Addiction Helplines in Singapore: Who to Call and What Happens Next

Written and clinically reviewed by Adjunct Professor Dr Prem Kumar Shanmugam, founder of Solace Asia. November 2026.

Quick answer

The right addiction helpline Singapore residents should call depends on the problem. For gambling, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline on 1800-6-668-668, open 8am to 11pm daily (NCPG, 2026). For drugs, alcohol, gaming or other addictions, book an assessment with NAMS on 6389 2200 (NAMS, 2026). For emotional support at any hour, call national mindline 1771. If you are thinking about suicide, call Samaritans of Singapore on 1767. In an emergency, call 995.

Addiction helpline Singapore: who to call for what

We checked each detail on the service’s own website in November 2026. Save the one you need.

Two old numbers still circulate. IMH retired its Mental Health Helpline, 6389 2222, when mindline 1771 opened on 18 June 2025 (IMH, June 2025). Older leaflets also list a NAMS “All Addictions Helpline”, 6-RECOVER (HPB, archived). The current NAMS contact page lists 6389 2200 instead.

What public addiction support is available in Singapore?

NAMS, the main public service, was set up at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) in 2008 and treats addictions to drugs, alcohol, gambling, gaming and other behaviours (NAMS). It offers outpatient therapy for individuals, groups and families, a seven-day inpatient detox programme, and a service for young people aged 13 and over. Anyone under 21 needs a parent’s consent (NAMS services).

For gambling, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) runs the helpline, the webchat and the exclusion schemes. For smoking and ordinary vapes, HPB’s I Quit is a 28-day programme of daily text nudges or phone counselling (gov.sg). WE CARE Community Services is a charity that runs twelve-step and SMART Recovery groups (WE CARE), and NCPG lists it as a host of Gamblers Anonymous meetings (NCPG). Alcoholics Anonymous Singapore is a peer fellowship with no fees (AA Singapore). Read how AA differs from rehab.

For GPs, counsellors and HR staff

• Subsidised NAMS care needs a referral from a polyclinic, a CHAS clinic (for cardholders) or a public hospital. Direct bookings and walk-ins are not subsidised.
• At NAMS’s Singapore-citizen rates, a first adult consultation costs S$32.86 to S$76.67 with a subsidy and S$95.00 to S$201.64 without one.
• Family Service Centre counsellors can email referral letters to imh.nams@nhghealth.com.sg.
• NAMS does not share patient information with anyone, employers included, without consent. See our guide on helping employees with addiction.

What happens when you call

The gambling helpline

Trained para-counsellors answer. NCPG says what you share stays confidential and you need not give your name (NCPG). You can call about a loved one too. NCPG refers callers to other agencies only if they ask.

National mindline 1771

IMH runs 1771 with about 30 full-time counsellors, in all four official languages. Anyone at risk of harming themselves or others may be referred to IMH or the police (NHG Health, June 2025). MOH says conversations are confidential and you can stay anonymous (MOH, June 2025). By February 2026 it had handled over 39,000 calls, messages and webchats (MOH, February 2026).

NAMS

At the first appointment you meet a doctor and a counsellor. NAMS keeps all information confidential under IMH policy. A relative can book for you if you are willing, using your name and NRIC number. You can pay with MediSave, and a medical social worker can help if money is tight (NAMS FAQ).

Vaping and Kpods

The free QuitVape programme for etomidate stopped taking new people on 1 September 2026. IMH still treats etomidate use, for a fee, and referred citizens and PRs can get subsidies. MOH says people who seek help on their own will not be penalised or given an offence record for coming forward (MOH, August 2026).

Drug use: what NAMS and CNB say about coming forward

NAMS says treatment there is voluntary (NHG Health). If you are worried the authorities will be told about your drug use, NAMS’s FAQ asks you to call 6389 2200. Be aware that Singapore’s Misuse of Drugs Regulations require any doctor who treats someone they suspect is addicted to drugs to report it to the Director of Medical Services and CNB within seven days (CNB FAQ).

Since 16 May 2026, first-time users who surrender in person at a CNB office or police station are no longer sent to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC). Instead they get community supervision with compulsory case management, counselling and regular hair or urine tests (CNB). Supervision can last up to five years. You must not be wanted, under investigation, on bail, serving a sentence or under supervision, and a relapse can still lead to the DRC (MHA, July 2026). Each person gets two chances to surrender in their lifetime.

Under section 8A of the Misuse of Drugs Act, Singapore citizens and permanent residents who take controlled drugs overseas can be charged as if they had taken them in Singapore (MHA, May 2023; Singapore Statutes Online). Being treated abroad does not change this.

In August 2026, a senior NAMS counsellor said many vape and etomidate users had wanted help but did not know where to get it without legal trouble.

“Do not wait until the addiction gets serious before thinking about seeking treatment.”

Lee Whee Khee, senior counsellor, National Addictions Management Service. The Straits Times via The Star, August 2026

Support for families

You can get help even if your loved one is not ready to.

• If a relative’s gambling has seriously harmed the family, you can ask NCPG for a Family Exclusion Order barring them from the casinos at Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, jackpot rooms at private clubs and Singapore Pools online betting (NCPG). You can apply only for an immediate family member: a spouse, parent, child or sibling (MSF). You must tell them that you are applying (MSF). If further harm looks imminent, NCPG can grant a provisional order while the application is pending.
• NAMS Family Matters offers counselling for relatives, even if your loved one is not a NAMS patient. NAMS also runs BRIDGE Family for carers and H.E.A.R.T., an online group for parents of 13 to 21-year-olds (NAMS).
• WE CARE offers guidance for families and a Family and Friends Support Group.
• HealthHub lists Al-Anon Family Groups for relatives of people who drink.

For what to say, read how to help a loved one who may be addicted to alcohol, or see our family workshop.

When local outpatient help is not enough

Residential treatment means living at a treatment centre for several weeks, with daily therapy, medical care where needed and time away from the people and places tied to using. It may suit you if relapses keep coming despite outpatient care, if home makes recovery hard, if withdrawal needs medical supervision, or if depression or anxiety come with the addiction. See how inpatient and outpatient rehab differ.

NAMS’s inpatient stays are short, and you need a NAMS doctor’s assessment and a free bed first. For a longer stay, Solace Asia in Kuala Lumpur is one option. Our 28-day primary programme includes medically supervised detox where needed, and our 18-month aftercare carries on with online group sessions. Back in Singapore, aftercare can continue through NAMS follow-up, WE CARE groups, AA or Gamblers Anonymous, and the NCPG helpline.

When to get help urgently

• Call 995 if someone has a seizure, struggles to breathe or loses consciousness (SCDF). Learn the signs of alcohol poisoning.
• Call 1767 or WhatsApp 9151 1767 (Samaritans of Singapore) if anyone is thinking about suicide. If someone is in immediate harm, SOS advises calling 995 or going to the nearest A&E (SOS).
• Call 1771 at any hour for mental health support.

Frequently asked questions

Talk to us

If you or someone you love has tried local help and needs more, contact the Solace Asia team for a free, confidential consultation. We can discuss whether residential treatment suits you, and how care continues in Singapore afterwards. If cost is a concern, our sister retreat Salus offers residential treatment at a lower cost, in a different residential location, maintaining Solace’s clinical standards for treatment.

References

1. National Addictions Management Service, “Contact Us” and FAQs, accessed November 2026. nhghealth.com.sg/imh/nams/contact-us
2. National Addictions Management Service, “Our Services”, accessed November 2026. nhghealth.com.sg/imh/nams/our-services
3. National Addictions Management Service, “About Us”, accessed November 2026. nhghealth.com.sg/imh/nams/about-us
4. NHG Health, “National Addictions Management Service (NAMS) Clinic”, accessed November 2026. nhghealth.com.sg/find-care/Clinic/imh-national-addictions-management-service-nams-clinic
5. Institute of Mental Health, “Contact Us”, accessed November 2026. nhghealth.com.sg/imh/about-us/contact-us
6. Institute of Mental Health, media statement on the Mental Health Helpline, 18 June 2025. imh.com.sg/Newsroom/News-Releases
7. Health Promotion Board, “Getting support for substance abuse” (archived). hpb.gov.sg/article/getting-support-for-substance-abuse
8. Ministry of Health, “National mindline 1771 to provide round-the-clock support for mental health”, 18 June 2025. moh.gov.sg/newsroom/national-mindline-1771-to-provide-round-the-clock-support-for-mental-health
9. NHG Health, “Help at hand with launch of national mental health call and textline”, 18 June 2025. nhghealth.com.sg/News/help-at-hand-with-launch-of-national-mental-health-call-and-textline
10. Ministry of Health, written parliamentary reply on national mindline 1771 usage, February 2026. moh.gov.sg/newsroom/national-mindline-1771-usage-statistics
11. National Council on Problem Gambling, home page, accessed November 2026. msf.gov.sg/ncpg
12. National Council on Problem Gambling, “National Problem Gambling Helpline and Webchat”, accessed November 2026. msf.gov.sg/ncpg/services/national-problem-gambling-helpline-and-webchat
13. National Council on Problem Gambling, “Other support services”, accessed November 2026. msf.gov.sg/ncpg/services/counselling-services/other-support-services
14. National Council on Problem Gambling, “Apply Family Exclusion Order”, accessed November 2026. msf.gov.sg/ncpg/services/family-exclusions-and-visit-limits/apply-family-exclusion-order
15. Ministry of Social and Family Development (Ask.gov.sg), “Who is eligible to apply for a Family Exclusion Order or Family Visit Limit?”, accessed November 2026. ask.gov.sg/msf/questions/cls1lenh400gbjzsgbh4nq9ol
16. Ministry of Social and Family Development (Ask.gov.sg), “Do I need to notify my family member if I am applying for a Family Exclusion Order or Family Visit Limit on him or her?”, accessed November 2026. ask.gov.sg/msf/questions/cls1lenh400g5jzsgc51g0sqd
17. Samaritans of Singapore, home page, accessed November 2026. sos.org.sg
18. Singapore Civil Defence Force, “SCDF Emergency Medical Services”, accessed November 2026. scdf.gov.sg/home/about-us/information-on-ems/scdf-emergency-medical-services
19. HealthHub (Health Promotion Board), “I Quit Programme”, accessed November 2026. healthhub.sg/programmes/iquit
20. HealthHub, “Vaping Cessation”, accessed November 2026. healthhub.sg/health-conditions/vaping-cessation
21. Gov.sg, “Stop Vaping: For Vapers”, accessed November 2026. gov.sg/stopvaping-support-vapers
22. Ministry of Health, “Over 2,400 caught vaping, nine persons charged for alleged import or supply of etomidate from April to June 2026”, 11 August 2026. moh.gov.sg/newsroom/over-2-400-caught-vaping
23. WE CARE Community Services, home page, accessed November 2026. wecare.org.sg
24. Alcoholics Anonymous Singapore, home page and weekly meetings, accessed November 2026. singaporeaa.org
25. HealthHub, “Getting support”, accessed November 2026. healthhub.sg/live-healthy/getting_support
26. Central Narcotics Bureau, “CNB Explains: Where do adult drug abusers go when caught?”, updated for the 16 May 2026 surrender regime, accessed November 2026. cnb.gov.sg/about-us/cnbexplains
27. Central Narcotics Bureau, “Frequently Asked Questions” (surrender regime), accessed November 2026. cnb.gov.sg/faq
28. Ministry of Home Affairs, “Duration of supervision, penalties and rehabilitation help under new surrender regime for first-time drug abusers”, 7 July 2026. mha.gov.sg/media-room/newsroom
29. Ministry of Home Affairs, written reply on the extra-territorial reach of the drug consumption offence, 8 May 2023. mha.gov.sg/media-room/newsroom
30. Singapore Statutes Online, Misuse of Drugs Act 1973, section 8A. sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/MDA1973
31. The Straits Times via The Star (ANN), “Singapore vape, Kpod addicts seek medical treatment for addiction”, 2 August 2026. thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/08/02
32. The Straits Times via The Star (ANN), “‘I need him to apologise,’ says Singaporean mum whose son attacked her while high on Kpods”, 12 October 2025. thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/10/12