If you or someone you know would like to discuss issues related to drugs or alcohol, help is available, either through your GP or your local drug and alcohol service. Use this page to find out how to get in touch with local support.
If you need help, but you're not in a crisis, contact the services below for adults or young people. You should also be able to contact your GP at any time, as they will have an out-of-hours service.
Your local drug and alcohol services
Developing Health and Independence (DHI) offer free and confidential support to Bath and North East Somerset residents suffering with issues related to drugs or alcohol. They also offer a needle exchange service.
You can contact them directly by emailing TheBeehive@dhibath.org.uk or by calling 01225 329411, or you can drop in to see them (in Bath or Midsomer Norton). Visit the DHI website for full details.
You can also talk to your GP about how you're feeling, and they might refer you to a drug and alcohol service such as DHI, or discuss other treatment options with you.
Developing Health and Independence (DHI) also runs dedicated services for young people:
- Project 28 provides specific drug and alcohol support services.
- The Wrap offers general support and an educational portal helping young people to take charge of a wide range of challenges in their lives.
Drugs
An overdose is having too much of a drug (or combination of drugs) for your body to be able to cope with.
Signs and symptoms of drug overdose include:
- Unconsciousness
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Difficulty breathing/snoring
- Pale, cold and clammy skin
- Confusion
- Seizures/fitting
- Slow erratic pulse (heartbeat)
- Blue/pale tingeing of hands and lips.
- Keep calm and get help. Call 999
- If they are distressed, sit them somewhere calm and give reassurance
- If they are fitting, keep the area safe and move anything that could hurt them
- If they are unconscious, put them in the recovery position and monitor their breathing
- If they stop breathing, call 999 and start chest compressions (CPR)
- If you are unsure if opioids are involved always administer Naloxone
Naloxone is a medication used to reverse opioid overdose.
For free training and free naloxone supplies, contact DHI on 01225 329 411.
Find the nearest service that holds naloxone:
| Name of service | Address | Telephone number |
|---|---|---|
| B&NES Homes | Theobald House, 46 Dartmouth Av, Bath BA1 1AT | 01225 397745 |
| Avon & Somerset Police | Lewis House, Manvers St, Bath BA1 1JQ | 101 |
| The Bath Safe Bus | Orange Grove, Bath BA1 1LP | 01225 430640 |
| The Bath BID Office | 11a York St, Bath BA1 1NG | 01225 430640 |
| Manvers St Hostel | Julian House, Manvers St, Bath BA1 1JW | 01225 311991 |
| Grosvenor Supported Housing | 23 Grosvenor Pl, London Rd, Bath BA1 6BA | 01225 982127 or 07960 142008 |
| Barnabas Supported Housing | Barnabas House, 2 Bladud Buildings Bath, BA1 5LS | 01225 7803118 |
| Corn Street Supported Housing | 33 & 34 Corn St, Bath BA1 1UF | |
| Osborne Supported Housing | 4 Osborne Rd, Newbridge, Bath BA1 3JR | |
| Claude House accommodation | Claude House, Claude Av, Bath BA2 1AE | |
| Rackfield House Supported Housing | Rackfield House, Rackfield Pl, Twerton, Bath BA2 1HB | 01225 339742 |
| Genesis Trust Life Project | Genesis on the Canal, Widcombe Bridge Canal Path, Bath BA2 4JR | 01225 439384 |
| Housing First (for long term rough sleepers) | 28 Southgate St, Bath BA1 1TP | 07815 976636 |
| DHI | 14 St James Parade, Bath BA1 1UL | 01225 329411 |
| DHI (Beehive) | The Beehive, Beehive Yard, Bath BA1 5BT | 01225 329411 |
| DHI (Midsomer Norton) | The Rural Recovery Hub, High St, Midsomer Norton BA3 2PD | 01225 329411 |
DHI offer Needle Exchange facilities to ensure that people who inject drugs have access to clean supplies and safe disposal of used works.
For more information on needle exchange contact DHI on 01225 329 411.
If you find discarded needles in the community do not handle them and report to B&NES Council immediately online or by calling 01225 39 40 41 (select option 9).
For information and advice on specific substances, visit Talk to FRANK.
Alcohol
If you're unsure if your drinking may be a danger to your health, you can use resources from Alcohol Change UK:
- the UK unit calculator
- Check your drinking habits quiz
- Alcohol and mental health quiz
- Factsheet on guideline for healthy drinking
You can also visit the NHS website for comprehensive guidance on alcohol and your health.
Drink spiking is when someone puts drugs or alcohol in another person's drink or body without their consent or knowledge.
Spiking can happen to anyone, anywhere and can be carried out by strangers or people you know.
There are some practical things you can do to reduce your risk of drink spiking:
- Always buy your own drinks
- Don't accept drinks from strangers
- Never leave your drink unattended
- Avoid drinking or tasting other people's drinks
Find support if you think someone has spiked your drink.
Bath BID has launched the Stop Spiking campaign, working in partnership with Avon and Somerset Police, Bath & North East Somerset Council and venues in Bath. Their aim is to educate and support businesses on reporting and collecting evidence of drink spiking.
Other information and support
Smart Recovery
Smart Recovery offers support and advice, from assessing your current habits through recovery and post-recovery support.
Livewell
Livewell B&NES has details of support groups and services related to drugs and alcohol in Bath and North East Somerset.
Alcoholics Anonymous
If you're struggling with alcohol, Alcoholics Anonymous offers help and allows you anonymity throughout the process. They help with personal recovery and sobriety. You can call them on 0800 9177 650 or email help@aamail.org
Narcotics Anonymous
If you're struggling with drugs, call Narcotics Anonymous on 0300 999 1212. If you're not sure whether you have a drug problem or not, they have some guidance around this, as well as information if you're new to them.
Families Also Matter (FAM)
Families Also Matter service help to reduce the impact of someone elses' drug or alcohol use on their families and friends
webFAM is an online self-help tool for families and carers of drug or alcohol users.
Drug or alcohol problems can sometimes result in other health or care needs. If you're struggling to do certain things on a daily basis, visit our dedicated Adult Social Care and Health pages.