Mental Health
Alcohol and Drugs Adults
Some links on this page have been colour coded to make it easier to find the information you need:
LOCAL SUPPORT - SELF REFERRAL
LOCAL HELP TO SUPPORT YOU WITH ALCOHOL OR DRUGS
Alcohol and drugs can have a significant impact on your health, including your mental health. Tackling issues with alcohol and drugs can provide you with real support for your mental health as well as bringing many other health benefits.
There are some excellent drug and alcohol support services locally. Importantly there is also support for people who are concerned about someone else’s alcohol consumption or drug taking. The process of self-referral is explained below by patient info and then click below to find out details on the local services.
From Patient info
Information on the self-referral process and what to expect
Refer Yourself to NHS Drug and Alcohol Support Services Self-referral for drug and alcohol addiction services | Patient
SUPPORT FOR LIFE STYLE CHANGES TO ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
If you think you are drinking too much and as a lifestyle choice you would like support to help you reduce your alcohol then Be Healthy Bucks can help.
From Be Healthy Bucks
Cut down on alcohol Home – Be Healthy Bucks
FULL MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR ADULTS AFFECTED BY ALCOHOL OR DRUGS
If you think alcohol or drugs are impacting on your life then excellent full medical and psychological support is available locally to help you:
FOR BUCKINGHAMSHIRE PATIENTS
From One Recovery Bucks
Provide a confidential, free and easy-to-access service to anyone living in Buckinghamshire impacted by their own or someone else’s use of alcohol and drugs. Home – One Recovery Bucks
From Buckinghamshire Council
Summary of services available in Bucks
Alcohol and Drugs Where can I go for local help support and advice
FOR BERKSHIRE (SLOUGH)
From Turning Point
How do I know if I Need Help? Slough treatment, advice and recovery team (START) | Turning Point
NHS SERVICE FINDER
If you live outside local boundaries and are not served by the services listed above you can search for drug and alcohol services closest to your postcode.
From the NHS
Find alcohol addiction support services Find alcohol addiction support services – NHS
From Frank
Find support near you (includes drug services) Find support near you | FRANK
NON-MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY ALCOHOL OR DRUGS
From Alcoholic Anonymous – For alcohol
You can find your local branch who are concerned “solely with the personal recovery and continued sobriety of individual alcoholics who turn to the Fellowship for help. Alcoholics Anonymous does not engage in the fields of medical or psychiatric treatment, or education though members may participate in such activities as individuals” Alcoholics Anonymous – Great Britain
From Narcotics Anonymous – For drugs
- “NA exists solely so that its members can support each other to stay drug free and to help others achieve and maintain a drug free recovery and lifestyle. Need Help”: Need Help? | UKNA | Narcotics Anonymous in the United Kingdom
- Find a meeting Welcome | UKNA Meetings | Narcotics Anonymous Meetings in the United Kingdom
SUPPORT FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AFFECTED BY SOMEONE ELSE’S DRINKING
From Al-Anon
There for anyone whose life is or has been affected by someone else’s drinking. Find a meeting near you al-anon uk /find-a-meeting
From DrugFAM
Helpline Supporting family, friends and carers affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol misuse Affected by Other’s Addiction – DrugFAM
- Attend one of our support groups in South East ( including one in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire) Affected by Other’s Addiction – DrugFAM
SUPPORT FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AFFECTED BY SOMEONE ELSE’S DRUG TAKING
From DrugFAM
- Helpline Supporting family, friends and carers affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol misuse Affected by Other’s Addiction – DrugFAM
- Attend one of our support groups in South East ( including one in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire) Affected by Other’s Addiction – DrugFAM
From Families anonymous (Famanon)
Families Anonymous Meetings are for Families and Friends of those with a Drug or Related Behavioural Problem. Support near you. Local support is Aylesbury (Bucks) Meetings In The UK | Famanon
SUPPORT FOR CARERS CARING FOR SOMEONE WITH ALCOHOL OR SUBSTANCE MISUSE ISSUES?
One to one advice on all issues relating to carers locally.
From Carers Bucks
Dedicated to supporting carers, providing advice, information, emotional support and workshops and training Carers Bucks | Dedicated to supporting carers – Carers Bucks
Other carers services near Buckinghamshire can be found here using the search facility:
Caring for someone with alcohol or substance misuse issues? Caring for someone with alcohol or substance misuse issues – Carers Trust
Further information on carers
More information on supporting carers can be found under
Public Health Buckinghamshire
From Buckinghamshire Council
Alcohol and drugs Alcohol and Drugs What is Substance Misuse
under 18
If you are under 18 the children and young people services will support you and can be accessed under
NATIONAL SUPPORT - SELF REFERRAL
NATIONAL HELPLINES AND SUPPORT
There are many organisations who can support and advise on drugs and alcohol both for people who are concerned about their drinking or drug taking, or people who are concerned about someone else.
SUPPORT FOR ANYONE AFFECTED BY ALCOHOL
From With You
Chat to us online Help and advice on drugs and alcohol – With You
From Alcohol Change UK (Drink Line)
Details of Drink Line: a free, confidential national helpline for people who are concerned about their drinking, or someone else’s. Support online: Get help now | Alcohol Change UK
From Drinkaware (Drink Chat)
Drink Chat: Free online chat service for anyone who is looking for information or advice about their own, or someone else’s, drinking. Alcohol support services | Drinkaware
From Alcoholic Anonymous
Get help with your drinking problem Get help now | Alcoholics Anonymous – Great Britain (alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk)
From SMART Recovery
Online course which “empowers people with practical skills, tools and support so that they may manage their addictive behaviour and lead satisfying and meaningful lives” SMART Recovery Programme – UK SMART Recovery
SUPPORT FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AFFECTED BY SOMEONE ELSE’S DRINKING
From Al-Anon
Helpline Helpline | Al-Anon UK
From Nacoa
Our helpline is for everyone affected by a parent’s alcohol problems is the heart of Nacoa’s work. We are here for children, adults, and concerned others. Helpline – Nacoa
Support for children living with an alcohol dependent adult
From the Children’s Society
Information and links to helplines to support children living with an alcohol dependent adult.
Living with an alcohol dependent adult Living With Alcohol Dependent Adult | The Children’s Society
SUPPORT FOR ANYONE AFFECTED BY DRUGS
From With You
Chat to us online Help and advice on drugs and alcohol – With You
From FRANK
Telephone helplines:
- Need some friendly, confidential advice? Contact Frank Directly | Confidential Advice | FRANK
- Concerned about a friend? How to help a friend | FRANK
From Release
Help and Advice: provides a free confidential and non-judgmental national information and advice service in relation to drugs and drug laws. Help and Advice | Release
From SMART Recovery
Online course which “empowers people with practical skills, tools and support so that they may manage their addictive behaviour and lead satisfying and meaningful lives” SMART Recovery Programme – UK SMART Recovery
FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS
TOOLS TO HELP YOU check your drinking risk
Some people will already know if they are drinking too much. For those that are not sure there are well established tools to help you assess your drinking.
From Gov UK
Includes a tool you can print off and complete to check your drinking risk
A simple test to check whether your drinking might have reached a high level of risk and if so some further questions to define the risk further ( Note : the alcohol unit reference is at the bottom of the page) Alcohol_use_disorders_identification_test_for_consumption__AUDIT_C_.pdf
From Alcohol Change UK (Drink Line)
includes a tool you can complete online to check your drinking risk
- Am I drinking too much? Am I drinking too much? | Alcohol Change UK
- Online tool: Check how healthy your drinking is with this quick quiz. Check your drinking | Alcohol Change UK
- Unit calculator Unit calculator | Alcohol Change UK
From the NHS and Patient info
Am I drinking too much? Alcohol and Sensible Drinking
THE IMPACT OF ALCOHOL IS NOT JUST PHYSICAL
Alcohol can have wide ranging impact on one’s life which can if excessive and prolonged affect physical health, mental health and social wellbeing. The effects of alcohol are not necessarily felt in one moment of time, but generally gradually impact general functioning, including with relationships, employment, education and ultimately finances, as well as the physical and mental health decline it can cause. This is covered below:
From the NHS
- Risks of Alcohol Misuse Alcohol misuse – Risks – NHS
- The risks of drinking too much The risks of drinking too much – NHS
From With You
- How alcohol and depression are linked How alcohol and depression are linked – With You
- How alcohol affects your sleep How alcohol affects your sleep – With You
- Alcohol withdrawal: the symptoms and what to do about it Alcohol withdrawal: the symptoms and what to do about it – With You
From Alcohol Change UK (Drink Line)
- Alcohol and your body Alcohol and your body | Alcohol Change UK
- Alcohol and mental health Alcohol and mental health | Alcohol Change UK
- Alcohol and relationships leaflet: how alcohol can affect us Alcohol and relationships leaflet: how alcohol can affect us | Alcohol Change UK
- Alcohol in the workplace Alcohol in the workplace | Alcohol Change UK
From Drinkaware (Drink Chat)
- Alcohol and mental health How does alcohol affect mental health? | Drinkaware
- Alcohol and relationships How alcohol affects relationships | Drinkaware
From Patient info
- Alcoholism and Problem Drinking Alcoholism and Problem Drinking | Patient
- Alcohol and Liver Disease Alcohol Poisoning and Liver Disease | Effects of Alcohol Abuse | Patient
- Alcohol Withdrawal and Alcohol Detoxification Alcohol Withdrawal (Alcohol Detox) | Patient
The power of alcohol to cause harm nationally is expanded on here:
From Gov UK
Health matters: harmful drinking and alcohol dependence Health matters: harmful drinking and alcohol dependence – GOV.UK
HELP TO REDUCE OR STOP ALCOHOL
You can self-refer to excellent local alcohol support services without needing to see your GP (See local self-referral section above).
From With You
- Advice for you Advice on drugs and alcohol – With You
- Advice for friends and family: Help and support if you’re worried about someone else’s drinking or drug use Worried about someone else’s alcohol or drug use? – With You
From Drinkaware (Drink Chat)
- Advice and tips to help reduce your drinking I need advice to reduce my drinking | Drinkaware
- I need advice for someone else I need advice for someone else | Drinkaware
From the NHS
Alcohol support: provides an overview on alcohol problems, with links to other support sites and good advice Alcohol support – NHS
- Tips on cutting down Tips on cutting down – NHS
- Treatment-Alcohol misuse Alcohol misuse – Treatment – NHS
From Patient info and NICE
Alcohol problem drinking
- Alcoholism and Problem Drinking | Patient
- Alcohol – problem drinking | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE
LIFESTYLE CHANGES
Importantly you can also consider how one can make any changes part of a new lifestyle which is much more likely to make the changes permanent. Further information can be found under
HELP TO STOP DRUGS
You can self-refer to excellent local drug support services without needing to see your GP (See local self-referral section above).
From With You
- Advice for you Advice on drugs and alcohol – With You
- Advice for friends and family: Help and support if you’re worried about someone else’s drinking or drug use Worried about someone else’s alcohol or drug use? – With You
From FRANK
- Honest information about drugs Honest information about drugs | FRANK
- Feeling pressured to take drugs? Here are 10 ways to deal with it Feeling pressured to take drugs? Here are 10 ways to deal with it | FRANK
- Concerned about a child? Advice for parents & carers | FRANK
- What to do in an emergency What to do in an emergency | FRANK
From the NHS
- Drug addiction: getting help Drug addiction: getting help – NHS
- Cocaine addiction: get help Cocaine addiction: get help – NHS
- Heroin addiction: get help Heroin addiction: get help – NHS
- Advice for families of people who use drugs Advice for the families of people who use drugs – NHS – NHS
LIFESTYLE CHANGES
Importantly you can also consider how one can make any changes part of a new lifestyle which is much more likely to make the changes permanent. Further information can be found under
Videos and podcasts
On the videos and podcasts page there are links to some relevant videos and podcasts covering the topic of alcohol.
- Videos And Podcasts – see section “wellbeing and disease prevention”.
