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
Bath & North East Somerset Drug & Alcohol Service is delivered by Turning Point, Bristol Drugs Project, and The Nelson Trust, and offers free and confidential support to people in the community about their substance use.
You might want to quit entirely, reduce your use, or learn how to be safer when using drugs and alcohol.
Whether you're reaching out for the first time or are a regular visitor, you'll find it simple to access the resources, information, or treatment you need.
The service is a safe and inclusive space, which also provides support to those affected by someone else's substance use.
You can refer yourself online or by calling 01225 342 052.
They have hubs you can visit at The Beehive, Beehive Yard, Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BT and The Recover Hub, High Street, Midsomer Norton BA3 2PD.
You can also talk to your GP about how you're feeling, and they might refer you to a drug and alcohol service, or discuss other treatment options with you.
Bath & North East Somerset Drug & Alcohol Service also runs dedicated services for young people under 18 years old.
Their experienced team of professionals are dedicated to supporting young people, offering a free, flexible and accessible service.
They offer support on an outreach basis, meeting young people in appropriate community venues separate from adults services, including local authority premises, at a young person's home, in school, or other suitable venues.
You can make a referral online or by calling 01225 342 052.
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 B&NES Drug and Alcohol Service on 01225 342 052.
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 | 14 St James Parade, Bath BA1 1UL | 07815 976636 |
| B&NES Drug & Alcohol Service (The Beehive) | The Beehive, Beehive Yard, Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BT | 01225 342052 |
| B&NES Drug & Alcohol Service (Midsomer Norton) | The Rural Recovery Hub, High St, Midsomer Norton BA3 2PD | 01225 342052 |
B&NES Drug & Alcohol Service offers 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 B&NES Drug & Alcohol Service on 01225 342052.
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.
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.