Skip to content
Detox Local
Sponsored 24/7 Detox Help Line
(866) 442-3244 Answered by Treatment Addictions Solutions — who answers?

Substance Use Treatment · New York, New York

Harlem East Life Plan (HELP) Unit I OTP

Medical Detox Outpatient Program
Address
2369 2nd Avenue 1st Floor
New York, New York 10035
Accredited by
CARF
Available
24/7 admissions

About

About Harlem East Life Plan (HELP) Unit I OTP

Harlem East Life Plan (HELP) Unit I OTP is a CARF-accredited substance use treatment facility located at 2369 2nd Avenue, First Floor, in East Harlem, New York City. Operating as a certified Opioid Treatment Program, the center brings physician-led, medically supervised care to one of Manhattan’s most underserved communities. With two MDs on staff — including a Medical Director/Physician and a Medical Director/Psychiatrist — the program is structured to deliver clinical oversight at a level that sets it apart from purely outpatient counseling programs.

HELP Unit I OTP offers two primary levels of care: medical detox and an outpatient program. The medical detox level positions this facility as a clinical entry point for individuals who need supervised withdrawal management before stepping into ongoing treatment. The outpatient program provides continued structured care, allowing patients to receive treatment while living in the community. Together, these two tracks form a continuum designed to carry patients from acute stabilization into longer-term recovery programming.

Clinically, the program addresses co-occurring disorders and trauma/PTSD alongside substance use, drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a core therapeutic method. The clinical team is led by two Clinical Directors — one credentialed as an LMSW and the other as an Advanced CASAC and MFT — alongside a psychiatrist, reflecting the program’s capacity to address both mental health and substance use simultaneously. Services are offered in English and Vietnamese, broadening access for New York City’s diverse population.

HELP Unit I OTP serves a notably broad range of populations: veterans, pregnant women, seniors and older adults, men, women, individuals requiring HIV/AIDS support, and those with court-ordered treatment needs. Payment options include Medicaid, Medicare, and self-pay, reducing financial barriers for patients who may lack private insurance. The facility operates Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM, offering early morning access that accommodates working patients.

  • Certified Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) with two on-site MDs, including both a physician and a psychiatrist as Medical Directors
  • Medical detox offered alongside an outpatient program, creating a clinical continuum from withdrawal management into ongoing care
  • CARF-accredited facility with specialized capacity to treat co-occurring disorders and trauma/PTSD concurrently with substance use
  • Exceptionally broad population eligibility: veterans, pregnant women, seniors, court-ordered patients, and individuals needing HIV/AIDS support
  • Early morning hours starting at 6:00 AM Monday through Friday — one of the earliest access windows among outpatient programs in Manhattan

Treatment

What this center treats and how

Levels of care
Medical Detox Outpatient Program
Conditions
Trauma / PTSD Co-Occurring Disorders / Dual Diagnosis
Methods
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Populations
Veterans Pregnant Women Seniors / Older Adults Men Women HIV/AIDS Support Court-Ordered
Languages
English Vietnamese

Location

Where it is

2369 2nd Avenue 1st Floor, New York, New York 10035 Get directions

Ready to talk to Harlem East Life Plan (HELP) Unit I OTP?

Calls go directly to the center. Free and confidential.

Call (212) 876-2300

Medical Detox and Withdrawal Management at HELP Unit I OTP

For individuals facing the immediate physical demands of withdrawal, Harlem East Life Plan (HELP) Unit I OTP provides medical detox as a primary level of care. As a certified Opioid Treatment Program based in East Harlem, the facility is equipped with physician oversight from two Medical Directors — Fernando Borrego, MD and Hamid Moussavian, MD — ensuring that medically supervised care is available throughout the detox process. This physician presence distinguishes HELP from programs that rely solely on counseling staff during the critical stabilization phase.

Medical detox at HELP Unit I OTP feeds directly into the facility's outpatient program, giving patients a structured clinical pathway rather than an abrupt discharge after stabilization. For those in immediate need, the program's early operating hours — weekdays beginning at 6:00 AM — mean that access to clinical staff does not require waiting until mid-morning. Patients can reach the facility at (212) 876-2300 or by email at info@HELPMedical.org to discuss intake.

Treating Co-Occurring Disorders Alongside Substance Use

HELP Unit I OTP is built to manage more than the physical side of withdrawal. The confirmed clinical scope includes trauma and PTSD treatment as well as co-occurring disorder care — conditions that frequently intersect with substance dependence and, when left untreated, significantly increase the risk of relapse after detox. The presence of a board-credentialed psychiatrist as Medical Director means psychiatric evaluation and mental health care are integrated at the physician level, not added as an afterthought.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) serves as a core therapeutic method within the program, providing patients with structured skills to address the thought patterns that drive substance use. The clinical team — including two Clinical Directors credentialed as an LMSW and an Advanced CASAC/MFT respectively — works alongside the medical staff to deliver coordinated care. This dual focus on medical stabilization and behavioral health is especially relevant for patients who have cycled through detox programs that did not address underlying psychiatric conditions.

Who HELP Unit I OTP Serves

Few detox and outpatient programs in New York City match the breadth of populations that HELP Unit I OTP is specifically structured to serve. The facility accepts veterans, pregnant women, seniors and older adults, individuals needing HIV/AIDS support, and patients entering treatment under court order — alongside the general adult male and female population. This range reflects a deliberate organizational commitment to populations that are often turned away or under-served by standard detox centers.

Services are available in both English and Vietnamese, an important detail in a borough as linguistically diverse as Manhattan. On the financial side, the program accepts Medicaid and Medicare in addition to self-pay, which substantially widens access for patients without employer-sponsored insurance. The CARF accreditation the facility holds signals that these programs have been externally reviewed and meet recognized standards of care — a meaningful data point for families doing due diligence under pressure.

Payment Options and How to Get Started

Cost and insurance coverage are often the first questions families ask when a loved one needs detox. HELP Unit I OTP accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and self-pay — three of the most common payment sources for patients seeking publicly funded or out-of-pocket substance use treatment in New York. This combination makes the program accessible to a wide economic range of patients, including those who may not qualify for or carry private insurance.

The facility is located at 2369 2nd Avenue, First Floor, New York, NY 10035, and can be contacted directly at (212) 876-2300 or info@HELPMedical.org. Hours run Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The early weekday start time means same-day intake inquiries can be addressed before most facilities open their doors.

Cost & Credentials

What's covered and who vouches for it

Payment options
Medicaid Medicare Self-Pay / Cash
Accreditations
CARF

Common questions

FAQs About Harlem East Life Plan (HELP) Unit I OTP

Does HELP Unit I OTP offer medical detox? +
Yes. Medical detox is a confirmed level of care at Harlem East Life Plan (HELP) Unit I OTP. The program operates as a certified Opioid Treatment Program with two physician Medical Directors on staff, providing clinical oversight during the withdrawal management process.
What levels of care are available at HELP Unit I OTP? +
The facility offers two levels of care: medical detox and an outpatient program. This structure allows patients to move from supervised withdrawal management into continued outpatient treatment within the same organization.
What insurance does HELP Unit I OTP accept? +
HELP Unit I OTP accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and self-pay. Patients should contact the facility directly at (212) 876-2300 to confirm current coverage and discuss financial options prior to admission.
Is HELP Unit I OTP accredited? +
Yes, the facility holds CARF accreditation. CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) is an internationally recognized accrediting body that evaluates substance use and behavioral health programs against established quality standards.
Does HELP Unit I OTP treat co-occurring mental health conditions? +
Yes. The program is confirmed to treat co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis, as well as trauma and PTSD. A psychiatrist serves as one of the Medical Directors, and the clinical team includes credentialed mental health professionals who work alongside medical staff.
What therapeutic methods does the program use? +
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a confirmed therapeutic method used within the program. CBT is a structured, skills-based approach that helps patients identify and change the thought patterns that contribute to substance use and relapse.
What populations does HELP Unit I OTP specifically serve? +
The facility is structured to serve veterans, pregnant women, seniors and older adults, men, women, individuals needing HIV/AIDS support, and patients with court-ordered treatment requirements. This breadth of population eligibility is unusually wide for a single facility.
What languages are services offered in at HELP Unit I OTP? +
Services are available in English and Vietnamese. Patients or family members who prefer to communicate in Vietnamese should note this when contacting the facility at (212) 876-2300.
What are the operating hours at HELP Unit I OTP? +
The facility is open Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The early weekday opening time allows patients to access clinical staff and begin the intake process before most programs open.
Where is HELP Unit I OTP located and how can I contact them? +
The facility is located at 2369 2nd Avenue, First Floor, New York, NY 10035, in East Harlem, Manhattan. You can reach them by phone at (212) 876-2300 or by email at info@HELPMedical.org.

Services

Programs and specialties

Treatment type
Outpatient Outpatient detoxification Outpatient methadone/buprenorphine or naltrexone treatment Aftercare recovery programs Alcohol Detoxification Benzodiazepines Detoxification Opioid Detoxification Routinely uses medication for detoxification
Payment
Cash or self-payment Medicaid
Specialty
Mental health counseling for co-occurring disorders Group therapy Addiction recovery education Pregnant/postpartum women Adult men Seniors or older adults Gay & Lesbian Veterans Active duty military Clients referred from the court/judicial system
Call (212) 876-2300

Find a detox in a city near Harlem East Life Plan (HELP) Unit I OTP

Sponsored Hotline · Who answers?
Call 24/7 · (866) 442-3244