If you, or anyone else you know, are experiencing difficulties with alcohol and would like some advice, you can access support from a range of services in North Yorkshire.
Getting help and support
There are different ways of getting help and support, so you can use your preferred option:
You can make an appointment to see your GP who can advise you on what to do (you can find your local GP using the NHS Find and choose services tool below);
You can access advice and support from a specialist agency in your area (contacts can be found below) by either telephoning them direct or calling into the nearest office to your home; or
You can contact one of the dedicated helplines available (links and contacts can be found below). These are totally confidential.
Related information from NHS Choices
Find and choose services
Use the Find and choose servicessearch tool from NHS Choices to find your local GP or doctor; accident and emergency unit; minor injury unit; hospital; dentist; pharmacist (chemist); optician; carers support organisation; and more.
Drinking and alcohol
You can get information on drinking and alcohol as well as advice and support from the Drinking and alcoholpage from NHS Choices. You can also find information about social drinking; the risks of binge drinking; tips on cutting down; tracking your drinking; a real life drinks diary; alcohol support; and caring for an alcoholic.
Unit calculator
Unfortunately you can't just count each drink as a unit of alcohol. The number of units depends on the different strength and size of each drink, so it can vary a lot. See this Unit calculatorfrom NHS Choices to help you work out the different units for each drink.
Alcohol self-assessment
Are you concerned you might be drinking too much? Answer the simple questions in the Alcohol self-assessmentfrom NHS Choices and find out what kind of a relationship you have with alcohol.
Alcohol misuse - David's story
David has been an alcoholic for 25 years but hasn't drunk for the last four. He describes how his addiction started and the effect it had on his health and relationships.
The specialist services can offer you a range of advice and support to suit your needs. You would need to discuss this with the service you contact but examples include:
Advice, information and support;
Structured counselling;
Day programmes; and
Access to patient detoxification.
Confidentiality
All helplines and services are totally confidential. You can discuss your concerns about alcohol misuse freely. You don't have to give your name if you don't want to.
The only time a service would request your name is if you accessed structured treatment or you need to access medical assistance. For safety reasons and to ensure they can provide you with good quality care they would then ask for your details. However, this will be in total confidence.
The only time a service would breach confidentiality is if they feel the public or a child is at risk or they feel you are at risk of harming yourself.
Information about alcohol, drugs and substance misuse
Alcohol Concern is the national agency on alcohol misuse, campaigning for effective alcohol policy and improved services for people whose lives are affected by alcohol-related problems.
This site provides help and advice for anyone affected by alcohol misuse. It also provides links to other websites maintained by Alcoholics Anonymous in the UK.
Contacts
Craven organisation for drugs and alcohol (CODA)
Full contact details for Craven organisation for drugs and alcohol (CODA), including a confidential helpline, can be found below.
York Carers Centre supports carers who are affected by a family members' substance misuse and works to help the whole family cope with the problems that arise from addiction.
Lifeline works with individuals, families and communities to prevent and reduce harm, to promote recovery and to challenge the inequalities linked to alcohol and drug misuse.
