Opioid Treatment and MAT in San Francisco, CA

San Francisco has methadone OTPs, low-barrier buprenorphine, and a public access center that can start care quickly. Opioid treatment here should begin with medication and naloxone.

How bad the opioid problem is here

The San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reports 635 accidental overdose deaths in 2024, down from 810 in 2023, and a preliminary 621 in 2025, the lowest annual count since 2020. Fentanyl drives most deaths, often in combination with methamphetamine or cocaine.

Medication options near San Francisco

Within 30 miles of downtown San Francisco (ZIP 94102), the SAMHSA treatment locator currently lists:

  • 18 federally certified opioid treatment programs (OTPs)
  • 37 facilities that prescribe buprenorphine
  • 27 offering outpatient methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone treatment
  • 26 facilities offering detoxification and 99 substance use facilities overall

The San Francisco Department of Public Health's Behavioral Health Access Center (1380 Howard Street) and Behavioral Health Access Line (1-888-246-3333, 24/7) can help with assessment and placement. Counts change as programs open and close.

Why medication matters for opioid use disorder

Medications for opioid use disorder (methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone when clinically appropriate) reduce overdose risk and support retention in care. Opioid withdrawal is miserable and dehydrating, but the bigger danger is losing tolerance and overdosing after a pause. Do not try to "tough out" fentanyl withdrawal without a plan for medication and naloxone.

If someone is overdosing - slow or stopped breathing, blue lips, unresponsive - call 911 and give naloxone if you have it. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988.

Paying for opioid treatment in San Francisco

Medi-Cal covers medically necessary MOUD when you are eligible. San Francisco runs a Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System through its Department of Public Health, so Medi-Cal members can be assessed and placed through the city network. Ask specifically about OTP methadone, office-based buprenorphine, injectable options, and prior authorization. If you are uninsured, start with the county access line below for publicly funded pathways.

How to start today

  1. If someone is overdosing, call 911 and give naloxone. For a crisis, call or text 988.
  2. Call or text (800) 653-9376 to speak with a treatment specialist, or use this form:

Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers, and we check your benefits before you commit.

  1. Search findtreatment.gov with ZIP code 94102 and filter for opioid treatment programs or buprenorphine.
  2. Ask any program whether same-week medication induction is available and whether they help with naloxone.

Opioid use disorder is treatable with medication and support. The first call is usually harder than the clinical start.

Call or text (800) 653-9376 Get help online