Chronic Pain and Addiction Treatment in New York City

Can I keep getting pain treatment while in addiction treatment in New York City?

Yes, many New York City programs can address pain and addiction at the same time, but each clinic sets its own way of working with your pain prescriber. In practice, coordinated care means that, with your written consent, the addiction team and the pain clinician share notes, agree on medicines and avoid sending you mixed instructions.

Addiction programs in New York operate under certificates from the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. Buprenorphine, used for opioid use disorder, also relieves pain, and methadone is another option. Non-opioid medicines, physical therapy and psychological care can round out a plan you build with your clinicians.

Cutting back a long-standing opioid or benzodiazepine prescription is something to plan with your prescriber, not do alone. Physical dependence on a prescribed medicine differs from a use disorder, and plenty of people who take opioids for years never develop an addiction.

Before starting, ask whether a program treats pain and addiction together or one after the other, whether a current medicine for opioid use disorder can continue, and how staff will stay in touch with your pain prescriber. Taking benzodiazepines with opioids carries added risk, so a shared plan matters.

Medication options

Buprenorphine and methadone are both used for opioid use disorder, and buprenorphine also has pain-relieving effects. Other options include non-opioid medicines and non-drug approaches such as physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and other psychological care. Your clinicians make these choices with you. Buprenorphine is offered through Suboxone clinics in New York City, and methadone is dispensed through methadone clinics in the city. A study posted by OASAS found that almost 80% of city residents lived within 30 minutes of an opioid treatment program in 2024. Under OASAS telehealth standards, the first buprenorphine evaluation can take place by video or phone, subject to federal rules. Telehealth listings show which providers offer remote visits.

Is it safe to stop or reduce pain medication on my own?

No. Stopping or sharply cutting a long-term opioid or benzodiazepine prescription without your prescriber can be unsafe, so plan any taper together. Physical dependence on a prescribed medicine is not the same thing as a use disorder, and many people on long-term opioids have no addiction. Taking benzodiazepines together with opioids carries added risk, which makes a shared plan between your clinicians especially important. Naloxone is available through Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs registered with the New York State Department of Health, and OASAS also offers free supplies.

What should I ask a New York City program before starting?

Start by asking whether the program treats pain and substance use together, rather than one at a time. Then ask whether intake staff can continue a medicine you already take for opioid use disorder or start a new one, and whether the clinic will coordinate with your pain prescriber. Each listing shows levels of care, payment types, insurers, accreditation, languages, populations served and location. You can compare options across the whole state on the New York pain and addiction page or read the national overview.

How do I pay?

New York State Medicaid covers many residents through mainstream managed care plans, and some of these plans also run Health and Recovery Plans. The plans available differ by county, so check which ones a program accepts on the Medicaid listings. If you have private insurance, ask your insurer how addiction benefits compare with your medical benefits. OASAS funds treatment for people with limited means, and state-funded programs in New York City are listed separately.

For free help finding a starting point, call the NYS HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY, any hour. You can also use the national treatment referral line, or call or text 988 in a crisis. Other services across the five boroughs are on the New York City page.