Cambridge, Massachusetts NA Meetings

About NA Meetings in Cambridge

Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Cambridge are free and peer-led, and they’re open to anyone who wants to stop using drugs. Cambridge groups are listed through the Boston Area and Metro West Area service committees. Both areas are part of the New England Region of NA.

You’ll find a good mix of in person and online meetings in Cambridge. About half of the local groups meet virtually, which is nice in a city where a lot of people don’t own a car. There are also two in-person groups that meet within a short walk of Red Line stops.

• NA region: New England Region of NA, phoneline 1-866-624-3578
• Meeting formats: Open and closed groups, discussion, speaker, topic and literature study
• Virtual meetings: Available, roughly half the local groups

Finding an NA Meeting in Cambridge

The finder above shows meetings within the radius you choose rather than only groups that are within the Cambridge city limits. Cambridge borders Somerville, Boston, Arlington and Watertown, and a meeting across the river or one neighborhood over can be an easy trip. You can expect to find those locations in your results.

The two in-person groups in Cambridge meet on weekday evenings. One is located near Harvard Square, and you’ll find the other in Central Square. Each is just a few minutes on foot from a Red Line station.

One is a literature study that works through NA texts. The other features a speaker and discussion format. Two more Cambridge groups meet online during the week.

Most of the meetings in Cambridge offer an open format. This means anyone can attend. They welcome friends, family members and people who are still deciding whether NA is for them.

At least one local group is closed. These types of groups limit attendance to people who want to stop using drugs.

The listing in the finder tells you which is which, so check before you go if you’re coming to support someone else.

If none of the local meetings work for your schedule you can try widening the radius of your search. Boston offers the fullest schedule in the region. There you’ll find meetings every day with several occurring midday and in the early morning.

Somerville and Medford are both a short ride north, and Medford’s group is a beginners meeting, which can be a less intimidating place to start. In Arlington you’ll find a women’s meeting and a beginners step meeting. You can also visit the Massachusetts NA meetings page to browse every city in the state.

To find a meeting today, use the finder above or call the New England Region phoneline at 1-866-624-3578. Current area schedules are published at nerna.org and bostonareana.org.

Drug Use and Overdose in Cambridge

The overdose picture in Cambridge has improved sharply for three years running. 2024 was the first year on record when the city’s opioid death rate came in below both the Massachusetts and Middlesex County rates.

• 116 reported opioid overdoses in Cambridge in 2024, down from 161 in 2023 and 219 in 2022. Cambridge Public Health Department, Opioid Overdose Data Report 2024, using Pro EMS ambulance data, published January 2026.
• 18 opioid related overdose deaths in Cambridge in 2024, down from 31 in 2023 and 45 in 2022. Nine of those were Cambridge residents. Cambridge Public Health Department, citing Massachusetts Department of Public Health data, 2026.
• 978 opioid related overdose deaths among Massachusetts residents in 2025, the first year below 1,000 since 2013 and roughly 60 percent lower than the 2022 peak. Massachusetts Department of Public Health preliminary data, June 2026.

Toxicology screens detected fentanyl in eight of the nine resident deaths. Cocaine and xylazine each appeared in just over half.

Xylazine is a sedative that’s been showing up in the illicit opioid supply since late 2022. Naloxone doesn’t reverse it, but it still works on opioids that may have been taken with it.

Treatment Options In and Near Cambridge

NA works alongside clinical treatment rather than in place of it. Addiction treatment is usually described in levels that begin with medically supervised withdrawal management and progress to residential, intensive outpatient and standard outpatient programs.

Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are the FDA approved medications for opioid use disorder and are the standard of care. These medications reduce cravings and lower the risk of a fatal overdose. They’re fully compatible with attending NA. Taking medication doesn’t disqualify you from NA fellowship.

Cambridge is located in one of the densest concentrations of addiction medicine in the country, with programs across the river in Boston as well as locally. Two specific Massachusetts services are worth noting:

• Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline 800-327-5050: This is free and confidential and is staffed around the clock. You can call or text and get direct access to programs with current openings.
• Boston Medical Center Addiction Warmline 617-414-4175: This resource offers rapid access to opioid use disorder medication, including bridge prescriptions and access to methadone.

To compare programs you can search a ZIP code on FindTreatment.gov. Our guides to opiate detox and treatment options explain what each level involves.

Naloxone and Harm Reduction

Naloxone, often sold as Narcan, reverses an opioid overdose and is safe for a bystander to give. It has no effect on someone who has not taken opioids, so there’s no downside to using it when you’re unsure. Massachusetts makes it about as easy to get as anywhere in the country.

• Free by mail: Massachusetts residents can order a free naloxone kit online through the state Department of Public Health. Each kit contains two doses of nasal naloxone, an instruction card, fentanyl test strips and a rescue breathing mask. You can order through the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline.
• Pharmacies: No prescription is needed under the statewide standing order. All pharmacies licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy are required to keep naloxone stocked. MassHealth and many other insurers cover the cost of the medication.
• Syringe service programs: The state lists programs offering sterile supplies, safe disposal, naloxone and testing at mass.gov/syringe-service-programs.
• SafeSpot, 800-972-0590: This free line is for anyone using alone. You call, use and stay talking to an operator who stays on until you agree it is safe to hang up. They will send help if you stop responding.

Massachusetts law provides limited protection from drug possession charges if you seek medical help in good faith at the scene of an overdose. Calling 911 is the safer choice. For more info see our guide to how naloxone works.

Crisis and Immediate Help

If you or someone near you needs help right now

For a suspected overdose or any medical emergency, call 911 first. Give naloxone if you have it, then call, because its effects wear off before the opioids do.

• 911 Suspected overdose or medical emergency
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call or text, 24/7
• 833-773-2445 Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line, free, no insurance needed, 24/7, interpretation in more than 200 languages
• 800-327-5050 Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline, call, text, or chat, 24/7
• 800-972-0590 SafeSpot, if you are about to use alone
• 1-866-624-3578 New England Region NA phoneline

Cambridge NA Meetings FAQ

Are there NA meetings in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
Yes. Cambridge has both in-person and online Narcotics Anonymous groups during the week, and many more meet nearby in Boston, Somerville and Medford. Use the finder above to get a listing of current days and times, or call 1-866-624-3578.

Can I get to a Cambridge meeting without a car?
Yes. Both in-person groups are within a few minutes’ walk of a Red Line station. One is near Harvard Square and one is in Central Square. The finder listing includes the venue address and other details.

What is the difference between an open and a closed meeting?
Open meetings welcome anyone including family, partners and people who are only curious. Closed meetings are for people who have a desire to stop using drugs. Cambridge has both, and the finder listing indicates which type each group is.

Are NA meetings free?
Yes. NA has no dues or fees. You’ll notice that groups may pass a basket for voluntary contributions to cover rent and literature, but you’re never required to give anything.

Can I attend NA if I take methadone or buprenorphine?
Yes. Medications for opioid use disorder are the evidence based standard of care. Taking them does not prevent you from attending or participating in NA. Groups vary in how they handle sharing about medication, and an open meeting is usually the easier place to begin.

About This Directory

Narcotics.com is an independent resource and is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. We index publicly available meeting information and explain how NA works for a general audience. Meeting details change, so please confirm the day, time and format with the group or the regional phoneline before you go.

Narcotics.com may be compensated for some links or featured resources on this site. This never affects the meeting information above or which resources we describe.

Related Pages

• What Narcotics Anonymous Is and How It Works
• Are NA Meetings Right for Me?
• Opiate Detox: Symptoms, Dangers, and Treatment
• Understanding Addiction Treatment
• Recognizing a Narcotics Overdose