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Boston · 193 directory resources
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“Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.”
“Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.” — Alcoholics Anonymous (1939) · Chapter 5 · How It WorksWhere it comes from
Step Eight as printed in Chapter 5 of the 1939 first edition.
Today’s reflectionTwo separate actions hiding in one sentence: the list, then the willingness — and the book doesn’t require them on the same day. Write every name, including the ones that make you argue out loud with the paper. “Became willing” is allowed to take time; some names ripen slowly. This Step isn’t about anyone forgiving you. It’s about you setting down the ledger you’ve been carrying.
Read the original passage · How It Works, 1939 →Step 8Quote from the 1939 first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (public domain). Reflection provided by Sober Network and shared across its directories. This site is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
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Boston · 193 directory resources
Find a safe place to begin again.
Browse sober living, detox, treatment, outpatient care, and meetings across Boston, with photos, public ratings, and direct contact details where available. Confirm current details with providers.
Directory snapshot193local recovery resources in Boston
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Sober living optionsPhotos where available, reviews, direct contact
Directory43homes
150care programs
2,631+meetings
Sober Living in Boston
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Sober LivingDirectory record
Southbridge, MA
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Detox Centers in Boston
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DetoxSAMHSA registry match
Wakefield, MA
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DetoxNPI registry match
Southborough, MA
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DetoxSAMHSA registry match
Needham, MA
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DetoxDirectory record
Ludlow, MA
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DetoxDirectory record
Plymouth, MA
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DetoxDirectory record
Wareham, MA
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Treatment Centers in Boston
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TreatmentNPI registry match
Braintree, MA
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TreatmentSAMHSA registry match
Boston, MA
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TreatmentNPI registry match
Quincy, MA
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TreatmentNPI registry match
Raynham, MA
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Outpatient & Day Programs in Boston
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IOPDirectory record
Dedham, MA
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IOPSAMHSA registry match
Boston, MA
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PHPNPI registry match
Pembroke, MA
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PHPDirectory record
Plymouth, MA
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PHPNPI registry match
Plymouth, MA
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Comparing options in Boston?Get the free checklist: 5 questions to ask any facility before you call — plus the red flags to watch for.
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Addiction specialists across Boston — therapists, psychologists, and counselors who work with people in recovery and their families.
AA Meetings in Boston
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Getting help in Boston: a local guide
43Sober living homes listed here
35Detox centers listed here
95Treatment programs listed here
2,577Weekly AA meetings listed here
Of the Boston-area AA meetings listed here, 151 are women's meetings and 77 are held in Spanish. Times change, so confirm with the group before you go.
Sober homes in Massachusetts: voluntary certification, but state referrals require it
Massachusetts law calls sober homes alcohol and drug free housing. Under section 18A of chapter 17 of the General Laws, certification is voluntary and uncertified homes can still operate. But state agencies and their contracted treatment vendors may refer people only to certified homes, and so may state officials setting release, parole or discharge terms. A licensed addiction treatment program can't put an uncertified home in a discharge plan.
Homes are certified through the Massachusetts Alliance for Sober Housing (MASH), the state affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences; the Department of Public Health counted 200 MASH-certified homes in January 2025. MASH lists certified homes and takes grievances, and the state's Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) can drop a home from its certified list based on complaints.
Treatment programs are different: BSAS licenses substance use disorder treatment programs under 105 CMR 164.
If cost is a barrier
The Boston Public Health Commission's PAATHS program helps people from Boston and the Greater Boston area get into treatment such as detox, medication for addiction treatment and outpatient care, and can help coordinate transportation. It helps anyone in need regardless of immigration status, and initial assessments don't require documents. Call 1-855-494-4057 (answered 24 hours a day) or walk in weekdays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 774 Albany St., 1st floor.
The state's Behavioral Health Help Line is free and doesn't require insurance (see below).
Crisis and support lines
- In immediate danger, call 911.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, any time.
- Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line: call or text 833-773-2445, or chat at masshelpline.com, 24/7, free, in more than 200 languages, for mental health and substance use care.
- Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline: call or text 800-327-5050, free and 24/7, for treatment, recovery and harm reduction information.
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357), free and confidential treatment referral, 24/7, in English and Spanish (TTY 1-800-487-4889), or text your ZIP code to 435748.
AA in Boston
The AA Central Service Committee of Eastern Massachusetts answers 617-426-9444 with live volunteers weekdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends and holidays noon to 7 p.m.
Naloxone (Narcan)
Naloxone reverses an opioid overdose, and you don't need a prescription for it in Massachusetts: anyone can buy it at a pharmacy or store with insurance or cash. Many community programs give out naloxone kits with overdose response training, and you can order naloxone delivered to your home through the state-listed You Can Save a Life website. (Massachusetts naloxone FAQ)
Before you move into a sober home
- Is the home MASH-certified? Check MASH's list and ask to see the certificate.
- What does rent cover, what's due at move-in, and is any of it refundable?
- What are the house rules (curfew, chores, meetings, guests), and what happens after a relapse?
- How and how often is drug testing done?
- Does the home accept residents who take medication for addiction treatment, such as buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone?
- Can you read the written resident agreement before you pay?
Be wary of anyone who offers free rent, travel or cash to get you into a particular program. Paying or accepting kickbacks for referrals to recovery homes and treatment facilities is a federal crime (18 U.S.C. § 220). Problems with a certified home can be reported through MASH's grievance process.
Sources
- M.G.L. c. 17, § 18A: alcohol and drug free housing
- M.G.L. c. 17, § 19: treatment program discharge plans
- Massachusetts DPH: Report on Sober Homes in Massachusetts (July 2025, PDF)
- MASH: certified sober homes
- MASH: grievance policy
- 105 CMR 164: licensure of substance use disorder treatment programs
- Boston Public Health Commission: PAATHS
- Mass.gov: free and confidential helplines
- SAMHSA: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- SAMHSA: National Helpline
- AA Central Service Committee of Eastern Massachusetts
- FDA: first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray
- Mass.gov: frequently asked questions about naloxone
- 18 U.S.C. § 220 (Cornell LII)
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Directory note: Sober Network links to official program locators and literature. We do not run these meetings or provide medical advice. Program marks are shown for identification only; no affiliation or endorsement is implied. Harm-reduction and moderation resources should not imply moderation is safe for everyone.
Paying for treatment
Check coverage before choosing treatment.
Coverage depends on the plan, provider, service, and medical-necessity rules. Ask both the facility and your insurer about network status, authorization, and your expected cost.
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Coverage varies by plan and facility. Sober living homes are usually private pay.
Recovery Blog
Stories, tips & guidance
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Apr 13, 2026
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Overdose Trends in Boston
CDC provisional county context for Suffolk County
12-month count
193
Latest CDC period: Mar 31, 2026
Year over year
▼ -18.2%
Lower than prior year
Pending review
0.1%
Records pending investigation
CDC reports provisional drug overdose deaths by county of residence, not by city. Counts may be incomplete and can change as death records are finalized; counts from 1-9 are suppressed under NCHS confidentiality standards. CDC file published Oct 4, 2026.
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193directory records
2,631weekly AA meetings