Help with alcohol problems

Many people enjoy drinking alcohol, but for some it can cause problems for their health and wellbeing.

You can get information from:

Get treatment

If you’re worried that you’re drinking too much, or if your drinking is affecting your health or wellbeing you can:

  • ask your GP (doctor) for advice. If you aren’t registered with a GP you can find and register with a GP.
  • speak to your social worker or any other healthcare worker, they can refer you for an assessment and treatment if necessary.
  • refer yourself to Turning Point who provide free treatment in Leicestershire.

If you’re pregnant

Drinking alcohol can harm the health and development of your baby - speak to your midwife or refer yourself to Leicester and Leicestershire Turning Point for specialist pregnancy support.

NHS Choices – Drinking alcohol while pregnant also has some useful information.

Substance use and young people

A training and education package has been coordinated by the Leicestershire and Rutland Substance Use and Young People working group, to offer practical tools and evidence-based insights to enhance understanding of substance use, its impacts, and effective strategies for harm reduction, for professionals who work with young people.

The offer includes:

  • Turning Point service information sessions (for professionals)
  • Online Substance Awareness sessions for schools and professionals (including primary and secondary schools)
  • Educational workshops for secondary schools covering substance use, county lines, knife crime, child sexual exploitation and online safety
  • We are also in the process of developing wider resources to be used in assemblies, as well as resources to share with parents and carers.

All the information including how to book can be found in these posters:

Substance Use and Young People - Information Sheet PDF, 394.53 KB Opens new window
Substance Use and Young People - Information table PDF, 146.51 KB Opens new window

If you have any questions, please contact the Public Health team (phpool@leics.gov.uk).

Training for professionals

Turning Point Leicestershire and Rutland are offering online training for professionals to enhance their knowledge about substance use, including both alcohol and drug use. Training is taking place on:

  • Thursday 6 February 2025 - 10:00am - 12:00pm
  • Tuesday 17 June 2025 - 10:00am - 12:00pm
  • Tuesday 23 September 2025 - 10:00am - 12:00pm

Find out more and book your place with Eventbrite.

Other substance use support

If you're a professional and concerned about you client, the information below may also be useful to you:

Substance use support organisations

Leicestershire County substance use support

If you are concerned about any of your clients in respect of problematic use of substances, you can access support for your clients through two providers.

Turning Point are the commissioned substance use support provider covering Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and have a group of peer mentors who will be able to provide telephone support to your clients and staff.

View further information on the range of services offered by Turning Point 

Mutual Aid substance use support

You can also contact the mutual aid organisation, Dear Albert for substance use support. They can be contacted by service users and staff for more information, or to be booked on to any of their support groups:

Dear Albert
Free helpline: 0800 8303646
Text message service: 07712 707999

Dear Albert are also providing telephone support and referrals to other services including Turning Point when appropriate.

There's also new group for county residents called 'Stick With It' and can be accessed through the same freephone number: 0800 8303646