Accessing Treatment
There are a huge number of services offering drug and alcohol treatment. Making sense of them all is not easy. This page describes some of the ways that you can get in touch with someone who can help.
If you think that you may have a problem it is a good idea to talk the situation through with someone else - a neutral professional can be a lot more objective than a friend or a family member who may not know much about the situation or ways of getting help. They may also have their own agenda.
A professional cannot offer as much support as a friend but they won't panic or be shocked; they will also know about how local services work and practical things that you can start to do now.
Your GP: your doctor should know about drugs and alcohol services in your area and may have some leaflets in the surgery.
Approaching services directly: if you don't have a doctor or would rather not to talk to one you can probably access a service directly.
Variations: every area of the country organises drug and alcohol services differently. A lot of services are also only funded to see people in their area. The local Drugs Action Team (DAT or DAAT or CSP) commissions services in your area. Some of them maintain websites listing local provision. The Home Office has an index of them available on its website.
Fortunately there are some national databases that may help you to find the right service for you.
Talk to Frank is an independent service funded by the Government to provide free and confidential information to people who use drugs. They can give you details of what is available in your area.
DrugScope, the national drugs policy organisation maintains Helpfinder, a database of services available online.
If you feel that you are not getting the right support contact The Alliance (formerly the Methadone Alliance). The Alliance is a national organisation which exists to support people who are either in treatment or seeking help for drug dependency. It runs an advocacy service and if you have problems with a service is a place to go for practical support.
Emergencies
If there is a chance of overdose - check the person's airways to make sure they can breathe, get the person in the recovery position and call an ambulance - don't hesitate.
The priority of the emergency services in an overdose situation is saving lives.
It is far better to be over cautious than watching someone die who could/should have been saved.
Most drug and alcohol services are not able to respond in an emergency situation - use either the GP or the Accident and Emergency department.
We regret that we are not able to enter into individual correspondence with people about treatment issues.