Substance Use Services for Individuals and Families

Substance Use Services

Our mission is to minimize the impact of addiction on individuals and communities by ensuring a statewide infrastructure of prevention, treatment, and addiction recovery services that promote increased awareness and education about addiction. We want to safeguard the overall health and well-being of those impacted by addiction while striving to reduce stigma, improve access to services and advocate for fair, equitable, and sustainable policies that ensure justice and long-term viability of addiction services.

Our vision is to create an integrated system of care where every individual and community affected by addiction has access to comprehensive, evidence-based practices and support services. 

Our core values are to strive for excellence, producing high-quality work with the focus on people and collaboration, and to embrace ethical values and operate with integrity. We strive to instill hope and resilience, helping individuals, families, and communities across Virginia thrive, and to be accountable for our work while consistently engaging in innovative ways to improve quality and safety.

Virginia’s community services boards (CSBs) are the primary point of entry into the Commonwealth’s public behavioral health and developmental services system. CSBs provide treatment for mental health issues, substance use and addiction, and intellectual and developmental disabilities for adults and children.  

CSBs provide treatment for mental health issues, substance use and addiction

You can find treatment resources through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs)

OTPs provide Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). The people who use these medications can also receive counseling and other behavioral health therapies to help them overcome their opioid challenges. You can find more information about MOUD, treatment, counseling, or residential services at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 

If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid disorder, find an opioid treatment provider near you.

Mobile Methadone Units

Mobile Methadone Units (MMUs)  

MMUs are mobile or non-mobile teams that are part of Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) and provide many of the same services. MMUs are also subject to the same regulations and must be recertified regularly.  

The OTP program sponsor is eligible to apply to receive certification for an MMU through the Opioid Treatment Program Reporting System

Licensing can also be acquired through DBHDS by clicking this link: licensing.

The Mobile Medication Assisted Treatment Units (MMATU)  

MOUDs provide services to people who experience systemic barriers to healthcare access. The services they provide can include:  

  • Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)  
  • Psychical examinations and screenings 
  • Peer support, counseling, and harm reduction services   

There are currently four MMATUs operated by CSBs. You can talk with the CSB staff to discuss how they set up their MMATU and develop your own.   

Specialty Populations

Project LINK is designed to help pregnant and/or parenting women overcome substance use challenges. Its purpose is to connect women with substance use resources, such as those listed below, and explain how to use them: 

  • Case and withdraw management 
  • Residential, outpatient, and medication-assisted treatments 
  • Group and trauma group therapy   
  • Parenting assistance and childcare and transportation services to attend treatment sessions  

Find out more about where and how to access Project LINK services.   

Risk Reduction

Risk reduction is a compassionate and effective treatment approach that can improve the lives of people who experience substance use challenges. Its purpose is to reduce the negative consequences of drug use while acknowledging that abstinence may not always be realistic or attainable. You can learn more about Comprehensive Risk Reduction and find resources near you at the Virginia Department of Health.

REVIVE! is a training program that teaches people how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose emergency using naloxone.

REVIVE! is a training program that teaches people how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose emergency using naloxone. 


The Safe Housing and Warming Program (SHAW)   

SHAW provides unhoused individuals with emergency inclement weather supplies for extreme weather conditions. Supplies such as thermal blankets and tents, socks, and handwarmers are distributed to individuals who are in direct contact with individuals in the community. 

For information on receiving supplies to distribute, please contact Marie Bage, Substance Use Treatment Administrator, at 804-857-9874.