—a free text program for teens and young adults to quit vaping (text DITCHVAPE to 88709).

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This article is for informational purposes only. If you or someone you know is living with addiction, please reach out to a health care or mental health care provider.

Are you interested in working with adults in recovery? Learn more about how to become a social worker and about the role that licensed clinical social workers play in addressing addiction.

Information last updated in February 2026