Recovery Resources on the South Shore, MA: Where to Turn

Quick answer: On the South Shore, start with the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline (800-327-5050) to find treatment. Families can join Learn to Cope meetings, Plymouth County Outreach offers support after an overdose, and recovery community centers like Plymouth Recovery Center welcome anyone in recovery. AA, NA and SMART Recovery meetings run throughout the region. In an emergency, call 911.

How we put this guide together

East Coast Recovery Center is an outpatient treatment program in Cohasset serving the South Shore and Greater Boston. We built this list for people in recovery and their families who need support beyond any one program, so most of these resources aren’t connected to us. We confirmed details through Mass.gov, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office and other public sources. Meeting times and locations change, so check before you go.

South Shore recovery resources at a glance

1. Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline

The Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline, at 800-327-5050 and helplinema.org, is a free, confidential service for finding licensed treatment and recovery support. It’s a good first call if you’re not sure where to start, whether you’re looking for detox, outpatient care, medication or family support.

2. 988 and 911 for emergencies

Call 911 for an overdose or medical emergency. Massachusetts’ Good Samaritan law protects people who seek help during an overdose from drug possession charges. For emotional crisis or thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 any time.

3. Learn to Cope, for families

Learn to Cope is a peer-led support network founded in Massachusetts in 2004 by Joanne Peterson, a parent whose son recovered from heroin addiction. With Department of Public Health funding, it holds meetings for parents and families across the state, including South Shore communities, and offers overdose education and Narcan training. Find meeting times at learn2cope.org.

4. Plymouth County Outreach, after an overdose

Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) was created through the Plymouth County Drug Abuse Task Force as a collaboration of the Plymouth County District Attorney, Sheriff and the county’s 28 municipal police departments. PCO teams offer judgment-free support and resources to people and families after an overdose, including follow-up visits.

5. Recovery community centers

Recovery community centers offer peer support, meetings, social activities and recovery coaching in a welcoming, substance-free space, at no cost. On the South Shore, Plymouth Recovery Center, operated by Gandara Center, welcomes anyone in recovery and anyone affected by substance use. Massachusetts also licenses recovery coaches under a 2024 law, so you can ask about coaching at these centers.

6. AA, NA and SMART Recovery meetings

Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings run daily across the South Shore and Greater Boston, in person and online. SMART Recovery offers a science-based alternative focused on self-management tools. Check each organization’s meeting directory for current times and locations near Cohasset, Hingham, Scituate, Quincy and Plymouth.

7. Naloxone

Massachusetts lets pharmacies dispense naloxone without an individual prescription under a statewide standing order, and many community programs distribute it for free. Learn to Cope meetings also offer Narcan training. Anyone in recovery, and anyone who loves someone who uses, should keep it on hand.

8. Support After a Death by Overdose

For those who’ve lost someone to overdose, Support After a Death by Overdose (SADOD), a project managed by Peer Support Community Partners, provides resources, information and assistance to people throughout Massachusetts. Learn more through Mass.gov’s family support resources.

9. Outpatient treatment and aftercare

Peer support works best alongside professional treatment when it’s needed. East Coast Recovery in Cohasset offers day treatment, partial day treatment, medication-assisted treatment and an aftercare program with alumni services and peer support. See the areas we serve, or call (617) 390-8349.

FAQ

Where can I find addiction help on the South Shore?

Start with the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline at 800-327-5050 or helplinema.org to find licensed treatment. For peer support, look into recovery community centers like Plymouth Recovery Center and local AA, NA and SMART Recovery meetings. Families can find support through Learn to Cope.

What is a recovery community center?

A recovery community center is a free, substance-free space where people in recovery can find peer support, meetings, recovery coaching and social activities. They complement treatment and are open to anyone in or seeking recovery, as well as people affected by someone else’s substance use.

Is there support for families of people with addiction in Massachusetts?

Yes. Learn to Cope offers peer-led family support meetings across Massachusetts, including Narcan training. Al-Anon and Nar-Anon also hold family meetings statewide. For families grieving an overdose death, Support After a Death by Overdose provides resources and assistance.

What does Plymouth County Outreach do?

Plymouth County Outreach is a collaboration of the Plymouth County District Attorney, Sheriff and 28 municipal police departments. Its teams provide compassionate, judgment-free support and resources to people and families after an overdose, aiming to reduce overdose deaths.

Are there SMART Recovery meetings near Boston?

SMART Recovery holds meetings in the Greater Boston area and offers many online meetings that are available anywhere. Check the SMART Recovery meeting directory for current times and locations, since schedules change.