I’m not managing on my own

If you feel that you have tried to cope on your own but that your drug or alcohol misuse is not getting any better, or is even getting worse, it is probably time to seek professional help.First of all, you need to ask yourself:

• Do I need help getting my drug or alcohol use under control or
• Do I want to come off drugs completely?

The answer to these questions will determine what help you should seek:

• If you want to get your drug use under control, then you need a stabilisation service.
• If you want to stop using drugs completely, you need to detoxify through a detoxification service. Do not try to detoxify yourself, as this can be dangerous, even life-threatening. Always seek specialist medical support for detox.

You will find details of what’s available for these services in the links section of this website.

The next step for you

Stabilising your use

Once you have stabilised your drinking or drug use, you should have more space to look at your long-term options. If you do not think that you can self-manage your pattern of drinking or drug use it may be best to look at giving up completely. Try and think back to the reasons why you started using drugs or alcohol in the first place – if those underlying reasons are still there, there is a good chance that a future bad episode, situation or event may lead you to start using, or drinking, chaotically again. If you want to, and feel ready to take it, the next step on the road to a life free from dependence on drugs and alcohol, is detox.

Life after detox

After detox, professional rehabilitation may be the key to attaining your goal of remaining drug-free. During the time you have been using, you will have developed a range of behaviours and attitudes closely linked to your desire for drugs. These habits need to be addressed; they don’t just go away because you have detoxed. If these habits take over and you use again now that your body is clean of drugs you are at real risk of overdose, which may be fatal. If you want to stay clean look for a treatment programme that helps you to identify and explore your underlying reasons for using. This is the best option for a successful long-term recovery.