Addiction — and how to get help
Addiction is a treatable health condition, not a moral failure. Whether the problem is drugs, alcohol, gambling, smoking, vaping, sex, gaming, food or prescription medicines, free UK help exists. Every helpline below is non-judgemental, confidential and free from UK landlines and mobiles.
- 310,863
adults were in contact with structured drug & alcohol treatment in England in 2023 to 2024.
Source: OHID, 2023 to 2024
- 2.7%
of adults in Great Britain scored 8+ on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), indicating problem gambling.
- £1 → £4
every £1 spent on drug treatment gives a combined health and justice return on investment of £4.
A chronic, treatable health condition
The NHS defines addiction as not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it could be harmful. The World Health Organization's ICD-11 classifies disorders of substance use and behavioural addictions — including gambling disorder, gaming disorder and compulsive sexual behaviour — as recognised health conditions.[4]NHS[7]WHO ICD-11
NICE recommends opioid substitution (methadone, buprenorphine), contingency management and psychosocial interventions for drug dependence (CG51); brief interventions plus acamprosate, naltrexone or nalmefene for alcohol-use disorders (CG115); and varenicline, NRT or behavioural support for tobacco dependence (NG209). Treatment works — and asking for help is the hardest step.[2]NICE CG51[3]NICE CG115[10]NICE NG209
Crisis & first step
If life is in danger, call 999. Otherwise these lines can help you decide what to do next, day or night.
Emergency services — overdose, suicidal crisis, immediate danger.
Urgent (non-emergency) medical advice, including overdose, withdrawal, mental-health crisis.
Free, confidential listening service for anyone in distress, including people struggling with addiction.
GPs can refer you to NHS-funded community drug, alcohol and gambling treatment — appointments are confidential and free.
Drugs (illegal and prescription)
All structured drug treatment in England is free and confidential through the NHS and local authority services, regardless of immigration status.
National confidential drugs helpline — advice on any drug for users, families and friends. Includes a postcode finder for local services.
Support for families and friends affected by someone else's drug or alcohol use.
Free, confidential legal and drugs advice from specialist lawyers.
12-step peer fellowship with daily meetings across the UK and online.
12-step fellowship specifically for problems with cocaine or crack.
Wales Drug & Alcohol Helpline.
Confidential drugs information for Scotland.
Alcohol
Sudden alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous — never stop heavy drinking abruptly without medical advice. Speak to a GP or one of the services below.
National alcohol helpline for anyone worried about their own or someone else's drinking.
Self-assessment tools, drink trackers and a directory of local alcohol services.
12-step peer fellowship with thousands of meetings across the UK and online.
Free CBT-based mutual aid meetings for any addictive behaviour — secular alternative to 12-step.
Support for family and friends of problem drinkers, including Alateen for under-18s.
Free helpline for children of alcohol-dependent parents — any age, including adults.
Gambling
NHS gambling-harm clinics are open across England and free to use. Self-exclusion blocks you from UK-licensed bookmakers, casinos and online operators.
Run by GamCare — confidential advice, treatment referrals and online chat.
Specialist NHS clinics offering free assessment and treatment for people with gambling disorder, and for affected family members.
Free self-exclusion from every UK-licensed online gambling site for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.
12-step fellowship with in-person and online meetings throughout the UK.
Charity supporting families bereaved by or affected by gambling harm.
Residential and online treatment for severe gambling addiction, including women-only programmes.
Smoking & vaping
NHS Stop Smoking Services roughly triple your chance of quitting compared with going it alone. They are free and now also help people who want to stop vaping.
Free expert advice, nicotine replacement guidance and referral to local stop-smoking services.
Free Scottish NHS service offering one-to-one support and free NRT.
Information on tobacco, nicotine and vaping policy and harm.
NHS guidance on cutting down and stopping vaping safely.
Sex, porn & love addiction
Compulsive sexual behaviour disorder is recognised by the World Health Organization (ICD-11, 6C72). Help is available — these services are non-judgemental and confidential.
12-step fellowship for anyone whose sexual behaviour has become unmanageable.
12-step recovery for compulsive patterns around sex, romance and relationships.
Association for the Treatment of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity — directory of accredited UK therapists.
Specialist UK clinic for sex and porn addiction and partners affected by it.
Counselling for individuals and couples where compulsive sexual behaviour is affecting the relationship.
Confidential help for anyone worried about their own sexual thoughts or behaviour towards children, or about someone else's.
Gaming, screens & social media
Free NHS treatment for 13–25 year olds with gaming disorder and their families (GP referral).
Information and private treatment options for compulsive gaming.
12-step fellowship with online meetings for compulsive internet, social media and phone use.
Free advice for parents worried about a child's screen use, gaming or mental health.
Food, eating & body-image
If you're worried about an eating disorder, contact your GP — early treatment greatly improves recovery.
Adults helpline. Youthline 0808 801 0711 for under-18s. Studentline 0808 801 0811.
12-step fellowship for compulsive eating, food addiction and bulimic patterns.
Free support for anyone affected by an eating disorder or disordered eating.
Prescription & over-the-counter medicines
UK charity supporting people dependent on prescription or OTC medicines (codeine, benzodiazepines, sleeping pills, painkillers).
Support for people withdrawing from benzodiazepines and related sleeping pills.
Telephone counselling for safe withdrawal from prescribed psychoactive medication.
Specialist groups
For anyone whose family member or friend has any addiction — drugs, alcohol or gambling.
Free, confidential support across the UK for anyone struggling with drugs, alcohol or mental health.
National provider of NHS-commissioned substance-misuse services — find your local team by postcode.
Free, confidential NHS service for doctors, dentists and senior NHS staff with addiction or mental-health concerns.
First point of contact for UK veterans seeking help with addiction, mental health and more.
Drug, alcohol and chemsex support for LGBT+ people, including the free 'Chemsex Support' service.
LGBT+ helpline covering addiction, mental health and relationships.
The Black Review
Dame Carol Black's 2021 independent review made the economic case for treatment: every £1 invested in drug treatment returns about £4 in social value, primarily through reduced crime and health-service use. Sixpence Support UK supports that case and signposts people to the NHS-funded services that deliver it.[6]Black Review
- [1] OHID. Adult substance misuse treatment statistics · 2024
- [2] NICE. Drug misuse in over 16s: psychosocial interventions — CG51 · 2007 (updated)
- [3] NICE. Alcohol-use disorders: diagnosis, assessment and management of harmful drinking — CG115 · 2011
- [4] NHS. Addiction — what is it? · 2024
- [5] GambleAware / NHS. National Gambling Treatment Service · 2024
- [6] Dame Carol Black. Independent review of drugs · 2021
- [7] World Health Organization. ICD-11 — 6C72 Compulsive sexual behaviour disorder & 6C51 Gaming disorder · 2024
- [8] NHS England. National Centre for Gaming Disorders · 2024
- [9] ASH. Smoking statistics — Great Britain · 2024
- [10] NICE. Tobacco: preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating dependence — NG209 · 2021