Where to get help

There are lots of different services and support available to help you cut down or stop drinking. See below for the different options and what might work best for you.

The Drink Free Days app is a simple way to help you track how many days you’re drinking. Pledge to take a few days off each week and you’ll get practical daily support to help you stick with your goals. It’s a free app.

• Download on the App Store
• Download it on Google Play

The Portsmouth Wellbeing Service can support you to cut down on your drinking through one-to-one or group sessions. You can make an appointment or attend a drop-in clinic. The service is based at GP surgeries and community venues across Portsmouth and is free. The Wellbeing Service can also help you to quit smoking or lose weight if you need support with this.

• Visit the Wellbeing Service website
• Phone 023 9229 4001
• Email wellbeing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

The Family Support Project is a 12-week programme in Portsmouth for families with children under 18 where a parent/parents or carer/careers are struggling to cope without alcohol or are drinking most days.

A specialist worker will support the whole family by helping to identify what changes they want to make as a family and supporting them to make these together. This could include doing activities together as a family, support with parenting and increasing understanding about the impact of drinking too much. This service is free.

The Family Support Worker will also work directly with the children to help them express how they feel when their parent or carer drinks.

• Phone 0800 138 0355
• Text 07854 563004
• Email family.support@ssj.org.uk

The Portsmouth Recovery Hub is a one-stop confidential adult drug and alcohol treatment service available to anyone who lives in Portsmouth concerned about their own or a loved one’s drug and/or alcohol use. The supportive staff team are non-judgemental and helps connect you with a whole range of services that can help. This includes access to help from a Doctor or Nurse, one to one support, groups, a community day rehab program, counselling, complementary therapies, detoxification, fun and social activities and education/volunteering opportunities.

• Email recovery.hub@ssj.org.uk
• Phone 023 9229 4573. Carer Helpline – 023 8039 9764
• Drop-in at Campion Place, 44-46 Elm Grove, Southsea, PO5 1JG (see opening times)

• Alcoholics Anonymous are concerned with the personal recovery and continued sobriety of people dependent on alcohol.
• Drinkline is the national alcohol helpline. If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s drinking, you can call this free helpline in complete confidence. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm).
• Rebound is a confidential, friendly support group for carers or family members affected by a loved one’s drinking or drug taking.
• The Safer Portsmouth Partnership is the key anti-crime and substance misuse partnership for Portsmouth.
• Drinkaware is an alcohol education charity that works to reduce alcohol misuse and harm in the UK by helping people make better choices about their drinking.
• Alcohol Change UK is a UK alcohol charity. Their website has lots of information about alcohol and details of help and support available. They also run Dry January where you go alcohol free for the month.
• Explore our top 10 tips for reducing your alcohol intake leaflet.