Are you worried about your drinking? Do you want to take control, cut down, or stop? We’re here and you are not alone.
An estimated 5,355 adults in Southampton are dependent on alcohol, yet only around 13–14% are currently receiving treatment. We are here to help everyone get the support they need. As our service develops, we aim to be available within communities, hospitals and GP surgeries. We will offer support that meets your individual needs, whether you need a brief conversation, a detox, or access to a controlled drinking programme.
If you are concerned about your health, we can discuss vitamin support and liver health checks. We work closely with the specialist alcohol nurses at University Hospital Southampton, and our in-reach workers will help ensure your support continues when you leave hospital.
We can provide you with the support you need to reduce harm and stay safe, whether you want to cut down, stop using drugs, or make small changes at your own pace. Whether you are using opiates, cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, benzodiazepines or one of the new psychoactive substances, our medical team can offer you support and treatment. This might be access to one of several prescribing options.
We can also help you to access talking therapies, an approach proven to help. Whatever your circumstances your key worker will work with you to make the changes you agree to focus on in your support plan.
Getting help is easy. You can refer here: Make a referral. Or if you would rather speak with someone, contact:
When we meet with you, we’ll listen to what’s going on for you — no rush, no pressure — and together we’ll agree on a plan that feels right.
There’s no wrong time to ask for help, and you won’t be judged. Our phone line is open from 8am to 6pm.
In the meantime, please take a look at the advice and resources available here.
Our staff are trained in trauma-informed approaches and work closely with other services to try and make sure you get joined-up care.
Whether you are someone living with anxiety, neurodiversity, depression, PTSD, learning difficulties, trauma or other life impacting circumstances we will work with you to understand your circumstances and how we can support you to achieve improvements in your life, whether that is stopping or reducing drug, alcohol or multiple substance use. We adapt how we work to suit you.
Your safety is our priority. We offer:
We can also have a chat about things like smoking, sexual health or just how you’re feeling about your overall wellbeing. You don’t need to be in treatment to get help staying safe.
We can also help you with accessing treatment services for alcohol or drugs. Make a referral.
When someone uses drugs or alcohol regularly, their body gets used to it. Stopping suddenly can make you very unwell, which is why detoxification is an important and recommended first step for many people. It’s the process of letting the substance leave your body safely, often with medication to ease withdrawal. This can happen at home with medical support (community detox) or in a specialist unit with round-the-clock care.
For some people the next step would be access to a structured treatment programme. It helps you understand your relationship with substances, build coping skills, and start to rebuild your life through talking therapies, group work, and new routines.
This is available in the community, and for some people, it may include a period at a residential treatment centre, often referred to as Rehab. Our community-based day rehab (opening autumn 2026) is an intensive alternative to going away to residential rehab. It’s based on our successful model in Portsmouth and will combine proven therapies including counselling, therapy, trauma-informed and wellbeing support within a 12 week programme.
If you do go to a rehab, you will be helped to prepare and when you come home, we’ll be here with ongoing support, connecting you to recovery groups and other community services. Whatever route is right for you, we’ll work it out together.
Getting help looks different for everyone. We offer a range of proven therapies including:
Alongside talking support, we can help with housing, work, education and benefits. We work with you to build the life you want, not just focus on substance use.
If you find yourself struggling with getting or keeping your accommodation, we have strong links with many services that can help you. We also provide a lot of housing services ourselves. We will use our experience to help you find the right accommodation for you.
In our services we offer support that understands the different communities in our city. This includes:
Many of you face extra barriers when seeking help. Our staff are trained in inclusive, culturally sensitive practice.
We will access translation and communication support (e.g BSL, audio) services when needed.
If you’re involved with the criminal justice system, we can help. Our service delivers:
Our support reaches you, wherever you are. We carry out assessments in police custody, provide support before and after prison, offer fast-track prescribing, and work closely with probation and prisons, including HMP Winchester. We will work with you to get the support and help you need.
We recognise the importance of working with families and carers. We understand how hard it can be for a family member or close friend supporting a loved one when they are using.
We work with Parent Support Link (PSL) to offer dedicated support to family members of people accessing treatment. PSL also have a wide range of services to support parents, partners, carers and other family members through face-to-face meetings, a 24/7 phone line, and a range of support groups.
Phone: 023 8039 9764 · Online: pslcharity.org.uk
Your success doesn’t stop when treatment ends.
We aim to stay in touch after you achieve your recovery goal and offer help, if needed with building the next important steps in your life.
Our Academy runs a full daily timetable of activities to help you build confidence, make connections and create a life you feel proud of:
We also have a clear peer support and volunteering pathway, so you can grow at your own pace. Our three-stage framework takes you from Service User Representative, through Active Volunteer (running peer-led groups), to Advanced Volunteer Recovery Worker with full training and support. Whether it’s gaining a qualification, giving back through volunteering, or taking the first steps towards paid work, the Academy helps you move from treatment into a fulfilling life.
We remain available to offer you support should you start to struggle. We can offer help with relapse prevention, re-engagement and links to groups like AA, NA and SMART Recovery.
The people who will help you to make your life better will have specialist skills in supporting:
