Community Treatment Services

Overcoming a drug or alcohol problem can be challenging. A lot of people can kick the problem on their own, but others find themselves relapsing time and again. It's not a sign of weakness to ask for outside help. Many people simply require information or advice and can then go on and successfully change their lifestyles. Others need professional assistance or treatment programs to do so. Getting the right guidance or help for you makes a big difference in helping you to regain control of your life.

Find someone you can trust to talk to. This may be a friend, or a family member. If you can’t talk to your family, you may want to approach a doctor or a counsellor. Our counsellors on the ADIS phone line are happy to discuss any issues or concerns you might be experiencing. We offer confidential, anonymous and non-judgmental support.

Detoxification
Detoxification is the process in which a person physically withdraws from a substance. It requires a person to be medically supervised, or to have access to medical intervention if necessary in severe cases. In most cases, except for benzodiazepines and methadone, it is a five to seven day process. Read more

Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is about developing strategies to help prevent returning to drug use after completing withdrawal. It happens after detoxifying, when you no longer need medical intervention, and might focus on relapse prevention, anger and stress management and support or self help groups.

In rehabilitation you focus more clearly on your recovery and living without drugs in your life. This is usually live in, though there are some outpatient programmes, and lasts from between 2 weeks to 2 years depending on the rehabilitation centre.

Stimulant Treatment Program
This newly established program is the first integrated and collaborative treatment program to deal systematically with stimulant related problems using a stepped care approach and offering the possibility of substation dexamphetamine medication. The staff are experienced in working with people who use stimulants and are aware of their specialised needs. Read more

Methadone Maintenance (Now called ‘Opioid treatment program’)
Now one of a range of medications grouped as Opiate Treatment, stabilisation of heroin use with methadone which often leads onto a maintenance regime, is proven over many years and much scrutiny to be helpful and safe when used correctly. Instead of taking an expensive illegal drug, you can take a prescribed drug such as methadone, which will make your life safer and less stressful. Read more

Methadone Advice and Conciliation Service
MACS is a telephone line that provides opiate pharmacotherapy information (including methadone and buprenorphine). Read more

Counselling
Counselling is where you talk confidentially to someone who understands drug and alcohol issues and can offer you support in making decisions about the best strategy to deal with them. Group counselling is where a group of people with similar problems meet to confidentially discuss their progress, and get support and ideas from the other members of the group. Read more

Self Help Groups
Self-help groups are a way of gaining support from others who are affected by a drug problem. Read more