Alcohol and drugs

Low-risk drinking advice

To keep your risk of alcohol-related harm low:

• Men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week on a regular basis
  
• If you drink as much as 14 units a week, it’s best to spread this evenly over 3 or more days
  
• If you’re trying to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, it’s a good idea to have several alcohol-free days each week
  
• If you’re pregnant or trying to become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum
  

Regular or frequent drinking means drinking alcohol most days and weeks. The risk to your health is increased by drinking any amount of alcohol on a regular basis.

Find out more about alcohol units and alcohol misuse on the NHS website.

Alcohol support

Realising you have a problem with alcohol is the first big step to getting help.

You may need help if:

• You often feel the need to have a drink
  
• You get into trouble because of your drinking
  
• Other people warn you about how much you’re drinking
  
• You think your drinking is causing you problems
  

A good place to start is with a GP. Try to be accurate and honest about how much you drink and any problems it may be causing you.

If you have become dependent on alcohol, you will have found it difficult to fully control your drinking in some way.

So you’ll probably need some help either to cut down and control your drinking or stop completely, and also some plans to maintain the improvement after that.

The GP may suggest different types of assessment and support options available to you, such as local community alcohol services.

If you have become physically dependent and need to stop drinking completely, stopping overnight could be harmful.

You should get advice about this and any medicine you may need to do this safely.

The sorts of withdrawal symptoms that suggest you may need medicine include:

• Anxiety after waking
  
• Sweating and tremors
  
• Nausea or retching in the morning
  
• Vomiting
  
• Hallucinations
  
• Seizures or fits

Useful contacts

• Turning Point offers substance misuse support in Leicester City and across Leicestershire and Rutland 
• Drinkline is the national alcohol helpline. If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s drinking, you can call this free helpline in complete confidence. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm)
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a free self-help group. Its ’12 step’ programme involves getting sober with the help of regular support groups
• Al-Anon Family Groups offers support and understanding to the families and friends of problem drinkers, whether they’re still drinking or not. Alateen is part of Al-Anon and can be attended by 12 to 17-year-olds who are affected by another person’s drinking, usually a parent
• We Are With You is a UK-wide treatment agency that helps individuals, families and communities manage the effects of drug and alcohol misuse. If you are over 50 and worried about your drinking, call 0808 8010 750
• Adfam is a national charity working with families affected by drugs and alcohol. Adfam operates an online message board and a database of local support groups
• The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa) provides a free, confidential telephone and email helpline for children of alcohol-dependent parents and others concerned about their welfare. Call 0800 358 3456 for the Nacoa helpline
• SMART Recovery groups help people decide whether they have a problem, build up their motivation to change, and offer a set of proven tools and techniques to support recovery.

If you are caring for someone with alcohol or substance misuse issues, the Carers Trust offers support.

Find out more about alcohol including detoxification, rehabilitation and staying healthy and in control on the NHS website

Where to get help for drugs

A GP is a good place to start. They can discuss your problems with you and get you into treatment.

They may offer you treatment at the practice or refer you to your local drug service.

If you’re not comfortable talking to a GP, you can approach your local drug treatment service yourself

If you’re having trouble finding the right sort of help, call the Frank drugs helpline on 0300 123 6600 and they can talk you through all your options.

Charity and private drugs treatment

As well as the NHS, there are charities and private drug and alcohol treatment organisations that can help you. Visit the Adfam website to see a list of useful organisations.

Your first appointment

Your treatment will depend on your personal circumstances and what you’re addicted to. Your keyworker will work with you to plan the right treatment for you.

Your treatment plan may include a number of different treatments and strategies.

Talking therapies

Talking therapies, such as CBT, help you to see how your thoughts and feelings affect your behaviour

Treatment with medicines

If you’re dependent on heroin or another opioid, you may be offered a substitute drug, such as methadone.

This means you can get on with your treatment without having to worry about withdrawing or buying street drugs.

Detoxification (detox)

This is for people who want to stop taking opioids like heroin completely. It helps you to cope with the withdrawal symptoms.

Self-help

Some people find support groups like Narcotics Anonymous helpful. Your keyworker can tell you where your nearest group is.

Reducing harm

Staff at your local drug service will help reduce the risks associated with your drug taking. For example, you may be offered testing and treatment for hepatitis and HIV.

Where you’ll have your treatment

You may have your treatment while living at home or as a hospital inpatient.

If your drug-related problems are severe or complicated, you may be referred to a residential rehabilitation service.

For more information about residential rehabilitation, or to find a rehab near you, visit rehabonline

Information about specific drugs such as getting help with cocaine or heroin can be found on the NHS website.