This is just a selection of groups/organisations in and around Bristol that give advice around alcohol and drugs

Click on link below to go down the page to that particular group

Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and womenwho share their experience, strenghth and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
Address: PO Box 42, Bristol, BS99 7JR.
Telephone: 0117 926 5520
National Helpline: 0845 769 7555 (calls charged at local rate)
National website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

ARA - Addiction Recovery Agency (Alcohol Misuse Service
Provide addiction treatment and support services to enable people to lead valued and fulfilled lives free from all forms of substance dependency. To particularly address the needs of homeless people or people in housing need through the additional provision of housing support services.
Address: ARA, King's Court, King's Street, Bristol, BS1 4EE.
Telephone: 0117 930 0282 for further information on services provided.
Fax: 0117 929 4810
Email: info@addictionrecovery.org.uk
Website: www.addictionrecovery.org.uk

Bristol Drugs Project
Independent agency delivering an accessible and confidential information, advice and counselling service to drug misusers, their relatives and friends and to other professionals working with drug misusers. Bristol Drugs Project deals with problems related to the use of solvents and prescribed drugs in addition to the wide range of illicit drugs.
Telephone: 0117 987 1500 (General office enquiries)
Helpline: 0117 987 6000
Email: info@bdp.org.uk
Website: www.bdp.org.uk

Bristol Specialist Drug Service
Address: 59-61 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3QP
Telephone: 0117 923 2077

Caaad - Alcohol Misuse (Advice & Counselling)
CAAAD, The (Community Action Around Alcohol and Drugs) Community-based drug and alcohol project specialising in easy-to-access harm reduction services for people concerned about theirown or someone else's drug and alcohol use.
Address: Caaad, 188 Lawrence Hill, Bristol, BS5 0DR.
Telephone / Fax: 0117 904 2200

Chandos House Treatment for Addiction
Address: 36 Chandos Road, Bristol, Bs6 6PF.
Telephone: 0117 924 3071

HAWKS - Hartcliffe & Withywood Kick Start
Community-based drug and alcohol service provider.
Address: HAWKS, The Gatehouse Centre, Hareclive Road, Hartcliffe, Bristol, BS13 9JN.
Telephone: 0117 964 2859

Knowle West Alcohol & Drug Service
Provides a safe place for drug users and carers to go for help. Providing FREE confidential advice, counselling, complimentary therapies, referrals and family support for drug users and those affected by the drug user of someone else.
Address: KWADS, 49-51 Filwood Broadway, Knowle West, Bristol, BS4 1JL.
Telephone: 0117 953 3870
Email: info@KWADS.org.uk
www.kwads.org.uk/

Nilaari Agency
Nilaari is a Bristol wide Black & other Minority Ethnic led organisation set up to provide culturally appropriate and sensitive counselling, information, advice and support primarily to BME adults and young people who misuse or at risk of misusing drugs and or alcohol.
Address: Nilaari Agency, 184 Stapleton Road, Bristol, BS5 0NZ.
Telephone: 0117 952 5742
Fax: 0117 952 2400
Email: nilaari@nilaari.co.uk
Website: www.nilaari.co.uk/

The Southmead Project
Address: 165 Greystoke Avenue, Bristol, BS10 6AS.
Telephone: 0117 950 6022

DRUG THERAPY

Visiting Your G.P.

Your access to treatment will depend largely upon your relationship with your G.P. Not everyone finds it easy to get on with their G.P. and different doctors have different levels of expertise and interest in mental illness. Most doctors are busy and have limited time but, if you are ill, you need and deserve help. Here are some suggestions that may help you communicate your needs and situation to them:

• Take a friend with you for emotional support.
• Write down in advance the key points you need to get across.
• Ask questions - about your condition, treatment options and where to get more help.
• Don't put a brave face on your illness - make sure your doctor knows how ill you are, especially when you are at your worst.

If you really find your doctor unhelpful or unsupportive, consider using another doctor in the practise, or changing practise - doctors are there to help you, and the good ones can.

Drugs

Not everyone benefits from medication; about 30% of people do not find they are useful and there are almost always side-effects to deal with. There are now hundreds of different drugs to treat every type of mental illness. Most users want to find out about the drugs they are taking so that they know how they might help them, and what sort of side-effects to expect. You can find out about this by asking you doctor, reading books, talking to other users (or phoning the Medicare helpline on 0207 919299 weekdays 9am - 5pm and they should be able to put you through to a psychiatrist) and on various web-sites such as the U.K. Psychiatric Pharmacy Group Website at www.ukppg.org.uk. It is important to remember that different people are affected differently by the same drug.

Talking therapies

There are a whole variety of talking therapies that can help Mental Health users, varying from counselling to cognitive behavioral therapy. Some talking therapy is available on the N.H.S. and it is possible to access therapy through your G.P. but this seems to vary from practice to practice; but talking is expensive and many people end up going private. To get private therapy look in the classified ads of Venue (www.venue.co.uk) or in Spark Magazine (www.thespark.co.uk). The British Association of Counselling will provide a list of approved councillors in Bristol from www.bacp.co.uk A reputable private practice offering C.B.T. and other therapies is Avon Counselling and Psychotherapy Service, Orchard St, Phone : 9304447 or Womankind, on 0117 9252507, who can provide a list of agencies which provide low-cost counselling and psychotherapy.

Alternative Medicine

There has been growing interest in recent years in a whole range of alternative medicine. Many people suffering from depression use St John's Wort as a natural anti-depressant. Some find acupuncture helpful at times. Again, the Spark is a good place to look for alternative medicine practitioners.

Art Therapy

Many mental health users find different forms of artistic expression very therapeutic. Art in it's many forms allows people to find a voice, get absorbed in an activity and create something to be proud of. There are many groups throughout the city offering drawing, painting, dancing, singing and ceramics as an activity for users.

Medication

Phone Lines and internet resources where you can find out about your medication :

Maudsley Psychiatric Medication Helpline on 0207 9192999, Mon-Fri, 11am-5pm.

NHS Direct online at http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/ of telephone 24hours 0845 46 47

Poisons Information Service Cardiff-based service useful for information on overdoses, accidental or not.
Tel : 029 207009901

Advocacy services may be useful for people who would like someone to accompany them to see their doctor when wanting to change meds :

Bristol Mind Outreach Advocacy Service : Tel : 9140300