Help with drug use

You can find information and advice about drugs - if you or someone you know has been affected by drugs and wants support to make a change.

You can get some useful information from:

  • My Turning Point - drug-related information, guidance and support for Leicestershire residents 
  • Talk to Frank - they offer friendly, confidential drugs advice

Get treatment

If you think that you or someone you know might have a drug related problem:

  • 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.

If you’re pregnant

Speak to your midwife or refer yourself to Leicester and Leicestershire Turning Point for specialist pregnancy support.

Needle exchange

Exchange needles and syringes at your nearest pharmacy (chemist) to stop the risk of spreading diseases such as HIV and hepatitis.

Drug and alcohol awareness training

Youth-focused training and education 

Free training and educational resources are available through our partner agencies 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 all professionals). Various dates available throughout the year, email andrea.sugrim@turning-point.co.uk. 
  • Online drug and alcohol awareness sessions for schools and professionals (including primary and secondary schools) – book via Ticket Tailor. 
  • Police Education (Pol-Ed) offer for LLR schools and colleges, providing free PSHE resources including lesson plans and assembly content for children aged between 4 and 18. Covers a variety of topics, including drug and alcohol awareness, county lines, online safety and more! Find out more at Live Safe. 
  • Leicestershire Police also offers interactive classroom workshops delivered by subject matter experts, designed to offer a more tailored and in-depth view of topics such as substance awareness. Find out more at Live Safe or email school.workshops@leics.police.uk

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

Adult-focused training and education

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 (10am to 12pm)
  • Tuesday 17 June 2025 (10am to 12pm)
  • Tuesday 23 September 2025 (10am to 12pm)
  • dates for October 2025 onwards to be announced

Find out more and book your place with Eventbrite.

Naloxone training

Leicestershire County Council are supporting Turning Point in offering free naloxone training and kits to professionals who work across Leicestershire and Rutland. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Find out more and book a place at Naloxone Training | Eventbrite. 

Other substance use support

You, or a professional (concerned about a client) may also find the information below useful:

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 at Find a local service | 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 830 3646
Text message service: 07712 707 999

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

There's also a group for county residents called 'Stick With It' and can be accessed through the same freephone number: 0800 830 3646