Help & support
Alcohol problems are like an illness where people have lost control over their drinking and usually need help to stop.
Coping with someone else’s drinking can be difficult. It is important to take care of yourself. Try talking about how you feel with someone you trust. Sharing your feelings is not being disloyal to your family but it can help you to feel less alone. There are many people and places that can help, a few of which are listed below.
You are not alone.
Nacoa – Helping everyone affected by their parent’s drinking
Nacoa provide support, information and advice to children of alcohol-dependent parents and others concerned with their welfare.
Helpline: 0800 358 3456
Email: helpline@nacoa.org.uk
Website: www.nacoa.org.uk
AdFam
Adfam is a national charity working to improve life for families affected by drugs or alcohol.
Website: https://adfam.org.uk/home
Al-Anon Family Groups
The Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who provide support to anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else’s drinking. In some areas there are also Alateen groups who support young people aged twelve to seventeen who are affected by a problem drinker.
Helpline: 0800 0086 811
Email: helpline@al-anon.org.uk
Website: www.al-anonuk.org.uk
Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA)
Fellowship of women and men who grew up in alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional homes.
See Facebook community page ACA (UK) Community.
Email: info@acoa.uk
Website: www.adultchildrenofalcoholics.co.uk
Alcohol Change UK
Alcohol Change UK is a national charity working to create a world free from the harm caused by alcohol. They do this through expanding knowledge, campaigning for better policy and regulation, shifting cultural norms, improving drinking behaviours and working for more and better support and treatment.
Website: https://alcoholchange.org.uk/
Phone: 020 3907 8480
Email: contact@alcoholchange.org.uk
Change Grow Live
Our mission is to help people change the direction of their lives, grow as individuals, and live life to its full potential.
The vision we’re working towards is to develop, deliver and share a whole person approach that changes society.
Website: https://www.changegrowlive.org/
Children of Alcoholic Parents Engagement (CAPE) – Children’s Society
A new, national capacity building programme for professionals who work with and support children affected by parental alcohol misuse
Website: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/our-work/substance-misuse
Dan 24/7 – Wales Drug and Alcohol Helpline
DAN 24/7 is a free and bilingual telephone helpline providing a single point of contact for anyone in Wales wanting further information and / or help relating to drugs and / or alcohol.
Helpline: 0808 808 2234
Text: 81066
Website: http://www.dan247.org.uk/
DrugFAM
DrugFAM provides support to families, carers and friends affected by substance abuse. Helpline available 7 days a week from 9am-9pm every day of the year.
Helpline: 0300 888 3853
Website: www.drugfam.co.uk
Forward Trust
National charity which works with people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. Since 1991, Forward has been been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past.
Website: https://www.forwardtrust.org.uk/
Humankind
Humankind is a national charity and one of the largest drug and alcohol treatment providers in England, supporting over 85,000 people. They offer free, confidential and friendly support in local places to work with you on your own goals, whether that’s making small changes, stopping an unwanted habit altogether or just getting some advice.
Phone: 01325 731 160
Email: info@humankindcharity.org.uk
Website: https://humankindcharity.org.uk
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC)
Napac provide support and information for people abused in childhood.
Helpline: 0808 801 0331
Email: support@napac.org.uk
Website: www.napac.org.uk
The National Organisation for FASD
National FASD (formerly known as NOFAS) is dedicated to supporting people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), their families and communities. It promotes education for professionals and public awareness about the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Helpline: 020 8458 5951
Email: info@nationalfasd.org.uk
Website: https://nationalfasd.org.uk
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs
If you are concerned about someone’s alcohol or drug use contact us today on our free and confidential helpline. Available 9am-11pm Monday to Friday and as a call-back service on weekends.
Helpline: 08080 10 10 11
Email: helpline@sfad.org.uk
Website: https://www.sfad.org.uk/
Taking Action on Addiction
is national campaign which aims to reframe existing perceptions of addiction and build awareness, improves understanding to reduce prejudice and enables more people to ask for and receive help.
Website: https://www.actiononaddiction.org.uk/
Local Support
Early Break, Greater Manchester
Early Break is a young people and family service based in Greater Manchester. It was originally established in 1994 as a specialist treatment, information and support service for children and young people who used drugs and/or alcohol.
Email: info@earlybreak.co.uk
Bury (head office): 0161 723 3880
Website: https://earlybreak.co.uk/
Family Support Project, Portsmouth – The Society of St James
The Family Support Project, Portsmouth is a new service providing a range of support and interventions to families affected by alcohol use.
Phone: 0800 138 0355
Email: family.support@ssj.org.uk
Website: https://ssj.org.uk/sub-service/family-support-project/
Oasis Project – Brighton and Hove
Oasis help women, children and families affected by their parent’s drinking to find the strength and opportunities to make choices that lead to change. Not just for themselves, but for their families, their friends, and their communities.
Phone: 01273 696970
Email: info@oasisproject.org.uk
Website: https://www.oasisproject.org.uk/contact-us/