Sign inDrug (Substance) Abuse and Addiction
This page provides links to groups involved with drug related issues, gambling and work addiction. See also the Patient UK alcohol abuse, smoking and gambling pages.
UK sources of information and / or support
Patient UK
Has details of many self help and support groups for people with addictions.
Then perhaps try these first ...
Alcohol and Drugs
Information from the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Frank
National website and 24 hour helpline (talk to Frank) for people with concerns over drugs and addiction.
Drug misuse: psychosocial interventions and opioid detoxification
A patient guide to complement the NICE guideline of the same name for health professionals.
Other useful links ...
Action on Addiction
A charitable organisation offering comprehensive alcohol and/or drug related services.
Addaction
Helping individuals and communities to manage the effects of drug and alcohol misuse.
Addiction Recovery Foundation
Publishes information in the UK on addiction recovery. Articles include therapeutic techniques, lists of self-help groups and treatment centres, details of seminars and workshops for professionals and people in recovery, research, news, complementary medicines, relevant legislation ... and more.
Addiction Rehabilitation Directory (the National)
Contains details and locations of addiction treatment organisations and services in the UK.
Addictions
Information from NHS Choices - the government's patient information portal.
Alcohol Concern
National agency on alcohol misuse in England and Wales. Works both to reduce the costs of alcohol misuse and to develop the range and quality of helping services available to problem drinkers and their families.
Alcoholics Anonymous
"Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism."
APAS (Alcohol Problems Advisory Service)
APAS is an independent provider of all kinds of services designed to reduce the harm alcohol causes to individuals, families and the communities they live in. (Also offers services dealing with drugs and gambling).
BBC Guide to Addictions
Information from the BBC.
Benzo.org.uk
A site which compiles medical information on benzodiazepines and tranquiliser withdrawal.
Cannabis and cannabis-based medicines
Potential benefits and risks to health.
Cannabis and Mental Health
Information from the Royal College of Psychiatrists regarding Cannabis and Mental Health issues.
Cannabis: mess with your mind
Interactive information from FRANK.
Castle Craig
A residential hospital treatment centre for alcoholismand other addictions. The clinic and treatment is under medical directionand it is recognised by the major medical insurers.
Centre for Recovery
Information and Advice Centre for drug and alcohol abuse.
Clearhead
A user friendly website offering information and support for cannabis users who want to make positive changes in their lives.
Cocaine Anonymous
A fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from their addiction. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using cocaine and all other mind-altering substances. There are no dues or fees for membership.
Cocaine Anonymous Scotland
Cocaine Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share theirexperience strength and hope with each other to help solve their commonproblem and help others to recover from addiction.
Codeine free
A site moderated by users andex-users who have had problems with addiction to over the counter opiatebased medication such as products containing codeine.
Council for Information on Tranquillisers and Antidepressants (CITA)
A national helpline, support and information service for people who had become involuntarily addicted to prescribed benzodiazepine type tranquillisers or sleeping tablets. This group of drugs known as the "minor tranquillisers" includes most of the familiar names, Normison, Valium, Librium, Ativan, Mogadon, now increasingly prescribed under their generic names, temazepam, diazepam etc.
Department of Health
Substance misuse guidance and resources for professionals and managers involved in preventing and treating drug misuse. May also be of interest to members of the public whose lives are affected by drugs.
Detox in England
Detox 5 is part of Cygnet Health Care. Detox 5 provides a way to get clean and stay clean.
Drug Addicts Anonymous
A fellowship of men and women who once suffered from a hopeless addiction to mood altering substances. It is a 12 step fellowship of men and women who have found a new way to live without the use of drugs that originated in 1997 in Sweden and now has groups in America and the UK.
Drug Education Forum
The Drug Education Forum brings together national organisations from health, education, police and voluntary sectors that deliver or support the delivery of drug education. The Forum promotes the provision of effective drug education for all children and young people.
Drug Education UK
A presentation team who raise awareness of substance misuse issues across the UK
Drug strategy 2010
Information from the Home Office.
Drug misuse - methadone and buprenorphine
A patient guide to complement the NICE national guideline for health professionals called Drug misuse - methadone and buprenorphine.
Drug Proof Your Kids
DPYK educates parents, and other carers, about drugs and gives them the information and skills they need to help their children make informed choices about drug use
Drugs
Information from Health Challenge Wales regarding Drug Addiction.
Drugscope
Drugscope provide drug information, promote effective responses to drug use, undertake research, advise on policy-making and good practice, and encourage informed debate (particularly in the media).[centre]
D-World
D-World is DrugScope's site for young people (ages 12-14). It includes games and quizzes as well as information on drugs.
Fastforward
Fast Forward is a charitable organisation which promotes health through quality education by, with and for young people, focusing on the prevention of drug alcohol and tobacco misuse.
Francis House
The facility is fully accredited and registered with Devon Social Services as a Residential Care Home for men with alcohol related problems.
Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who have joined together to do something about their own gambling problem and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same.
GamCare (gambling)
Concerned about the damage that can be done to some people's lives through gambling. Includes a helpline for anyone affected by a gambling problem.
Healthwise Training Services
Provide training programmes in the areas of drugs education, alcohol education and sexual health awareness including HIV/AIDS. Healthwise Training Services provide education support to schools and other professionals working with young people ensuring up-to-date best practice in the delivery of formal/informal education.
Institute of Alcohol Studies
The aim of the Institute of Alcohol Studies is to increase knowledge of alcohol and the social and health consequences of its misuse.
Know Cannabis
This website can help you assess your cannabis use, its impact on your life and how to make changes if you want to.
Know the Score
Know the Score provide an information line which is a free, confidential 24-hour service that will put you in contact with trained advisers. They can provide you, and those you know, with advice and information and send you publications.
Life For The World Trust
Residential rehabilitation based on a Christian philosophy for men aged 20-40 with drug/alcohol dependency.
Life Works Community
An addiction and mental health treatment centre just outside London, in Surrey. Based on leading methodologies from both European and US experts, and the 12-step approach, Life Works' goal is to enable individuals to prevent relapse by addressing the underlying factors of their dysfunctional behaviour. Programmes include all types of addiction - substance and process - as well as addiction-related mental health problems.
Living Room (The)
Offers free structured daycare to anyone (mainly in the Stevenage area) who is affected by addiction of any kind including Alcohol, Drugs, Gambling, Co-dependancy and Relationship Addiction. Also offers suppport to friends and family members (carers) and runs special groups for people with eating disorders and a special group for 13-17 year olds.
Medicine Guide for Drug Dependence (opiods)
Information from emc Medicine Guides.
Mental Health Foundation
The Mental Health Foundation provides good information on alcohol and drug addiction.
Mental Health Care
Website with information for family members and friends of people who have psychosis, based on the results of research carried out to learn more about the causes of psychosis and to develop better treatments or improve existing ones.
Methadone Alliance
Supporting people receiving prescribed drugs for the treatment of drug dependency.
Narcotics Anonymous UK
A non-profit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. Run by recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean.
National Drug Prevention Alliance
A grouping of organisations and individuals who want to see more and better prevention operating in the UK, as part of the solution to the drug problem.
National Treatment Agency
The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) is a special health authority within the NHS, established by Government in 2001 to improve the availability, capacity and effectiveness of treatment for drug misuse in England.
Oxford Brookes University
Drug awareness site.
Parents Against Drug Abuse
An organisation that delivers support and services to the families of substance users across the country.
Parents in Need of Support
PINS offers a free and confidential service to parents & Carers whose family members are involved or at risk of drug or alcohol misuse.
PROMIS Recovery Centre
Employs the Twelve Step programme of treatment for addictive or compulsive disorders, based upon the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous and the other Anonymous Fellowships.
Rehabilitation of Addicted Prisoners Trust (RAPT)
Intensive treatment programmes for alcoholics and drug addicts in prisons in the UK.
Release
Works and supports people who have problems with drug or substance misuse. Specialises in drug law.
Re-solv
The Society for the Prevention of Solvent and Volatile Substance Abuse.
Safer Lancashire
Drug awareness information for parents.
Scottish Drugs Forum
The Scottish Drugs Forum is the national, non-government drugs policy and information agency working in partnership with others to co-ordinate effective responses to drug use in Scotland.
Scottish Drugs Service Directory
Produced by the Scottish Drugs Forum, this is an online directory to help people find information on all drug treatment and rehabilitation services in Scotland.
Spark Island
Spark Island Online is a web-based learning service for children aged 3-11, they provide information on teaching pre-school and primary school children the dangers of drugs.
Talking About Cannabis
Support and information-sharing website for everyone whose lives have been affected by cannabis abuse.
Think Drink Drugs
An education resource designed to increase knowledge and understanding of the risks and consequences of drugs and substance use. Aims to help prepare young people for the real situations that they may face now or in the future. Written by Brighton & Hove PCT. Also contains a section for parents and carers concerned about substance use.
Turning Point
A large national charity helping people with drink, drug and mental health problems. 60 centres throughout England and Wales
12 Step Treatment Centres
12 Step Treatment Centres.com is a modern definitive guide for 12 Step Treatment Centres throughout the world. They are based in the UK and have registered many UK Rehabilitation Centers plus US Rehab Centers and European Treatment Centers / addiction facilities on the guide since they began. This also includes Sober Living Homes, Sober Living Houses and Transitional Living houses as well.
Workaholics Anonymous
This US based website gives details of UK meetings.
Further sources / more detailed information
Some non-UK sites
The following list popular non-UK health information sites with content aimed at the general public. They are mainly from the US. They have not been checked to see if information about the above topic is included but these large sites are comprehensive.
- Non-UK disease / illness sites
- Non-UK self-help / support group sites
More detailed medical information
The following list online sources of more detailed medical information, mainly from the UK. These sites are mainly aimed at health professionals, but are of interest to all. They have not been checked to see if information about the above topic is included, but information about most medical topics can usually be found.
- PatientPlus - hundreds of medical reference articles provided by Patient UK.
- Evidence Based Medicine - such as from Clinical Evidence, The Cochrane Library, etc.
- Database of UK Clinical Guidelines - from NICE, SIGN, etc.
- Medline - abstracts available from thousands of journals.
- Sites listing free online medical textbooks and journals.
- Sites listing free medical images - pictures, atlases, anatomy, skin diseases, etc.