What to say when you call

Before you dial

Sixty seconds of prep makes this easier. You don't need documents or answers — just these:

• Somewhere to write down a name, a time, and an address
• Your date of birth, and your insurance card if you happen to have one
• Roughly what you've been using and roughly how long — they need this to keep you safe, not to judge you
• A number where they can call you back, if you have one

You will probably be put on hold. That's normal and it isn't a sign they don't want to help. It's also completely fine to say you're nervous.

You have no money and no insurance

“I don't have insurance or any money. What are my options?”

Lead with it. Don't wait to be asked, and don't apologize. Every intake worker in Chattanooga hears this every single day.

• Start with CADAS at 423-756-7644 — a nonprofit whose stated mission is to serve people regardless of ability to pay, with state grant funding for eligible Tennesseans.
• If they can't help, ask directly: "Who in town can?" They know.
• Ask whether they can help you apply for TennCare. Intake staff do this constantly.

If a place responds to "no insurance" by losing interest in you, you've learned something useful about that place.

You want treatment but don't know where to start

“I need help with drugs or alcohol and I don't know where to start. Can you tell me what's available?”

Call Tennessee REDLINE at 800-889-9789. It's free, confidential, answers 24 hours a day, and it's run by the state — they refer you and sell you nothing.

• They'll ask your county. Say Hamilton County.
• You do not have to give your name.
• Ask them to text you the list if you're somewhere you can't write.

You're in crisis right now

“I'm not safe right now and I need to talk to somebody.”

Call or text 988. It's free, 24 hours, and answered by trained counselors.

• Press 0 to reach a local Tennessee counselor who can send a mobile crisis team to you.
• Press 1 if you're a veteran. Press 2 for Spanish.
• Texting works if talking feels impossible.

You need a bed tonight

“I need a place to sleep tonight. Do you have any beds left, and what time do I need to be there?”

Ask about the time first — most shelters have a hard intake window and arriving late means no bed.

• Chattanooga Rescue Mission — 423-756-3126. Men and women. Gate check-in 5:00–6:30pm.
• Families with children — Family Promise, 423-756-3891.
• Women and children — Room in the Inn, 230 N Highland Park Ave. Pet-friendly.
• Not sure — call 211, or the City Office of Homelessness at 423-643-7663 (walk in on Wednesdays).

Two more questions worth asking: "Do I need an ID?" and "Is there somewhere to store my things?" If they're full, ask "Who else has beds tonight?" — staff usually know.

You want to ask about methadone or Suboxone

“I'm interested in medication for opioid use disorder. Do you take TennCare, and how soon could I be seen?”

• Volunteer Comprehensive Treatment Center — 423-265-3122, for methadone and buprenorphine.
• McNabb Center — 423-266-6751, for Suboxone with counseling.

Useful things to ask: how early dosing starts, whether you need to be in withdrawal at your first visit, what it costs without insurance, and how long the wait is.

You're calling about someone else

“I'm worried about my son. I'm not sure what he'll agree to, but I want to understand the options.”

You can call any of these numbers on someone else's behalf and ask questions before they're ready.

• Tennessee REDLINE (800-889-9789) will walk you through options with no commitment.
• Al-Anon Chattanooga — 423-892-9462, for you, not for them.
• Ask about naloxone and get some. Cempa and the Chattanooga Free Store give it away free.

Because of federal privacy law, a treatment center generally can't confirm whether an adult is a patient. That isn't them stonewalling you — they legally can't.

You're a parent and afraid of losing your kids

“I have children and I'm scared of what happens to them if I get help. What are my options?”

This fear keeps more parents out of treatment than anything else, and there are programs built for exactly it.

• CADAS Family Way (423-756-7644) — mothers live on campus with their small children during treatment, for up to two years.
• Chambliss Center (423-698-2456) — childcare 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on a sliding scale. Nights and third shift included.
• Legal Aid of East Tennessee (423-756-4013) — free legal advice if custody is already in question.

Ask plainly: "Can my kids come with me, or do you have childcare?" Seeking help voluntarily is viewed very differently from being reported.

They said no, or the wait is long

“Okay — while I wait, what should I do? Is there a waitlist I can be on, and can you call me if something opens up?”

A no is often a "not this week." Before you hang up:

• Ask to be put on the waitlist and get a name and a callback number.
• Ask "Who else should I try today?"
• Ask about their outpatient option — often available much sooner than residential.
• Call REDLINE again and say the first place was full. They'll keep going.

Meetings are free and need no intake at all. AA at 423-499-6003 and NA at 423-207-5964 are answered by real people around the clock.

Hang up if you hear this

Addiction treatment has a marketing industry attached to it, and some numbers that look like helplines are sales desks. Hang up if:

• They ask about your insurance before they ask about you
• They offer to fly you out of state or pay your travel
• They promise a cure, a guaranteed success rate, or a "luxury" experience
• They pressure you to decide right now
• They won't give a street address

Every number on this site came from the provider's own website or a government source — never a lead-generation directory. When in doubt, call REDLINE (800-889-9789), which is state-backed and sells nothing.