New Helpline Connects Californians to Same-Day Opioid Treatment Support

On August 25, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom launched CA Bridge Connect, a free statewide call- and text-based helpline operated by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to provide same-day access to opioid use disorder treatment support. The service is available by calling (800) 944-1807 or texting (833) 308-0461, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. The helpline serves individuals seeking help, families, caregivers, and clinicians, regardless of insurance coverage. Through CA Bridge Connect, callers receive same-day referrals to Behavioral Health Navigators who assess individual needs and coordinate real-time referrals to clinics, emergency departments, community providers, and telehealth providers. Where appropriate, navigators facilitate prescribing of Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT), described as an evidence-based approach to treating opioid use disorder. The helpline builds on the existing CA Bridge program, launched in 2018 as the country's largest emergency department-based opioid addiction treatment model. DHCS partnered with California-based 988 crisis call centers and the Addiction Treatment Locator, Analysis and Standards (ATLAS) treatment locator to integrate CA Bridge Connect as a resource within those systems. The announcement references outcome data from the CA Bridge emergency department model: 40 percent of patients offered treatment accepted, rising to 85 percent when a substance use navigator was involved; patients presenting for issues unrelated to substance use accepted treatment more than half the time when it was offered. The launch references two California statutes as part of the broader opioid response. SB 184 (2022) requires treatment facilities to either offer MAT directly or maintain an effective referral process with narcotic treatment programs, community health centers, or other MAT providers. AB 2376 (Bains, 2024) increases the number of hospital beds available for SUD treatment, including MAT, by providing facilities flexibility in managing treatment slots.