Drugs help & advice
To find out more information about certain drugs, their effects, and the risks involved you can visit the FRANK website: www.talktofrank.com.
If you are worried about your own or a friend or family member’s drug use, or if you just want some reliable information, you can call their free confidential helpline at 0800 77 66 00.
If you are looking for help to stop smoking, the NHS Stop Smoking Service offers individual or group sessions for face-to-face support and advice from a trained worker. They also offer support at home by post, phone, email, or text, and nicotine replacement products such as gum, patches, and tablets available on prescription from your doctor.
Call 01275 546744 or text 07990505784
You can also contact the free NHS Stop Smoking Helpline between 7am & 11pm daily on 0800 022 4332
There are many places across the West of England that are there especially to support young people with information, advice, and treatment around drug use. You can find out more about your local services below.
Opening Doors is the name for specialist substance misuse services for young people under the age of 18 in Bristol. It aims to meet young people’s needs around drug and alcohol treatment by opening doors to…
…* early intervention* – this is the first point of contact for you if you need support because of
your drug and alcohol use. The service works with those 18 and under who use, or are thinking of using, drugs and alcohol. You may just need more information about what you’re using or you may want to have more in-depth chats with a worker about what’s going on for you. Workers see young people for one to one sessions, and anyone can refer to this service. It works mainly in Bristol secondary schools, but those who do not attend school or go to a school outside of Bristol can be seen in another confidential space.
…*to young people with complex needs* – if you or someone you know is involved in heavy drug or alcohol use or is experiencing lots of problems connected to this, including mental health problems, they can work with the Young People’s Substance Misuse Treatment Service
…*to young people with social workers* – this part of the service works with young people under 18 who have an allocated social worker. Workers are from the Drugs and Young People Project. The team can work with you about your own substance misuse but also help young people who are affected by the substance use of their parents or carers.
…*to young people in the criminal justice system* – the Bristol Youth Offending Team works with young people between the ages of 10 and 18 who have been to a Referral Order Panel or a Youth Court. They can support you to avoid re-offending and also give you specialist support around drugs and mental health.
For more information visit the website: www.openingdoorsbristol.org.uk
If you are worried about your own, another young person’s, or a parent/family member’s drug or alcohol use, you can contact someone for support and advice on the numbers below:
For young people living in North or East Central Bristol contact:
Bristol Drugs Project on 0117 987 6008
For young people living in South Bristol contact:
HAWKS (Hartcliffe and Withywood Kick Start) on 0117 987 2859
These agencies may refer young people to a worker from the Addiction Recovery Agency (ARA) or the Barton Hill youth service. Regardless of who the worker is, you can be sure that they will be friendly, that the young person will be met in a place they’re comfortable with, and that the conversation will be confidential.
Bristol Smoking Advice Service Contact 0117 959 5465
www.bristolsmokingadviceservice.nhs.uk
Off the Record is a confidential service offering advice, information, and support for young people on a range of issues including drugs and alcohol. You can drop in at the specified times or make an appointment to see a trained counsellor. For information and advice call the young people’s helpline, free from a landline: 0800 389 5551
