These are national services and I am not connected to them. I am not a crisis or emergency service, so please do not rely on a message to me if you are in danger. Numbers and services change, so please check them before you rely on them. Last checked on 12 October 2026.
Where to get help
If you are in crisis
- Emergency services: 999
- Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24 hours)
- Shout: text SHOUT to 85258 (free, 24 hours)
- NHS 111: call 111 and select the mental health option (24 hours)
Drugs and alcohol
- FRANK: 0300 123 6600 (24 hours), or text 82111
- Drinkline: 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm)
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- Narcotics Anonymous UK: 0300 999 1212 (10am to midnight)
- We Are With You, free and confidential drug, alcohol and mental health support
- SMART Recovery UK, free mutual-aid meetings, online and in person
- Release, free and confidential advice on drugs and the law: 020 7324 2989
- NHS: find your local alcohol support services
- NHS: getting help for drug addiction
Gambling
- GamCare National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133 (free, 24 hours)
- Gambling Therapy, free online support worldwide
- GamStop, free self-exclusion from online gambling sites
- StepChange, free debt advice: 0800 138 1111
- National Debtline, free debt advice: 0808 808 4000
Smoking, vaping and nicotine
- NHS: find your local stop smoking service, free
- NHS Quit Smoking, including the free NHS Quit Smoking app
Gaming
- NHS National Centre for Gaming Disorders, for people aged 13 and over in England
- Life-Stuff, self-help information on gaming for 16 to 25 year olds
Pornography and compulsive sexual behaviour
- Sex Addicts Anonymous UK, free twelve-step meetings in person, online and by phone
- Sexaholics Anonymous UK, a twelve-step fellowship with no fees: 0300 111 7777 (24 hours)
- Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous UK, twelve-step meetings in person, online and by phone; newcomers welcome
- Stop It Now, confidential and anonymous helpline for anyone worried about sexual thoughts or behaviour towards children: 0808 1000 900
If someone you love is struggling
- Adfam, helping families find support
- Addiction Family Support: 0300 888 3853
- Families Anonymous: 020 7498 4680 (daily, 1pm to 4pm and 6pm to 9pm)
- Al-Anon, for people affected by someone else’s drinking: 0800 0086 811
- Nar-Anon, for families and friends of people with drug problems
- Nacoa, for children of people who drink too much: 0800 358 3456
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (free, 24 hours)
- NSPCC: 0808 800 5000 (10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday); children can call Childline free on 0800 1111
- Gam-Anon, meetings for anyone affected by a loved one’s gambling problem
- NHS advice for the families of people who use drugs
- StepChange, free debt advice: 0800 138 1111
- National Debtline, free debt advice: 0808 808 4000
- MoneyHelper, a locator for free debt advice across the UK
Getting treatment without going through your GP
You can approach your local drug treatment service yourself, and the NHS explains how in getting help for drug addiction. FRANK on 0300 123 6600 can talk you through the options. I am not a medical service and cannot prescribe. Stopping some substances suddenly, particularly alcohol and benzodiazepines, can cause serious harm, so if you use heavily every day, please do not stop suddenly on your own.
The sources behind this site
Where I state a fact about a drug, a law, a risk or a diagnosis, it comes from the sources below. They are the official or established bodies I checked, and what each one supports.
Drug information and the law
- FRANK, drug information: risks, dependence, withdrawal and legal classes for heroin, benzodiazepines, cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, ecstasy, speed, GHB and GBL, and LSD
- GOV.UK: penalties for drug possession and dealing: legal classes of drugs
- GOV.UK: pregabalin and gabapentin, new scheduling requirements (MHRA): Class C status, dependence and the risk of breathing problems when combined with opioids or alcohol
- GOV.UK: supplying take-home naloxone without a prescription: who can supply and receive naloxone
- NHS: pregabalin, how and when to take it: not stopping suddenly
Alcohol, treatment and stopping smoking
- NHS: the risks of drinking too much: the 14 units a week guideline
- NHS: alcohol support: signs and support services
- NHS: getting help for drug addiction: approaching your local drug treatment service yourself, and the treatments available
- NHS: advice for the families of drug users: support for families
- NHS: vaping to quit smoking: vaping compared with smoking and using vapes to quit
- NHS: quit smoking: the 28 days smoke-free finding
Diagnoses and classification
- World Health Organization: gaming disorder: how gaming disorder is described in ICD-11
- Kraus and colleagues (2018), World Psychiatry: compulsive sexual behaviour disorder in ICD-11: how ICD-11 classifies compulsive sexual behaviour disorder as an impulse control disorder
- The Lucy Faithfull Foundation: when porn becomes a problem: signs that porn use may be becoming a problem