Quick answer
Princeton is the seat of Mercer County, which recorded 44 overdose fatalities in 2024, down from 92 in 2023. Southern Highlands operates two Princeton clinics including a dedicated substance use site, and Princeton Community Hospital runs a 64-bed psychiatric hospital. Here is how to get help.
Last updated: Thu Oct 01 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Princeton holds the county seat of Mercer County, and it is where the county's main behavioral health clinics and hospital sit. Overdose deaths fell by more than half across the county in 2024, and two Princeton addresses handle most of the recovery traffic. Here is what they offer and how to start.
The county's 2024 numbers
About 5,578 people live in Princeton itself, out of roughly 57,524 in Mercer County. The Office of Drug Control Policy reports 44 overdose fatalities in Mercer County in 2024, down from 92 in 2023.
Substances present in the 2024 deaths (multiple substances can appear in one death): fentanyl in 73%; other drugs and methamphetamine in 50% each; cocaine in 25%; benzodiazepines and other opioids in 18% each; gabapentin and THC in 16% each; alcohol in 14%.
Prescribing pressure has fallen further and faster here than in most counties: opioid prescription dispensing dropped 66.1% between 2014 and 2024.
Two Princeton clinics
Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center is Mercer County's designated comprehensive behavioral health provider and a state-certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic. In Princeton it operates two sites:
- The Princeton clinic at 200 12th Street Extension for mental health and addiction services.
- A dedicated substance use disorder services site at 1345 Mercer Street, with a 24/7 crisis line for the region.
As a CCBHC, Southern Highlands must serve anyone who requests care regardless of ability to pay, residence, or age. That matters in Princeton, where 16.9% of residents live in poverty and 23.3% of people under 65 live with a disability - two of the higher rates among the cities on this site.
The county's community corrections program is Southern Regional Community Corrections, which coordinates court-connected supervision and treatment referrals.
Hospital care in Princeton
WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital anchors medical care for a 10-county region. It runs a fully accredited 203-bed acute care facility and a 64-bed psychiatric hospital in Princeton, plus an emergency room and outpatient services facility in Bluefield. For someone in withdrawal or crisis, that psychiatric capacity close to home is not something most West Virginia cities of 5,500 can offer.
The SAMHSA treatment locator lists every licensed provider near ZIP code 24740, filterable by level of care and payment type.
Getting to care
Princeton is compact, but many appointments start in Bluefield or Beckley. Bluefield Area Transit runs routes serving Mercer and McDowell counties, including Princeton, so bus access covers the county's main treatment sites. Medicaid members can also schedule non-emergency medical rides through the state's contracted broker.
Coverage and costs
Princeton's median household income is about $43,900. West Virginia expanded Medicaid in 2014, and Medicaid covers substance use disorder services for adults who qualify. Without coverage, Southern Highlands' CCBHC obligation still applies, and the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP offers free referrals any hour.
Starting now
- Emergencies: call 911. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988.
- Call or text (800) 653-9376 or fill out . Calling is free - providers pay for the referral service - and benefits can be verified before you commit.
- Search findtreatment.gov from ZIP code 24740.
- For same-week help, call Southern Highlands' Princeton sites directly, or start a Medicaid application.
A county clinic that cannot turn anyone away, a 64-bed psychiatric hospital, and a bus route between them: Princeton has the pieces. One call starts them working for you.
Questions about rehab in Princeton
What are Mercer County's overdose numbers?
The West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy counted 44 overdose fatalities in Mercer County in 2024, down from 92 in 2023, counted by county of occurrence rather than residence. A single death can involve more than one substance.
Which clinic serves Princeton for substance use treatment?
Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center runs a Princeton clinic at 200 12th Street Extension and a separate substance use disorder services site at 1345 Mercer Street, with a 24/7 crisis line. It is Mercer County's certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic.
Does Princeton have hospital-based behavioral health care?
Yes. WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital operates a 203-bed acute care hospital and a 64-bed psychiatric hospital in Princeton, plus an emergency room and outpatient facility in Bluefield.
Will Medicaid pay for treatment in Princeton?
West Virginia Medicaid covers substance use disorder and behavioral health services for members who qualify, and the state arranges non-emergency medical transportation for members through a contracted broker. Confirm covered services with your plan first.
What if I cannot afford treatment?
Southern Highlands is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, and CCBHCs must serve anyone who requests care regardless of ability to pay, residence, or age. The SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) also provides free, confidential referrals.