In a crisis? Samaritans 116 123 RDaSH 0800 804 8999 Emergency 999

Get Help

Asking for help is the hardest bit. There’s no perfect time to do it and no perfect way. The pages below cover the most common starting points. Whatever you’re using, however long it’s been going on, recovery is possible.

Quick links: I think I have a problem · Talking to a doctor · Meetings & mutual aid · NHS & treatment routes · Online & app-based recovery · If you’ve relapsed · In an emergency

I think I might have a problem

If you’re reading this, some part of you already knows. The fact that you’re searching is itself information. Ask yourself a few honest questions:

  • Am I using more than I want to, or for longer than I plan to?
  • Have I tried to cut down or stop and not been able to?
  • Is it costing me money I haven’t got?
  • Am I lying to people about it?
  • Has it cost me jobs, friendships, sleep, or my health?

If two or more of those land, you’re not “fine”. You’re also not broken. You’re somewhere a lot of people have been, and a lot of people have come back from.

You don’t have to call yourself an addict to ask for help. You don’t have to hit a “rock bottom”. The earlier you act, the more there is to save.

Talking to a doctor or pharmacist

For most people the first practical step is your GP. They’ve heard it before, they aren’t there to judge you, and what you tell them is confidential.

What might help when you go in:

  • Write down what you’re using, how often, and how long for. It’s hard to be honest in the moment, but having it on paper takes the pressure off.
  • Mention sleep, mood, anxiety, eating. They’re all part of the picture.
  • Ask about referrals to local drug and alcohol services. In Doncaster the main NHS-funded service is Aspire Drug & Alcohol Services and you can also self-refer.
  • If you’re thinking about cutting down on alcohol, ask about a managed reduction. Going cold turkey from heavy drinking can be dangerous and shouldn’t be done without medical advice.

Pharmacists can also help. Many do confidential consultations on alcohol, smoking and substance use. You don’t need an appointment.

If your GP isn’t who you’d talk to first, that’s okay too. There are direct routes below.

Meetings & mutual aid

The 12-step fellowships are free, anonymous, and don’t ask for your details. You walk in, sit at the back, and listen until you feel ready to speak. You can leave any time. Most people who get sober use a mix of these and a recovery worker, not one or the other.

Full local listings, including women-only and faith-based options, are in our Peer Support & Mutual Aid directory.

NHS, charity and treatment routes

Beyond meetings, structured treatment helps a lot of people. The main routes:

  • Aspire Drug & Alcohol Services (Doncaster): NHS-funded, free, the local treatment service. Self-referral and walk-in. They can offer counselling, prescribing for opioid substitution, and group programmes.
  • Community detox: managed reduction at home with medication support and check-ins. Usually arranged through Aspire or your GP.
  • Inpatient detox: a short stay (usually 7 to 10 days) under medical supervision. Used when home detox isn’t safe.
  • Residential rehab: typically 4 to 12 weeks of structured group and one-to-one work. NHS-funded places are limited but available; charity-funded places (e.g. via Forward Trust, Phoenix Futures) are often quicker. Private rehab is also an option if cost isn’t a barrier.
  • Day programmes & recovery cafes: structured group time without staying overnight. Good when you’ve done a detox and need somewhere to channel your time.

Don’t get stuck on the labels. The right path depends on what you’re using, how dependent you are, and what your home situation looks like. A worker at Aspire or your GP can help you map this out.

Online & app-based recovery

If meetings or appointments feel too big a step, there are good things to start with from your sofa:

  • Try Dry (Alcohol Change UK app): track days off, see savings.
  • I Am Sober: simple sobriety counter and daily check-in.
  • SMART Recovery online meetings: video meetings 7 days a week.
  • One Year No Beer: paid programme, structured 28/90/365 day challenges.
  • Recovery podcasts: Russell Brand “Above the Noise”, Tara Schuster “Confidence on Demand”, “The Naked Mind” by Annie Grace, “After the Bell” (UK).

None of these replace human help. But they’re a way to start while you build up to walking into a meeting or a doctor’s surgery.

If you’ve relapsed

Relapse is part of a lot of recovery stories. It doesn’t undo the time you had. It doesn’t mean recovery doesn’t work. It means right now, today, you need to make the next call you would have made a week ago.

If your sponsor exists, ring them. If you’ve stopped going to meetings, go to one tonight. If you’ve been seeing someone at Aspire, ring them in the morning. The longer the gap between the relapse and the next bit of help, the harder it gets.

Don’t disappear out of shame. Everyone in the rooms has been there. The fastest way back is through other people, not on your own.

In an emergency

If you’ve taken something and you’re not sure you’re safe, or if you can’t keep yourself safe right now, call 999. You won’t be in trouble. Tell them what you’ve taken and how much.

  • Samaritans: 116 123, free, 24/7. They listen, they don’t judge, and you don’t have to be suicidal to call.
  • NHS 111: option 2 for mental health, 24/7.
  • RDaSH 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line (Doncaster): 0800 804 8999.
  • Frank: drugs information and live chat at talktofrank.com or 0300 123 6600.

What’s next?

Pick one thing today. Just one. It might be ringing the AA helpline. It might be writing a list for your GP. It might be downloading an app. The first action breaks the spell of “I’ll do it next week”.

Phoenix Recovery Hub doesn’t do treatment ourselves, but if you’re not sure where to start and want to talk to someone with lived experience, drop us a message. We’ll point you at the right service for what you’re dealing with.