OLYMPIA – People across Washington now have easier access to help for opioid use disorder. The Washington State Department of Health has partnered with the University of Washington to expand the Washington Telebuprenorphine (Telebupe) Hotline statewide.
Residents can access same-day medical treatment via phone or video by calling 206-289-0287.
The hotline began in 2024 as a pilot program with Public Health – Seattle & King County and the UW Department of Emergency Medicine. It allows individuals to speak the same day with UW Emergency Physicians trained in addiction care who can prescribe buprenorphine, a drug that helps with opioid withdrawal and cravings.
More than 1,400 people have already used the hotline. Now, residents in every county can access the service, including those facing barriers like long wait times or lack of nearby clinics.
Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, State Health Officer for DOH, emphasized the significance of this expansion. “Buprenorphine saves lives from overdose and is one of the most effective tools we have to treat opioid use disorder,” he said. “Expanding the Telebupe Hotline is an important step towards giving people with opioid use disorder timely and compassionate care no matter where they live in our state.”
The hotline provides immediate, short-term support. Callers speak with a linkage-to-care coordinator familiar with local resources, then have a telehealth visit with a UW Emergency Physician who sends a prescription to their chosen pharmacy. Staff follow up within 72 hours to connect patients to longer-term care.
Olivia Hood, Program Director for Washington’s Telebupe Hotline, highlighted the benefits of the expansion. “If someone needs care, we help connect them to providers in their community,” she said. “This expansion helps save lives across the state by making it easier for people to start or continue buprenorphine as well as get the care they need to begin their path to recovery.”
The hotline operates from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day of the year. Washington residents age 13 or older can call for same-day help. The service is free and does not bill insurance.
