Drugs
Help and information
It’s not easy to cope with drug addiction or with the worry that someone you love is misusing drugs. However a lot of support and advice is available.
What to do in an emergency
Communities
If you are concerned about drug crime in your area – whether you are worried in general or have a specific problem you can contact the following authorities:
- local authority: contact your authority or your local crime prevention officer (new window)
- drug action team: contact your local drug action team coordinator (new window)
- Crime Stoppers: call anonymously on 0800 555 111 with any information that could help police arrest dealers and solve other drug related crime
Children and young people
FRANK
If you’re worried about yourself, a friend or member of your family, FRANK can give you impartial information, advice and support on any issue to do with drugs.
Website: www.talktofrank.com (new window)
Tel: 0800 77 66 00
Email: frank@talktofrank.com
Text FRANK if you are hard of hearing: 0800 917 8765
If you’re affected by parents taking drugs
Coping in a family where a parent or carer has a problem with drugs can feel very lonely. But if you're in this situation, you're not alone.
Over a quarter of a million young people have one or more parents with a serious drug problem. Almost a million have a parent who has problems with alcohol. Which means that there are people out there who can understand how you feel - and organizations that can give you help and support.
Alateen
Support groups are for teenagers who're affected by someone else’s drinking – usually a parent.
Tel: 020 7403 0888
Website: www.al-anonuk.org.uk/alateen.php (new window)
Childline
For children and young people, who're in any kind of trouble or danger.
Tel: 0800 11 11
Website: www.childline.org.uk (new window)
Connexions
Confidential advice for everyone aged between 13 and 19 on issues ranging from families to health, jobs and relationships.
Tel: 080 800 13 2 19
Text: 077664 13 2 19
Website: www.connexions-direct.com (new window)
Facts and figures
- Around 4 million people use at least one illicit drug each year
- 10 per cent of people aged 16–59 have used an illegal drug in the last year
- Class A drug use among young people has been stable since 1998 at around 8%
