National Methadone ClinicsMedication and Support Meetings
If you take methadone or buprenorphine (such as Suboxone) for opioid use disorder, you can go to support meetings. Medication taken as prescribed is a treatment, and many people in recovery use it.
SMART Recovery states that it supports legally prescribed addiction medication and welcomes people who use it at its meetings.
Twelve-step groups such as A.A. and N.A. are run by their own members, and each group sets its own customs, so how a meeting talks about medication can differ from one group to the next.
- Before you go, ask the local intergroup, service office or group contact how the meeting views medication.
- Look for meetings described as medication-friendly or MAT-friendly. Some areas and online meeting lists use these labels.
- Try a few different meetings. If one does not feel right, another may.
- You do not have to tell anyone at a meeting about your medication.
Talk to Your Prescriber
Never stop, lower or change a medication because of something said at a meeting. Talk to your prescriber first. This is general information, not medical advice.
Support Groups at a Glance
People on medication treatment sometimes wonder whether meetings are for them. They are, and California has several kinds to choose from. The comparison below says who each group serves.
Whichever group you try first, you can switch, or attend more than one.
- SMART Recovery takes a non-spiritual approach, with discussion-based meetings built around self-management tools; it covers alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviors.
- N.A. focuses on addiction to any drug rather than one substance, using the same twelve-step structure as A.A.
- Nar-Anon does for families of people using drugs what Al-Anon does for families affected by drinking.
- A.A. serves people with a drinking problem through twelve steps and peer sharing; the only requirement is a wish to stop drinking.
- Al-Anon is for the family side of a drinking problem: relatives and friends meet to share how it affects them, using twelve steps.
- Recovery Dharma meetings combine meditation with sharing and are open to people with any addiction.
- Refuge Recovery meetings center on mindfulness and meditation as tools for recovery.
- Celebrate Recovery offers a faith-based, Christ-centered path and meets in local churches.
Where to Look Up Meetings in California
Peer support groups and mutual-aid programs run their own meetings. The links below go to each organization's official pages for California, where you can search for meetings. We do not list, copy or vouch for individual meetings.
Alcoholics Anonymous
A peer fellowship for people who want to stop drinking.
Narcotics Anonymous
A peer fellowship for people who want to stop using drugs.
SMART Recovery
A science-informed, self-empowering program with in-person and online meetings.
Al-Anon Family Groups
A peer fellowship for relatives and friends of people with a drinking problem.
Nar-Anon Family Groups
A peer fellowship for relatives and friends of people with a drug problem.
Recovery Dharma
A peer-led program that draws on Buddhist practices and principles.
Refuge Recovery
A mindfulness-based recovery community that draws on Buddhist practices.
Celebrate Recovery
A Christ-centered recovery program run through local churches.
National Methadone Clinics is an independent directory. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Narcotics Anonymous World Services, SMART Recovery, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Nar-Anon Family Groups, Recovery Dharma, Refuge Recovery World Services, Celebrate Recovery, or any other fellowship or support organisation named on this page, and none of them has reviewed or approved this page. Each link goes to the organisation's own official page, which controls its meeting information. Meetings move, close and change, so confirm the time and place with the source before you go. Links in this section are editorial. They are not paid, sponsored or referral placements, and no treatment provider can pay to be added to or reordered within this section. Support meetings are not a substitute for professional treatment.
If you or someone else is in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). For treatment referral and information, SAMHSA's National Helpline is 1-800-662-4357, free, confidential and open 24 hours a day.
Before You Go to a Meeting
Check the meeting type first. An open meeting suits a first visit or a family member; a closed meeting is for people who share the group's goal.
Formats differ: a speaker shares a story, a discussion goes around the room, or a study group reads together.
If an in-person room feels like too much, an online or phone meeting lets you try from home.
- Nobody will make you talk.
- You can stay anonymous.
- No payment is expected.
- Arrive or leave when it suits you.
If a Court Requires Meetings
Courts, probation and diversion programs in California and elsewhere may set a number of meetings to attend. The rules come from your case, not from the groups.
Twelve-step groups such as A.A. and N.A. keep no attendance records for courts. Some meeting chairs will sign a sheet you provide; others decline, and online groups each have their own approach.
- Get the requirement in writing: which groups qualify, how many meetings and the deadline.
- Confirm the form of proof your officer accepts before you start.
- Carry your own attendance sheet and keep a copy of each signed page.
- Ask your officer what to do if a group will not sign.
Not Legal Advice
Only your court or probation officer can tell you whether a meeting counts toward your requirement.
Meetings Plus Treatment
Support meetings help many people stay on track, but they are not treatment. They do not provide medical care, medication or a treatment plan.
If you or someone close to you needs detox, medication or a structured program, a treatment provider can assess which level of care fits. Many people go to meetings during and after treatment.
This site lists methadone clinics in California. See the map and city pages below, or call the number on this page to talk through options.
This number connects to our central helpline, not directly to a listed facility.
Search and Map Facilities in California
Press Search to list facilities in California, or type a city or ZIP code.
Listed Methadone Clinics in California
These cities in California have facilities listed on this site.
Support Meeting FAQs for California
Do I need to stop my medication to attend?
No. Meetings do not ask you to stop a prescribed medication. Any change should be decided with your prescriber, not at a meeting.
Do online meetings count for a court order?
That depends on your court or probation officer. Check with them, and ask how an online meeting can be verified.
How do I know if a meeting is open?
Meeting finders usually label each meeting as open or closed. Open meetings welcome visitors; closed meetings are for people who want to stop drinking or using themselves.
Where can relatives get support?
Family groups such as Al-Anon and Nar-Anon meet in person and online, and open twelve-step meetings also welcome visitors.
What if there is no meeting near me in California?
Online and phone meetings are an option wherever you live in California; the finders on this page include them.
Do I need to pay or sign up?
No payment is needed, and most meetings need no sign-up. You can simply show up or log in.