Recovery Resources for West Virginians

By Amanda Barber

Black By God (BBG) has compiled a comprehensive list of local and national recovery resources that West Virginians can access. Many of the services listed are free or low-cost. 

This is a living list – entities providing recovery resources that want to be added to this collection may contact the author via email. 

Help4WV: 

• Services: Help4WV is a call, text, and chat line for West Virginians experiencing substance abuse or mental health issues. The helpline provides confidential support as well as resource referrals to residential treatment, outpatient counseling, medicated assisted treatment (MAT), support groups, and psychiatric and emergency care. 
• Website: help4wv.com
• Phone: Call or text (844) 435-7498

Help & Hope WV: 

• Services: Help & Hope WV has a website to help individuals find treatment options, recovery meetings, phone helplines, mobile applications, and more. The website contains educational resources on understanding addiction, treatment, recovery, and prevention. Help & Hope WV also shares information to help prescribers, first responders, educators, youth and young adults, and families and their teens. 
• Website: helpandhopewv.org

West Virginia Alliance of Recovery Resources (WVARR):

• Services: (WVARR) List of Certified Programs – A directory to help West Virginians learn more about recovery home options and specific details on payment, services, and contact information. Certified residences must complete a thorough application process with a peer review of policies and procedures and a home inspection. 
• Webpage: wvarr.org/certified-program-list
• Phone: (304) 989-0792

Recovery Point West Virginia: 

• Services: Recovery Point offers several long-term residential recovery programs in West Virginia that follow the social model of recovery and The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. The organization also provides psychotherapy, addiction services, peer support specialists, transportation, transitional recovery residences, and drop-in recovery resources. Recovery Point services are free for those seeking help with substance abuse disorder. 
• Website: recoverypointwv.org
• Phone: (304) 523-4673

West Virginia Sober Living (WVSL):

• Services: According to the WVSL website, the organization was founded and is led by people in long-term recovery from SUD and mental health diagnoses. The organization has expanded services beyond sober living and takes a holistic approach to helping empower individuals with co-occurring disorders. WVSL offers community outreach, employment programs, and adult mental healthcare.
  • WVSL Housing: westvirginiasoberliving.com/morgantown-sober-living
  • WVSL Works: westvirginiasoberliving.com/reintegrate-appalachia
  • WVSL Behavioral Health: westvirginiasoberliving.com/behavioral-health
  • WV PEERS: westvirginiasoberliving.com/wv-peers
• Main website: westvirginiasoberliving.com
• Phone: (304) 315-4514

CHESS Health Connections Mobile Application: 

• Services: Connections is a free mobile app where West Virginians can access peer recovery specialists, urgent support, community chats, virtual meetings, digital cognitive behavioral therapy, and a resource library. Users can encourage and track their recovery through daily check-ins, journal prompts, achievement badges, questionnaires, motivation reminders, and a digital calendar/planner .(Those interested in enrolling for free can visit Help & Hope WV or click this link to go directly to the form.) 
• Website: chess.health/erecovery/connections-app/

Alcoholic Anonymous Area 73 (AA WV): 

• Services: AA is a “fellowship of people who have decided to do something about their drinking.” During AA meetings, members share their recovery experiences to help others achieve sobriety. Area 73 includes all of West Virginia and parts of Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. 
• Website: aawv.org
• Phone: (800) 333-5051

Mountaineer Region of Narcotics Anonymous (NA):

• Services: NA is a “fellowship of recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean.” The Mountaineer Region of Narcotics Anonymous includes Central and Southern West Virginia and a portion of the Mid-Ohio Valley.
• Website: mrscna.org
• Phone: 1-800-766-4442 / (304) 344-4442 (Local Charleston, WV)

United States Department of Veterans Affairs – SUD Program Locator » West Virginia:

• Services: A list of VA medical centers in West Virginia that offer SUD programs. Furthermore, the VA’s website states that medical facilities without a specific SUD program can still provide recovery treatment. Patients can contact their local medical center and ask for the Mental Health clinic. 
• Website: va.gov
• Phone: For immediate assistance, veterans can call 1-800-273-TALK/8255.

Quick Response Teams (QRTs):

• Services: A QRT includes emergency responders, law enforcement, and recovery providers that contact someone who survived an overdose. Contact is attempted within 24 to 72 hours of the incident. QRT members offer and assist those individuals with recovery support and treatment options. While QRTs are not in every area of West Virginia, there are several around the state. Citizens can contact Help4WV to find out if they have a local QRT. 

Assistance with employment, legal matters, transportation to treatment, finances, and other resources: 

Jobs & Hope West Virginia: 

• Services: Jobs & Hope WV helps state residents in recovery acquire job training and find promising employment. As a comprehensive response to the substance abuse crisis in West Virginia, this government program provides aid through a statewide collaboration of agencies. 
• Website: jobsandhope.wv.gov
• Phone: (833) 784-1385 / (304) 583-4008

Legal Aid of West Virginia: 

• Services: Legal Aid of WV is a statewide nonprofit organization offering free information, advice, and representation on civil legal issues. Examples include housing, unemployment compensation, driver’s license problems, veterans issues, domestic violence and protective orders, government benefits, credit problems, divorce, child custody, and child support.
  • West Virginians with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services: This program is designed to help individuals focus on their recovery by removing barriers to civil matters. Examples include expungement, driver’s license reinstatement, public benefits, and housing and employment (including discrimination issues).
  • Webpage: legalaidwv.org/our-programs/legal-services/substance-use-disorder/
• Main website: legalaidwv.org
• Phone: (866) 255-4370

Mountain State Justice: 

• Services: Mountain State Justice provides free legal services to protect low-income individuals and families and their homes, health, safety and livelihoods. MSJ specializes in cases involving civil rights, workers’ rights, abusive debt collection, mortgage abuses, immigration and more. The team takes a limited number of cases for incarcerated individuals seeking sufficient health care and education. 
• Website: mountainstatejustice.org
• Phone: (304) 344-3144 / 1-800-319-7132 (Toll Free) 

Disability Rights of West Virginia: 

• Services: Offers assistance to West Virginians with disabilities, including mental health, developmental, intellectual, physical, and traumatic brain injury. DRWV offers free, confidential services such as information and referrals, legal assistance, direct advocacy, investigating abuse and neglect, etc. This organization cannot help with cases unrelated to disability rights, like criminal matters, property law, familial relations [divorce, child custody, child support], etc.. 
• Website: drofwv.org
• Phone: (304) 346-0847 

Modivcare: 

• Services: Some health plans for West Virginians offer benefits toward non-emergency transportation to medical appointments, including substance abuse treatment. Based on a patient’s needs, Modivcare can provide vehicle services (sedan, van, taxi, etc.), public transportation tickets, and gas mileage reimbursement.
• Website: mymodivcare.com/members/west-virginia
• Phone/schedule a ride: 1-844-549-8353

West Virginia Public Transportation Authority: 

• WVPTA is a collaboration of 18 public transit agencies serving 32 counties. Services include fixed routes, deviated fixed routes, demand response, and non-emergency medical transportation services. A partnership between WVPTA and the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers transportation to treatment and recovery services for people with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).
• Website: wv-transit.com

West Virginia 211:

• Services: A 24/7 helpline for West Virginians to access information and support for multiple topics, including financial, domestic, health, or disaster-related. WV 211 can help people learn about health and human services, specific programs, intake requirements, eligibility, and more. 
• Website: wv211.org
• Phone: Call 211 / Text your zip code to 898-211

Brittany Burge Foundation:

• Services: The Brittany Burge Foundation raises funds to help people in treatment with boarding their pets. The organization was started in honor of Brittany Burge, who died from drug addiction on Oct. 22, 2017. Brittany owned a beloved dog named George, and treatment was often delayed until she could arrange and/or afford the cost of kenneling him. That is why the Brittany Burge Foundation works to help those in treatment ease the cost of boarding their animals as well as working to eliminate the stigma around mental illness and addiction. 
• Website: brittanyburgefoundation.com
• Contact: barbara@brittanyburgefoundation.com

National Resources: 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: 

• Services: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. SAMSHA improves behavioral wellness through programs, campaigns, public messaging, data collection, practitioner training, educational resources, and other services.
  • Find a Treatment Facility: findtreatment.gov
  • SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-4357): A 24/7 free, confidential referral and information line for people and families affected by mental health and/or addiction; or 
  • Text 435748 (HELP4U) to find nearby treatment and resources. 
• Main website: samhsa.gov

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:

• Services: Immediate, compassionate support for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts, mental health issues, a substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. Counselors are available to speak with individuals in distress or people who are worried about a loved one. Call 988, text message, or chat online. 
  • To call locally in West Virginia, dial (681) 205-8591. 
• Website: 988lifeline.org | wv988.org

Everything AA Mobile Application:

• Services: A cellphone app that offers a sober date tracker, the AA daily reflection, an online meeting finder, and a journal for nightly reviews/gratitude lists. The application also features free text and audio versions of The Big Book, the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, and Living Sober. In addition, Everything AA has commonly used meeting literature and information pamphlets such as the Serenity and Lord’s Prayer, the AA preamble, the Twelve Steps and Traditions, How it Works, Anonymity in the Digital Age, Women in AA, LGBTQ Alcoholics in AA, AA for the Black and African-American Alcoholic, and more. Everything AA is available on the Apple Store and Google Play. 
• Website: tanukitech.dev/everything-aa

Meeting Guide Mobile Application:

• Services: This cellphone app shows local meetings from “participating AA Intergroups and General Service entities.” The app’s about section states that the goal is to “create a resource that provides accurate, up-to-date information to our fellowship, and in so doing, more closely link our member and service entities.” Meeting Guide is available on the Apple Store and Google Play. 
• Website: aa.org/meeting-guide-app

NA Meeting Search Mobile Application:

• Services: NA Meeting Search helps people find online NA meetings or local in-person meetings. The app also offers a sober-time tracker, readings of Just For Today and Spiritual Principal a Day, and links to na.org resources. NA Meeting Search is available on the Apple Store and Google Play. 

Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous:

• Services: A list of Zoom AA meetings that are happening all over the world in real-time. Individuals can also fill out a contact form to the 12th Step Committee to ask a question or get help with a drinking problem. 
• Website: aa-intergroup.org

Virtual NA – NA Meetings Online & by Phone:

• Services: Virtual NA is a worldwide collaborative resource that offers a search tool for online and phone meetings of Narcotics Anonymous. 
• Website: virtual-na.org

Explore the Big Book:

• Services: The “Big Book” explains the AA program for alcoholism recovery. The book was published in 1939 to explain to other alcoholics how the first 100 AA members got sober. The “Big Book” has been translated into more than 70 languages and is still deemed AA’s basic text. The Alcoholics Anonymous website provides free access to the “Big Book” in PDF, video, and audio versions. A hardcover copy can also be purchased for $12 via AA’s online store. 
• Website: aa.org/the-big-book

Narcotics Anonymous Literature:

• Services: The Narcotics Anonymous 6th Edition book explains the NA program and how it operates. It describes the NA Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, plus individual stories of people who have recovered from addiction through NA. NA.org offers links to free audio versions of the literature in different languages, streamed via SoundCloud. A copy of the book can also be purchased from various retailers. 
• Website: na.org/literature/basic-text-audio