Who can help?

Help and support before, during and after a detox can make all the difference.

Drug services
Drug services should have experienced workers or volunteers who can get to know you well, and help you sort out the problems that often crop up during and after a detox. They may have a detox support group to help people during and after a detox.

Drug services are there to help and are usually understanding and supportive. If you are worried about contacting them you could ring or meet with an outreach worker without giving your name. You can get details of local drug services by ringing the National Drugs Helpline on: 0800 77 66 00.

Friends and family
If you have friends, family and/or a partner who you can talk to, and who will support you, it can make it easier. Although if you have been using for a long time it may take a while to convince them that you are serious enough for them to want to help you.

If you are planning to stay off, friends who are still using opiates are unlikely to be helpful to you. Even if they want to help, it will probably be very difficult for you to be around them and not use. It also really helps if you can build up a network of non-using friends.

Narcotics Anonymous
NA is a self-help organisation run by and for ex-users. The combination of meetings and one-to-one support helps keep many people drug-free. Many members have been clean for a long time, so they can be very supportive for those who have just given up. NA doesn’t suit everyone, but if you want to give up all drugs - including alcohol and cannabis - then NA may work for you.

How meetings are run, and who goes, varies from place to place and from time to time: so if you don’t like one - try another. You can get details of local meetings by ringing the national NA helpline on: 020 7730 0009.

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