Addiction Management
This section will look at addiction as a whole, and more specifically at:
Addiction
Addiction is when a person feels a strong need to keep doing something—like using a substance or a behavior—even when it causes harm to their health, relationships, or daily life. It often feels hard to stop because the brain gets used to the activity and craves it.
Click the button below for the NHS’s information on addiction:
Addiction is not just an addiction to substances like drugs and alcohol, but it can also be to certain activities, like gambling or sexual intercourse.
If you are worried about your use of drugs or alcohol and think you may have dependency issues (or an addiction), we suggest that you reach out for specialised support to make sure you are safe.
Harm Reduction For Drug & Alcohol Use
Harm reduction means taking practical steps to make risky behaviours safer, instead of expecting people to stop those behaviours completely. It focuses on reducing harm to health and well-being, even if the behaviour continues.
It can include, but is not limited to:
Naloxone is an emergency medication used to temporarily reverse the effects of opioids on someone if they are overdosing.
This can come in an injection form or nasal spray form.
Click the link to see how to properly use Naloxone: How to use Naloxone.
It’s important to remember that Naloxone is temporary and that emergency services should always be called in case of possible overdose.
Being informed on substance (drug and alcohol) use can mean that people use more safely, such as by not sharing needles and knowing the signs of overdose or withdrawal.
People who don’t use drugs or alcohol should also familiarise themselves with this, so that everyone is prepared for an emergency.
Click here for further information and tips for safer substance use.
Needle and syringe programmes provide new, clean injecting equipment and advice on how you can stay safer. They also accept used equipment and safely dispose of it.
Using via injection increases the risk of getting injuries, infections and blood-borne viruses (BBV’s). Using clean equipment can reduce this risk.
Click here for more information on needle & syringe programmes, and where to go for support if you are interested.
See our page on opioid substitute treatment: Click here
Accessing non-judgmental support for substance use is crucial because judgment often creates barriers that prevent people from seeking help.
Remember, you should be able to access support without being worried about what the professional will think or say about you.
To ensure the support you are getting is correct, you can:
- Bring a trusted person for support, like your keyworker or a good friend
- Ask about the service’s approach before committing
- Look for peer support groups
- Ask the professional to go through all your options for treatment so you are empowered to make your own decision
Harm reduction strategies can reduce the risks associated with taking drugs and drinking alcohol but cannot remove them completely.
Overdoses of depressant drugs often involve breathing difficulties.
Overdoses of stimulant drugs can involve heart attacks or seizures (fits).
It’s always important to stay with the person and regularly check in on them.
If they are struggling to breathe or not breathing at all, it is essential that you call 999 immediately.
See more detailed information on what to do in an emergency by clicking here.
You are deserving of support wherever you are at in your recovery journey. Click the button to the right for more information and to chat to someone about your options:
With alcohol dependence, there are a number of harm reduction actions you can bring in if you are trying to reduce your drinking:
- Keep a drink diary: Write down what you drink, when, and how much. Use a unit calculator online or an app to track your intake
- Measure your drinks: Use a measuring cup if you’re drinking from bottles of spirits or wine
- Space out drinks: Spread drinks evenly throughout the day, especially in the afternoon, while keeping intake steady in the morning and evening
Get support: Ask a trusted person to help you measure drinks or keep alcohol out of reach
Switch to lower-strength drinks: Try replacing one high-strength drink with a standard-strength option
Use mixers: Add water or soft drinks to dilute alcohol
Stay nourished: Alcohol can deplete essential nutrients like thiamine (vitamin B1), which is crucial for brain and nerve function. Eating wholegrain foods like brown rice and wholemeal bread can help replenish thiamine levels
Limit sugar and caffeine: Alcohol withdrawal can cause blood sugar fluctuations and anxiety. Too much sugar can lead to energy crashes, and excessive caffeine may worsen restlessness and sleep problems
Stay hydrated: Alcohol dehydrates the body, so drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help manage withdrawal symptoms
Find community support: Visit the Drinkaware website to find support for you: Click here for Drinkaware
Gambling
Gambling can harm many areas of your life. This can include problems with your:
- relationships
- physical and mental health
- finances
If you’re not sure if gambling is causing problems for you
Answer these questions:
- Do you bet more than you can afford to lose?
- Do you need to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling?
- Have you tried to win back money you have lost?
- Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
- Have you wondered whether you have a problem with gambling?
- Does your gambling cause you stress, anxiety or guilt?
- Has someone told you that they are worried about your gambling?
If the answer to some or most of these are yes, you may want to reach out for support.
Talk to your keyworker if you are worried about gambling. You can also talk to your GP, or contact one of the free services below for more support:
- The National Gambling Helpline (run by GamCare) – call 0808 8020 133 for free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for free information, support and counselling
- GambleAware – the National Gambling Support Network service
- Primary Care Gambling Service – a national service providing support for anyone experiencing gambling-related harms
- GamLearn – the Gambling Lived Experience and Recovery Network service
- Gamblers Anonymous – a local support group service that uses the 12-step approach to recovery
- Citizens Advice Bureau – a charity that can advise you on a range of issues, including finances and gambling
- ChapterOne – a charity that can provide advice and support for anyone experiencing gambling-related harms
