First Step House

Our Request

Your contribution will be used to support treatment scholarships to ensure that people are able to access critical substance abuse treatment services, when they need it.

In the past decade, Utah families have experienced the most severe consequences of drug and alcohol addiction that our state and country have ever seen. Utah ranks #7 in the U.S. for opioid overdose deaths. Every 19 minutes someone dies from a prescription drug overdose, and there are over 100,000 people in our state in need of treatment. On average there are 100 people on the waiting list for treatment at First Step House. The average length of treatment for those completing our residential and outpatient treatment programs is 154 days, or $11,000.

Together we can help ensure that people receive the treatment they need. This truly is a life-saving effort.

Our Organization

Established in 1958 by members of Alcoholics Anonymous, First Step House (FSH) has grown into a specialized treatment center providing low-income adult males with effective and affordable evidence-based substance use disorder and behavioral health treatment, therapeutic behavioral services, case management, fatherhood programming, financial counseling, life skills classes, recovery support services, and transitional housing. FSH serves over 450 people per year through its residential and outpatient treatment programs.

We are committed to helping people and families become well, regardless of their economic circumstances, through evidence-based treatment, integrated health care, and long-term recovery support. 

Our purpose is to provide services for men with minimal resources. Many of the men receiving treatment at First Step House have co-occurring mental health disorders, as well as chronic and acute primary health conditions. Far too often the men we serve, and their families, have nowhere else to turn.

Through individual, foundation, and corporate donations, as well as partnerships with Salt Lake County Behavioral Health, Salt Lake County Pay for Success program, and the Salt Lake Veterans Administration we are able to provide treatment at little or no cost.