You may need help with alcohol if:

• you always need to have a drink, 
• you get into trouble because of your drinking, or 
• other people warn you about how much you’re drinking.

A good place to start is your GP. BUT Be honest about how much you drink.

If your body has become dependent on booze, stopping drinking overnight can be LIFE THREATENING, so please get advice about cutting down gradually.

Your GP may refer you to a local community alcohol service.

Ask about free local support groups, including peer support services, day-centres and one-to-one mentoring OR counselling if there are deep issues you need to discuss.

You may be prescribed medication such as chlordiazepoxide, a sedative, to help deal with alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can range from loss of sleep, agitation, anxiety, sweating and tremors right through to vomiting, diarrhoea, hallucinations and seizures.

Staying sober

Cutting down and stopping drinking is often just the beginning and most people will need some degree of help to stay alcohol-free in the long-term.

Getting support is crucial to understanding and overcoming the issues that make you drink.

Ask your GP or alcohol support group about recovery services such as, one-to-one peer mentoring or peer support groups in your area.

Residential Rehabilitation

Most people receive their support to stop drinking in the community while remaining at home.

Some need a short period staying in a unit with access to 24-hour medical care so they can receive adequate assistance with their withdrawal symptoms or other problems.

This may happen in an NHS hospital ward or medical unit or in a residential rehabilitation service, depending on the situation.

Residential rehab is usually reserved for people with medium or high levels of alcohol dependence, particularly if other forms of help have not been successful.

Days are usually structured, with a combination of one-to-one counselling and group therapy as well some selections from a menu of options such as art therapy, sport, life skills, cooking, financial management and family/couples therapy for relatives.

You may be referred to residential rehab through the NHS.

It’s also possible to pay to go privately. Medical insurance companies may fund this for a certain period.