Resources for the Community

The Office of the Mental Health Advocate is an independent State agency staffed by attorneys who provide an array of free legal, investigative, and advocacy services, regardless of age, to:

• prevent inappropriate admissions to psychiatric facilities
• to protect the rights and enhance the dignity of persons in mental health treatment and inpatient substance abuse treatment
• reduce the stigma associated with mental illness

RI Healthy Transitions is for youth and young adults, ages 16-25 who are experiencing problems with moods, thoughts, and behaviors. Youth and young adults will receive help with housing, employment, education, care and support for an average of two years, medication treatment (if mutually decided by participant and doctor) and interviews every six months to monitor progress.

Participants will be connected to their service providers but will also connect to other participants in the program. The program is held in an open and transparent environment and participants will create their own personalized treatment plan with the help of the team.

The Centers of Excellence (COE) were created by the Governor’s Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task force and are a cornerstone piece of Governor Raimondo’s plan to combat the opioid crisis. These Centers provide assessments and treatment for opioid dependence, offer expedited access to care and serve as a resource for community-based providers.

A multi-disciplinary staff, including peer professionals, work together to provide patient-centered care that addresses all of an individual’s treatment needs. COEs also provide counseling, vocational support, as well as FDA-approved medications for the effective treatment of opioid use disorders (methadone, buprenorphine products and naltrexone). You do not need an appointment to be treated at a COE and you do not stay overnight.

1-866-ALC-DRUG

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, in combination with other therapies, to provide a whole-patient approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Examples of medications are methadone and buprenorphine for opioid addiction; naltrexone and acamprosate for alcohol addiction; and nicotine replacement therapy for tobacco smokers who are addicted to nicotine. Medications and counseling are the standard of care for a number of substance use disorders, including tobacco use disorders, alcohol use disorders, and opioid use disorders.

The Office of the Mental Health Advocate is an independent State agency staffed by attorneys who provide an array of free legal, investigative, and advocacy services, regardless of age, to:

• prevent inappropriate admissions to psychiatric facilities
• to protect the rights and enhance the dignity of persons in mental health treatment and inpatient substance abuse treatment
• reduce the stigma associated with mental illness

RI Healthy Transitions is for youth and young adults, ages 16-25 who are experiencing problems with moods, thoughts, and behaviors. Youth and young adults will receive help with housing, employment, education, care and support for an average of two years, medication treatment (if mutually decided by participant and doctor) and interviews every six months to monitor progress.

Participants will be connected to their service providers but will also connect to other participants in the program. The program is held in an open and transparent environment and participants will create their own personalized treatment plan with the help of the team.

1-800-662-HELP (4357); TTY: 1-800-487-4889

Also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service, this Helpline provides 24-hour, free and confidential treatment referral and information about mental and/or substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery in English and Spanish.

401-414-LINK (5465)

975 Waterman Ave, East Providence, RI

BH Link provides immediate access to behavioral healthcare in a community-based, 24/7 facility. If you or someone you love is going through a mental health or substance use crisis, there is information, there is compassion, there is help.

1-800-985-5990; TTY: 1-800-846-8517

Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after any natural or human-caused disaster. Call this toll-free number to be connected to the nearest crisis center for information, support, and counseling.

1-866-ALC-DRUG

Pawtucket, Central Falls

101 Bacon Street, Pawtucket, RI

401-722-3560; emergency number: 401-723-1915

Cranston, Foster, Glocester, Johnston, N. Providence, Scituate, Smithfield

1443 Hartford Avenue, Johnston, RI

401-273-8100; emergency number: 401-553-1031

Block Island, Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett, N. Kingston, S. Kingston, Richmond, Westerly

South Shore Center, 4705A Old Post Road, Charlestown, RI

401-364-7705

(800) 273-TALK; (800) 273-8255; TTY: 1-800-799-4889

24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call is routed to the nearest crisis center in the national network of more than 150 crisis centers.

Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton

127 Johnnycake Hill Road, Middletown, RI 02842

401-846-1213; emergency number: 401-846-1213

401-942-STOP (7867)

Connects people to treatment and recovery services 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year.

The Naloxone and Overdose Prevention Education Program of Rhode Island (NOPE-RI) is a program of the RI Disaster Medical Assistance Team and Medical Reserve Corps (RI DMAT/MRC). We recruit, train, and deploy volunteers to educate Rhode Islanders about addiction, overdose prevention, and the use of naloxone (Narcan).

We collaborate with strategic partners across the state in order to address these issues, including HEALTH, BHDDH, DOC (Department of Corrections), State Police, municipal law enforcement, URI, Lifespan, and other not-for-profit organizations. With a focus on public safety and healthcare professionals, we create and compile training curricula and resource material that helps agencies, organizations, and individuals implement simple, cost-effective, evidence-based strategies to fight the epidemic of opioid abuse and overdose.

Our programming includes overdose prevention, recognition, and response training, specifically targeted towards law enforcement and public safety professionals, primary care providers, behavioral healthcare providers, corrections, and others.

Under this law:

• Bystanders are allowed to carry and administer naloxone if they suspect an overdose.
• No one who tries to help in an overdose can be prosecuted for having a small amount of medication or drugs.
• The overdose victim is also protected.
• The law, however, does not protect you or the overdose victim from other crimes or warrants.