There is growing evidence that treating substance use disorders in the same way we treat patients with congestive heart failure or with diabetes—with disease management programs—can make a significant difference.

David F.M. Brown, MD
President, Academic Medical Centers, Mass General Brigham

Program in Substance Use & Addiction Services Background & Mission

The Mass General Program in Substance Use & Addiction Services (PSAS), formerly known as the Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) Initiative, was developed in response to Community Health Needs Assessments in Chelsea, Revere and Charlestown, in which residents identified substance use, particularly opioids, as the single greatest issue in their communities. PSAS represents a collaborative effort between the following departments: Medicine, Psychiatry, Social Work, Nursing, The Center for Community Health Improvement, Mass General Community Health Centers, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program.

To accomplish the mission of improving outcomes for addiction treatment while reducing cost of care, patients must have access to evidence-based treatment that is readily available and standardized across the system. The Mass General Program in Substance Use & Addiction Services is focused on re-designing care at all levels to meet this goal.

Substance Use Treatment Services

Addiction Consult Team (ACT)

The multidisciplinary Addiction Consult Team (ACT) offers expert consultation and support to patients with substance use disorders across Mass General’s inpatient units. ACT comprises multiple roles including: physicians, nurse practitioners, clinical pharmacist, social workers, recovery coach, resource specialist, administrative coordinator.

Through a framework of strong connections between inpatient, outpatient, and community-based services, we provide:

  • Improved access to treatment and smooth transitions between care levels
  • Standardized, evidence-based medical treatment for substance use disorder, including withdrawal management and buprenorphine and methadone initiation
  • Enhanced, collaborative planning for discharge
  • Recovery coaches who bridge inpatient and outpatient care

Learn more about ACT

Our Clinics

The Bridge Clinic

The Bridge Clinic mission is to bridge the treatment gap by providing on-demand, compassionate care to patients at all stages of addiction. This transitional clinic works to engage and stabilize high-risk patients before connecting them to long-term community-based care. The Bridge Clinic offers walk-in and appointment-based services including addiction pharmacotherapy, peer support and groups, treatment/resource coordination, mental health care, and safe use/harm reduction education.

Clinic hours are Monday-Friday from 9AM-5PM. It is located at the MGH Main Campus at 55 Fruit Street in the Cox Building, 1st Floor, Suite 110 and the phone number is 617-643-8281.

Learn more about the Bridge Clinic

The West End Clinic

The West End Clinic (WEC) of Mass General is an outpatient facility for those with alcohol and drug addictions, co-occurring mental health disorders and other types of addictive behaviors. The clinic offers a wide range of outpatient therapies and medication treatment along with other resources.

Learn more about the West End Clinic

Addiction Recovery Management Service

The Addiction Recovery Management Service (ARMS) specializes in supporting teenagers and young adults between the ages of 14 and 26 and their parents as they deal with their substance use and related problems. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 617-643-4699.

Learn more about ARMS

HOPE Clinic

The HOPE Clinic (Harnessing support for Opioid and substance use disorders in Pregnancy and Early childhood) at Massachusetts General Hospital and Mass General for Children provides comprehensive care for pregnant and post-partum people with substance use disorder, their partners and their infants from conception through early childhood. The HOPE Clinic sees patients from 1:00pm-4:00pm on Mondays and 9:00am-4:00pm on Wednesdays on the Mass General main campus, 55 Fruit Street, Cox Building, Suite 110. The team can be reached any time Monday-Friday between 9am-5pm by Patient Gateway, phone at 617-724-4643, or email.

Learn more about the HOPE Clinic

Addiction Medicine Education & Training Programs

Addiction Medicine Fellowship

A one-year clinical fellowship with advanced training in addiction medicine that will prepare physicians for clinical and academic careers across a variety of care settings. It particularly focuses on developing and enhancing evidence-based addiction prevention and treatment services for all patients, including those vulnerable to health disparity because of poverty, race, culture, age, gender, disability, or stigma.

For more information on eligibility, training curriculum, application process, and program contacts, please visit the Addiction Medicine Fellowship website.

Integrated Substance Use Training Program

The Integrated Substance Use Disorder Training Program (ISTP) is a one year training opportunity that will prepare nurse practitioners, psychologists and social workers for clinical and academic careers in addiction medicine with a particular focus on providing care in community-based settings, utilizing telehealth, and working on interdisciplinary treatment teams.

For more information on eligibility, training curriculum, application process, and program contacts, please visit the ISTP website.

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries, please contact McKenzie Ridings in the Mass General Brigham External Communications Department at 617-726-0274 or mridings@mgb.org.