Drugs and alcohol
Information and advice about the effects of drugs and alcohol.
Updated 3 December 2024
Contents
- Drug and alcohol care helpline
- Harm reduction
- Naloxone
- Needle exchange
- Young people
- Adults
- Alcohol
- Treatment
- Further available support
Surrey non-fatal drug overdose reporting form
The non-fatal drug overdose reporting form is used to report to Surrey County Council's Public Health Team any near fatal events. Allowing for near real time monitoring of what is happening and where. It will prompt harm reduction initiatives in the areas that are identified with the intention of saving lives.
There are no identifiable details as this is intended to monitor trends and clusters of events. A YouTube video explains the use of the form: Surrey's non-fatal drug overdose data collection system.
Drug and alcohol care helpline
If you are concerned about the effects caused by drugs and alcohol, help and support is available. This can be for yourself, a friend or a family member. In addition, if you or the person you are concerned about are a resident within Surrey, Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care (SDAC) can offer a referral into professional treatment services. All SDAC services are available from 9am to 7pm Monday to Friday. You can leave a voicemail or send an SMS outside of these hours.
- Call the helpline on 0808 802 5000 - free for landlines and mobiles
- Send a text to 07537 432411
- Chat online by visiting the Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care (SDAC) website
- Email: admin@sdac-helpline.co.uk
"Whatever you are going through, we are here if you want to talk to someone"
Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care (SDAC) offer a range of support:
- If you need advice or information
- If you want to get help for drug and or alcohol use
- If you have a relative, friend or partner who is using drugs/alcohol and want to talk
- If you have question/s and need reliable information
- If you just need to talk to someone who understands
Harm reduction
The principles of harm reduction allow us to engage with the realities of people's drug use and provide the necessary advice and support they need. Such as easy access to sterile injecting equipment and free antidotes for opiate overdoses. This can help reduce other health problems associated with drug use and help combat avoidable drug related deaths.
Naloxone
Naloxone is an emergency medication that can reverse the effects of an overdose of opioids like heroin or methadone.
What is naloxone?
Naloxone is a drug that can reverse the effects of opioids, such as heroin, methadone, opium, codeine, morphine, and buprenorphine.
Naloxone doses can even save someone's life if it's used quickly after they've overdosed on opioids and gives extra time for emergency help to arrive.
The effects of naloxone don't last very long (about 8 to 30 minutes) so it's important to always call 999 and ask for an ambulance when you use it.
Ambulance crews have been using naloxone in emergencies for many years. We want to make sure that anyone who needs it, has it to hand and knows how to use it.
Get a free naloxone kit and training
If you'd like a naloxone kit, visit or get in touch with the community pharmacies in Surrey listed or Guildford Action. Naloxone training can take as little as 10 minutes.
A trained member of staff will give you a kit or two and teach you how to use it and give you advice on what to do if you are confronted with an opioid overdose.
Anyone can use naloxone in an emergency. You don't need any advanced medical training. Pharmacists can give kits to anyone who could use it to save a life, say if you use opiate drugs or if someone you know does. The kits can also be issued to anyone who works with, or has contact with people at risk. Like hostel workers, homeless charities, emergency service personnel and so on.
Carrying naloxone and knowing how to use it could help you to save a life.
If you use your kit, or if gets lost, damaged or out of date, the pharmacist be happy to give you a new one.
Remember it's free and can save someone's life.
Needle exchange
Needle exchange is a free, anonymous and confidential service which helps reduce harm to people and communities.
Needle and syringe provision, support and advice is available at many community pharmacies in Surrey. Look out for the universal sign.
Guildford Action Day Service
Guildford Action Day Service offer a comprehensive needle exchange and naloxone service. Needle exchange is essential for reducing the spread of blood borne viruses including Hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Naloxone is an opiate antagonist to reverse the effects of an overdose.
Both services are free and confidential. They offer a full range of sterile injecting equipment and other paraphernalia as well as offering the safe disposal of used injecting equipment.
Address: Beverley Hall, Haydon Place, Guildford, GU1 4LR.
Telephone: 01483 560003
Email: info@guildfordaction.org.uk
The Xchange Drug & Alcohol Services
The Xchange offer needle exchange to ensure people have easy access to clean injecting equipment and safe disposal. This is essential for reducing the spread of blood borne viruses including Hepatitis and HIV.
The Xchange is a free and confidential service which helps reduce drug related harm to individuals and communities. They offer a comprehensive needle exchange, ensuring anyone who injects has access to a full range of sterile injecting equipment and other paraphernalia. They also offer safe disposal of used injecting equipment.
Address: The Xchange, 20 High Street, Woking, GU21 6BW.
Telephone: 01483 773242
Needle and syringe provision, support and advice is available at many community pharmacies in Surrey. Look out for the universal sign.
Young people
Catch 22 - Young People's Substance Misuse Treatment Service
Catch 22 offers help and support for young people up to the age of 21 (24 for care leavers and 25 for young people with disabilities), affected by problems caused by drug and alcohol. They support young people in relation to their drug and/or alcohol use using a variety of different options for young people including:
- Information and advice on drug/alcohol issues
- Support for young people and their families on substance misuse issues
- 24 hour helpline for referrals and crisis
- Assertive outreach for those who do not readily engage
- Young people Specialist Prescribing Pharmacological Support
- Access to detoxification services
- Access to residential rehabilitation services
- Individually designed aftercare packages
Contact details
- Young People, Parents and Carers Crisis Line: 0800 622 6662
- Professionals: 01732 363655
- Text SMS number: 07595 088388
- Address: The Mansion, Church Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8DP
Edibles information
There is concern locally about the use of edibles by a small number of young people which has resulted in some requiring medical assistance. We are writing to share information with you about edibles and how to support children and young people who have access to them.
Information for Parents and Carers (PDF)
Information for Professionals (PDF)
Adults
The i-access drug and alcohol service offers specialist assessment, support and treatment to adults in Surrey who want help with their drug and/or alcohol use.
i-access offers appointments for assessment, which can be virtual, by telephone or in person. Once assessed, depending on your needs we will work with you to develop a personalised recovery care plan.
The type of support we offer includes one-to-one or group sessions, for drug and/or alcohol addiction recovery support, needle exchange, Hepatitis B vaccination and Hepatitis C testing.
You can refer yourself by contacting i-access on 0300 222 5932 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, or by completing the online referral form.
Calls are charged at a local rate from both mobiles and landlines.
Email: rxx.iaccess@nhs.net
You can also visit the i-access website for more information.
Alcohol
Sober October
Sober October is a month-long challenge encouraging people to go alcohol-free to improve well-being and raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. This campaign highlights the benefits of reducing alcohol consumption while also shedding light on its link to cancer risk.
Research has shown that drinking alcohol can increase the risk of developing 7 different types of cancer, including: mouth, throat, larynx, oesophagus, liver, bowel and breast cancer.
The risk of developing cancer increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. There is no completely "safe" level of drinking, but reducing your intake or having alcohol-free days can help lower the risk. Find out more about Sober October.
Alcohol test - DrinkCoach
The DrinkCoach Alcohol Test is a quick and confidential way you can see if your drinking is putting your health at risk. It will ask you a series of questions including how often you drink, the types of drinks you enjoy and how many drinks you are likely to have on average.
Depending on your result, it may signpost you to some helpful information or services which you may find helpful. Include telephone or face to face sessions to help you change your drinking habits and reduce your drinking.
Take the DrinkCoach alcohol test.
Helping Surrey residents to cut down on drinking
i-access drug and alcohol service are providing telephone based sessions to help you cut down on your drinking. Speak with an NHS alcohol specialist to help you reduce your alcohol intake and feel better.
The alcohol specialist will work with you through a series of up 6 sessions to explore your relationship with alcohol and offer advice and help to set realistic and achievable goals.
You can refer yourself for these sessions by contacting i-access on 0300 222 5932 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, or by completing the i-access self-referral form.
Drinking in pregnancy
Advice from the Department of Health is that you should not drink at all if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. If you drink heavily you have an increased risk of miscarriage, and it may cause serious harm to the baby's growth and brain development.
Tips to break your bad habits and drink less
Drinking too much, too often can take its toll on your health.
Choose days you want to be drink free on!
Staying active is really good for your body, mind and health.
Video resources
A guide to alcohol units (and signs of alcohol dependence)
Tips to cut down on alcohol
Treatment
Should the client require additional support following the Extended Brief Intervention (EBI), subject to meeting the criteria, clients may automatically be referred onto the full treatment pathway within i-access.
Get in touch with i-access
Telephone: 0300 222 5932 (9am-5pm Monday to Friday). Calls are charged at a local rate from both mobiles and landlines.
Email: rxx.iaccess@nhs.net
You can also visit the i-access website for more information.
Referrals: Surrey residents can access EBI by completing the online DrinkCoach alcohol test. If this indicates an individual is drinking at risky levels, they will be advised to contact i-access directly. Other referral routes include self-referral and referral via other professionals and agencies, such as GP and Hospital Alcohol Liaison teams.
There is a range of help and support available for you throughout Surrey. There might be times when you feel you need additional support in some areas such as, accommodation, training, education, employment, financial and legal issues.
Further support
The following links provide details of useful information, advice and support services available locally:
SDAC
- Telephone counselling in relation to drug and or alcohol use. This is a structured and individually tailored programme of 12 weekly counselling sessions for people with substance misuse dependencies and their families. The service is free of charge and takes place at a time that suits. Referrals can be made directly by calling the SDAC Helpline or through health, treatment and other social agencies.
- Telephone counselling in relation to drug related death and non-fatal overdose. A specialist counselling service, telephone or virtual, for those who have been bereaved through a drug related death, which may have been intentional or accidental, or those who have experienced or been affected by a non-fatal overdose. The service offers structured and intensive interventions delivered by experienced and competent British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Registered therapists of up to 12 weekly sessions.
Advocacy Support Pohwer
The discretionary advocacy service focuses on providing support to access NHS Services, that are not covered by the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) - provided by Surrey Independent Living Council SILC, and may include:
- General support to contact and liaise with NHS providers, however it does not extend to providing support to attend clinical meetings
- Liaison with mental health services, where provided or commissioned by the NHS
- Support around substance misuse programmes
Individuals receiving statutory Care Act or Mental Health Act advocacy services through this contract are also entitled to receive additional discretionary advocacy services under this provision of the contract where the relevant criteria are met.
How to get in touch
- Email - pohwer@pohwer.net
- Telephone - 0300 456 2370 (charged at local rate)
- Minicom - 0300 456 2364
- Text - send the word 'pohwer' with your name and number to 81025
- Skype - pohwer.advocacy (8am to 6pm Monday to Friday)
- Fax - 0300 456 2365
- Post - PO Box 17943, Birmingham, B9 9PB
- Pohwer website
Services for women - The Women's Support Centre
If you are looking for a gender specific service aimed at women with drug and/or alcohol use or dependency, you can get in touch with the Women's Support Centre. They offer help and support for women at risk (for example, domestic abuse/homelessness) or women who are involved in criminal justice system, social services or at risk of becoming involved.
Staff have exceptional experience/empathy and aim to meet all support needs presented, including:
- support with housing, accessing benefits, parenting, advocacy at court and signposting to appropriate specialist agencies.
- up to 26 weeks of free confidential individual counselling with a trained counsellor.
- one-to-one support for those experiencing problems with substance use, plus two weekly 'Smart' recovery groups and a weekly Substance Misuse Course at Staines and Guildford Probation offices.
- prevention groups for young women, focusing on all forms of exploitation, development of healthy relationships and online safety.
- on-going support with resettlement
- support women to attend meetings with other agencies including social services/ probation / benefits
- community support for women subject to Community Orders, License or who might be at risk of offending
Contact details:
- Telephone: 01483 726621
- Email: admin.womensSupportCentre@woking.gov.uk
- Women's Support Centre website
- Address: Women's Support Centre, 19A High Street, Woking, GU22 6BW.
Reach Out Counselling
Reach Out Counselling is a National Lottery Community funded service throughout Surrey which offers up to 12 weeks of free counselling to people struggling with substance use issues. They support individuals and also loved ones affected by substance use.
Very often people who use substances are dealing with traumatic events in their lives. With counselling, people can gain the skills needed to find other ways to deal with difficulties and help lead to an improved quality of life and a real belief in a better future.
Support for family and friends
Drug and alcohol use can have devastating effects on other people. Counselling is also available for friends, family members and partners who need support to cope with living with someone else's dependence - to help them make decisions and explore choices.
Reach Out also run family and friends support groups, where people soon realise that they are not alone and that actually many of the issues and problems they may have are also being experienced by others.
Get in touch
Services are run by trained counsellors and group workers who provide advice, support, coping strategies and most importantly, understanding.
You can self-refer by contact the Head Office who will take you through an assessment to see if counselling/group support is right for you at this time.
- Telephone: 01483 590150
- Text: 07909 631623
- Email: info@catalystsupport.org.uk
In this section
Downloads
-
Surrey substance misuse strategy - drugs 2019 (PDF, 1.8 MB)
This strategy sets out a new direction for tackling drug misuse across the county of Surrey. -
Surrey substance misuse strategy - alcohol 2019 (PDF)
This strategy sets out the direction of tackling alcohol misuse across Surrey's county.
Related articles
-
Making Every Contact Count
MECC supports the opportunistic delivery of consistent and concise healthy lifestyle information. -
Toolkit to support alcohol behaviour change
The Surrey Alcohol MECC Toolkit has been created to support workforces, professionals, and volunteers across Surrey.
Useful links
- One You - Drink Less
Public Health England information, advice and resources on alcohol. - DrinkCoach alcohol test
Anonymous alcohol test for people in Surrey to see if they are at risk from their drinking. - NHS Choices - Information for parents
Advice for parents on children and young people drinking alcohol. - Drinkaware - Parent information
Information for parents on underage drinking. - One You - Drink free days app
An app to support and help people have more drink free days, includes a drink tracker. - DrinkCoach app
An app providing a drink tracker, seven day summary and goal setting to help people reduce their drinking. - Alcohol identification and brief advice online training
Online learning around alcohol identification and brief advice (IBA). - Alcohol and Tobacco brief interventions online training
An online learning on alcohol and smoking brief interventions.