Alcohol, smoking and drugs

NHS Choices Alcohol Support(external link) Learn about alcohol units, how to track your consumption and tips for cutting down.

Change4Life(external link) See the NHS video for more tips and advice on how to cut down your alcohol intake.

If you need help with a drinking problem either phone our national helpline FREE on 0800 9177650, contact us by email: help@aamail.org, or talk to us now using the live chat box on the below website.

You can also find your local helpline telephone number using the Find a Meeting Tool on the website: https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/

Al-Anon Family Groups UK & Eire is there for anyone whose life is or has been affected by someone else’s drinking.

Find out more information about Al-Anon Family Groups and the support available.

Don't Bottle It Up(external link) If you are concerned about your drinking habits, take the test to assess how risky your drinking is.

Drinkaware(external link) provides information, exercises and tools to help reduce or abstain from drinking alcohol.

City or Hackney residents who are struggling with addiction and would like to cut down on alcohol, drugs and other substances, can access free and non-judgemental support, with a focus on wellbeing and recovery, via the City and Hackney Recovery Service.

This support service is delivered by charity Turning Point in partnership with organisations Mind and Antidote. As well as the hub in Mare Street (E8 3SG), adult residents across all neighbourhoods in the City and Hackney, and carers affected by substance misuse, can access integrated support and interventions.

Referrals can be made using the following pathways:

Once a referral is made, an initial consultation where a brief assessment and ascertainment of treatment goals will take place. The individual referred will then be allocated a Recovery worker who will provide support throughout treatment.

Turning Point, the lead provider for the service, is a national charity providing specialist services which focus on improving lives and communities. Turning Point have been helping people make a change in their lives for over 50 years, constantly finding ways to support more people to discover new possibilities in their lives. They work closely with the people we support, their families, carers and circle of support.

In addition, needle exchange, Naloxone and supervised consumption services are available at the following pharmacies in the City:

  • Boots, 80 Cannon Street, EC4N 6HL (020 7623 4676)
  • Boots, 138-140 Fenchurch Street, EC3M 6BL (020 7626 0670)
  • Boots, 120 Fleet Street, EC4A 2BE (020 7583 9446)

Liver 4 Life(external link) offers support and education, as well as undertaking campaigns on behalf of people with a liver condition, to improve their care, their treatment and their support services.

Moderation Management(external link) is a behavioural change programme and support group network for people concerned about their drinking and who desire to make positive lifestyle changes.

UK SMART Recovery(external link) (Self-Management and Recovery Training) is for those who have chosen to abstain or are considering abstinence from any kind of addictive behaviour.

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Adfam(external link) is an organisation that strives to improve the quality of life for families affected by drug and alcohol misuse. This website provides information and shares the experiences of families.

FRANK(external link) offers friendly and confidential advice and support on how to get help

Steroid and image enhancing drugs (SIEDs)(external link) aims to provide reliable and evidence based information and advice to reduce the harms associated with the use of SIEDs.

UK Narcotics Anonymous(external link) is a fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs has become a major problem.

Smokefree City and Hackney is the stop smoking service for anyone who lives, works, studies or has a GP in the City of London or Hackney.

Research shows that smokers are three times more likely to quit with support and medication compared to quitting on their own. Smokefree City and Hackney is an NHS service, providing free one-to-one stop smoking support. The service works with local pharmacies to provide stop smoking medication (free to those who don’t pay for prescriptions). All support sessions are phone based for the time being.

Every year, over a thousand people quit with Smokefree City and Hackney.

When you sign up to quit smoking for free, you get 12 weeks of one-to-one support with a trained Stop Smoking Advisor. On your first appointment, you’ll talk with your advisor about why you smoke and why you want to quit, as well as any attempts you’ve made to quit in the past. Your advisor will help you make a plan to quit smoking, including setting a quit date, and a prescription for any stop smoking products or medication you would like to use.

To sign up to our service, refer someone else or for more information, please visit the Smokefree City and Hackney website(external link), email Smokefree City and Hackney or call the Freephone on 0800 046 9946.

New stop smoking drop-in clinic

Smokefree City and Hackney now run a drop-in clinic from Room 9, Guildhall North Wing in the City of London from 10am to 1pm every Thursday.

The clinic is open to all who live, work or study in the Square Mile or who have a GP in the City or Hackney. The service offers a 12-week course with advice and guidance to help you quit and can also offer nicotine replacements.

To use the service you can either call ahead and book a session on 0800 046 9946 or you can drop in on the day.

Terrence Higgins Trust(external link) provides information where gay and bisexual men can explore issues around their drug use and other addictions

The Young Hackney Substance Misuse Service is open to anyone aged under 25. It’s free and confidential. We can give you advice and support if you’re worried about your own substance use, or if you’re worried that a friend or family member has a problem with drugs or alcohol.

If you, a friend or a family member is experiencing problems involving drugs and or alcohol or you’re thinking of quitting or cutting down we would like to help.

GET IN TOUCH

We aim to give you the facts about drugs and alcohol – the highs as well as the lows, which means you can make your own choices.

Remember: All drugs come with risk.

You can also contact us on:

Parents Forum

The Young Hackney Substance Misuse Service invites all parents and carers to sign up to our parents’ forum. Many young people in the borough are using vapes and may not be familiar with the harms associated with vaping.

The forum is a nonjudgemental space, and the perfect place for us to share our insights around dangerous substances, and evidence-based practice. Sessions take place every two months.

Online

In Person

Stopping smoking

If you know of a young person who smokes and is ready to quit and would benefit from some advice or support, please contact us. We can provide young smokers (ages 12-18) support to quit smoking.

For more information: Drugs & Alcohol - Young Hackney