CW: drug abuse, alcohol abuse/alcoholism, some links may contain mentions of overdose.
While yesterday marked the end of Drugs Awareness Week here at Hysteria, it is a constant battle for education and available resources for those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.
We want to thank all of the anonymous writers who contributed their drugs stories, and we hope they found the process cathartic, enlightening, helpful, and everything in between. We don’t want to promote or criminalise drug-taking, but instead spread awareness and honest accounts that can hopefully help people take drugs safely and sensibly.
For honest information about drugs, we highly recommend Talk to Frank, which provides news, help, and advice about drugs, such as how to stay safe while drinking and how to know what you’re taking. You can also search for support near you.
We’ve collated a series of helplines and websites for you, or for anyone you may know who may be struggling with drugs or alcohol.
General Drug Advice, Information & Support
- Works to prevent the effects of drug and alcohol misuse on young people.
- Offers a range of services to educate adults and young people to understand the risks their drug-use poses to their health and wellbeing, and support them to reduce or stop their use safely.
- Information and support for people worried about their use of recreational drugs.
- National Drug and Alcohol Helpline for people in Wales.
- Drug and alcohol rehab based in London providing online support and treatments.
- Promoting evidence-based information on drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
- Information about psychoactive substances, including prescribed drugs.
- Information line for the public in Scotland providing facts about drugs and their effects.
- Essential support for under 25s.
NHS
- Three mums raising awareness and campaigning nationally on drugs related issues.
- Provides a range of services dedicated to meeting the health, welfare and legal needs of drugs users and those who live and work with them.
- Helping individuals recover from any addictive behaviour.
- Health and social care services in England for people with a learning disability. Also supports people with mental health problems, drug and alcohol abuse or unemployment.
- Supports people with drug, alcohol or mental health problems, and their friends and family.
Support for Alcohol Addiction
- Support and advice specifically for Punjabi families who struggle with alcohol use and are seeking help for themselves or a loved one.
Support for Marijuana Addiction
UK Addiction Treatment Centres
Support for friends and family of those with drug & alcohol problems
The National Association for Children of Alcoholics
The most important thing about drug and alcohol use is safety – of yourself and of others. For those of us at university, drinking and drugs are romanticised, and over-drinking is often thrown away as “a part of student life”. If you think you or anyone else is struggling with drugs or alcohol, please don’t hesitate to get more information and help at the websites above.
Education is empowering; judgement is not.
The Hysteria Collective 