
      <div class="aod-content"><p>If you do have a problem with alcohol or drug use, you may experience one or more of the following:</p>
      <ul>
      <li>drinking too much (perhaps vomiting or experiencing a hangover)</li>
      <li>overdosing (losing consciousness)</li>
      <li>regular need for the alcohol or other drug</li>
      <li>having previous failed attempts to stop using</li>
      <li>significant changes in mood and/or behaviour</li>
      <li>a decline in health (mental and/or physical)</li>
      <li>neglecting responsibilities</li>
      <li>lowered productivity</li>
      <li>accidents</li>
      <li>financial problems</li>
      <li>deteriorating relationships at work and with family and friends</li>
      <li>doing things you normally wouldn’t do (such as illegal activities like stealing)</li>
      </ul>
      <p>While you may not be able to immediately identify a problem with alcohol or other drug use, your pattern of use may be hazardous in that it puts you at risk of developing one or more of these problems in the future.</p>
      <p>If you are concerned about your use, you can call the alcohol drug helpline on <strong><a href='tel:0800787797'>0800 787 797</a></strong> for free confidential information, help and support.</p>
      <p>You might like to try out our <a title="Test your drinking" href="/problem" target="_blank">drinking</a> test or <a title="Test your drug taking" href="/problem">drug taking</a> test.</p>
                              
                                                  </div>
    

Do I have a problem?

Get Help!


      <div class="aod-content">
      <h3>Our alcohol drug telephone helpline is only a call away.</h3>
      <p>Call <a href='tel:0800787797'>0800 787 797</a> or text <a href='sms:8681'>8681</a>, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to speak with a trained counsellor. All calls are
          free and confidential. Read more</p>
      <p>The Alcohol Drug Helpline provides friendly, non-judgmental, professional help and advice. If you are concerned
          about <a href="#problem">your own</a> drinking or drug taking we can assist with
          information, insight and support.</p>
      <p>If you are a family/whanau member, friend or professional <a
              href="/helping-others">concerned about someone</a> else we can help you
          develop strategies for yourself and the other person.</p>
      <p>On our Helpline services page you can access details of all our <a
              href="#services">services</a> including those for Māori, Pacific peoples, <a
              href="#youth-helpline">Youth</a>, Work and Income clients and those impacted
          upon by Methamphetamine use. You can access a <a href="https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/mental-health-addictions/"
              target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">directory</a> of service providers in your region. We also have a
          big range of useful printed information we can send you. You can also discover <a
              href="#what-happens-when-i-call">what happens</a> when you
          call the Helpline and the <a href="/helpline#types-of-help" >types of help</a> we
          can refer you to..</p>
      <p>View further <a href="#resources" >resources</a> and information from
          other sources.</p>
      <p>All calls to the Helpline are free and confidential. You can remain anonymous if you wish. Our counsellors will
          listen to you and work with you to identify the changes you want to make and find practical solutions that will
          help you achieve them. If you are on a longer journey of recovery we can walk alongside you as you make the
          changes in your life step by step. If we can’t provide all the help you need it’s our job to put you in touch
          with services that can.</p>
      <p>The Helpline is funded by the Health Promotion Agency and the Ministry of Health and provided by Whakarongorau Aotearoa // New Zealand Telehealth Services.</p>
  
  </div>
    

Helpline


      <div class="aod-content">
      <p>The Helpline is here to assist anyone with a question or concern about their own or someone else’s drinking or
          other drug use.</p>
      <ul>
          <li>If you want to check out if your drinking or drug use is OK and find ways to keep safe we can help.</li>
          <li>If your use of alcohol or other drugs is causing problems in your life, we can help.</li>
          <li>If you are a family member or carer of someone with an alcohol or other drug problem we can help.</li>
          <li>If you are concerned about a friend, colleague, client or employee and are seeking information, we can help.
          </li>
      </ul>
      <p>To access the Helpline dial <strong><a href='tel:0800787797'>0800 787 797</a></strong> from any landline or mobile. The Helpline operates 24
          hours a day, 7 days a week. Other ways of contacting us are on our <a
              href="/contact">contact</a> page.</p>
      <p>We also provide allied health professionals with a <a title="Referrals"
              href="/contact#referral">referral</a> process for clients and access to promotional products to promote the service with the people
          you are assisting.</p>
      <p>If you need more than the Helpline can provide we will link you into whoever can ensure you get what you require.
      </p>
  
  </div>
    

Who is it for?


      <div class="aod-content">
      <p>When you call our team of committed and trained counsellors we will take time to work with you to identify:</p>
      <ul>
          <li>What your needs are and what problems your own or someone else’s drinking or drug use may be causing for you
              or them.</li>
          <li>What kind of assistance and information you are seeking and what changes you want to make.</li>
          <li>Practical solutions for helping you address the problems you are seeking help for.</li>
          <li>The best resources and services that can help, either through the Alcohol Drug Helpline or by referring you
              to services in your local area.</li>
      </ul>
      <p>You may choose to remain anonymous. Your information always remains confidential and you can choose what help and
          support you wish to receive. Helpline calls are recorded for training or quality monitoring purposes.</p>
      <p><a title="Contact" href="/contact">Contact</a> us or telephone the Helpline on
          <strong><a href='tel:0800787797'>0800 787 797</a></strong> or continue to <a title="Nau mai, welcome to the Alcohol Drug Helpline"
              href="/">browse</a> this website for further information.</p>
  </div>
    

What happens when I call?


      <div class="aod-content">
      <h3>Nau mai</h3>
      <p>At the Helpline we are committed to providing a culturally affirming service, utilising resources available
          specifically for Māori, and referring callers to kaupapa Māori treatment services when requested.</p>
      <p>Telephone <strong><a href='tel:0800787798'>0800 787 798</a></strong> (free from your landline or mobile) or FREE TXT <a href='sms:8681'>8681</a> (we
          will TXT you back)</p>
      <p>Ideally kaupapa Māori services are developed, delivered and evaluated by Māori, supported by kaumātua and
          mandated by manawhenua/iwi kainga.  Treatment is provided in a range of settings and in ways that
          acknowledge and respond to the variety of experiences of contemporary Māori. The Helpline has a comprehensive
          list of kaupapa Māori services available in Aotearoa.</p>
  
  </div>
    

Maori Helpline


      <div class="aod-content">
    <h3>Fakalofa lahi atu; Halo olgeta; Malo e lelei; Nisa bula; Aloha; Kia orana; Kam na mauri; Talofa lava; Kaselehlia;
        Yokwe; Hafadai; Warm Pacific Greetings.</h3>
    <p>Our Pasifika Helpline seeks to provide a holistic, culturally affirming service which meets your physical,
        spiritual and mental needs and encourages support from family and community.</p>
    <p>Telephone <a href='tel:0800787799'>0800 787 799</a> any day, 24 hours a day, or FREE TXT <a href='sms:8681'>8681</a> and we will TXT you back.</p>
    <p>The Pasifika Helpline has a full list of Pacific and other services throughout New Zealand.</p>
</div>
    

Pasifika Services


      <div class="aod-content">
      <p>The Youth Helpline has dedicated people experienced in working through issues with young people. They offer free,
          confidential support and guidance. They are able to talk to you about your own drinking or drug use or about
          another persons drinking or drug use.</p>
      <p>Our people can provide you with a few simple steps to help keep yourself and your friends safe while socialising
          and drinking.</p>
      <p>We can provide information and advice about a particular drug and the effect it may have if taken.</p>
      <p>We can provide advice and practical strategies to help you ease up on the amount your drink.</p>
      <p>Maybe you have a friend or family member drinking or taking drugs and you are concerned for their wellbeing. Talk
          to us, we can help.</p>
      <p>Call 0800 787 YTH (<a href='tel:0800787984'>0800 787 984</a>) any day, 24 hours a day, or FREE TXT <a href='sms:8681'>8681</a> and a counsellor
          will TXT you back.</p>
      <p>You can have a confidential <strong>chat with us</strong> by clicking the <q>Chat with us</q> button at the bottom of this website.</p>
  </div>
    

Youth Helpline


      <div class="aod-content">
      <p>The Helpline offers a range of services that aim to provide people from different cultures and backgrounds with
          appropriate advice, information and help that recognises their unique needs. Our services include –</p>
      <ul>
          <li><strong><a href="/helpline#maori-helpline">Māori Line</a></strong> –
              Kia Ora, the Helpline is committed to providing a culturally affirming service, utilising resources
              available specifically for Māori, and referring callers to kaupapa Māori treatment services when requested.
          </li>
          <li><strong><a href="/helpline#pasifika-helpline/">Pasifika
                      Line</a></strong> – Kia Orana, the Helpline has a full list of all Pacific and other services in New
              Zealand.</li>
          <li><strong><a href="/helpline#youth-helpline">Youth Line</a></strong> –
              The Helpline offers a dedicated, free, confidential information and support service for young
              people to get help on any issue related to their own or someone else’s drinking or drug taking.</li>
          <li><strong><a href="https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/mental-health-addictions/" target="_blank"f
                      rel="noopener noreferrer">Services Directory</a></strong> – If you are looking for details of
              treatment providers within your region, you will find them here.</li>
          <li>Work &amp; Income Support Services</li>
          <li>Call Back Service</li>
          <li>Printed Resources – are available for free here <a href="https://www.healthed.govt.nz" target="_blank">https://www.healthed.govt.nz</a> - search "Alcohol" or "Drug".</li>
      </ul>
  </div>
    

Helpline Services


      <div class="aod-content">
      <p>There are a variety of interventions and help available to you. The help you choose will depend upon its
          suitability and any recommedations from your GP or other professional advisors. The following list provides you
          with an overview of help available. It should be considered a guide only, for your information. Please click on
          a heading for more details of each form of help.</p>
      <p><a title="Screening and Brief Intervention"
              href="/helpline#screening-and-brief-intervention"><strong>Screening
                  and Brief Intervention</strong></a> – Simple screening is a brief process to discover the likelihood
          that a person has a problem, the presence of other related problems.</p>
      <p><a title="Comprehensive Assessment"
              href="/helpline#comprehensive-assessment"><strong>Comprehensive
                  Assessment</strong></a> – Comprehensive assessment is considered to be essential to identify the help
          that is likely to be most effective for the individual.</p>
      <p><a title="1 on 1 Counselling"
              href="/helpline#1-on-1-counselling"><strong>1 on 1
                  counselling</strong></a> – Counselling involves having regular sessions with an alcohol and other drug
          counsellor who can listen to an individual and help them develop.</p>
      <p><a title="Self Help Groups"
              href="/helpline#self-help-groups"><strong>Self Help
                  Groups</strong></a> – Support groups do not provide treatment, but can complement treatment.</p>
      <p><a title="Day Programs" href="/helpline#day-programs"><strong>Day
                  programmes</strong></a> – Some people will benefit from a structured intervention such as a day
          programme, where they attend a non-residential programme, during the day.</p>
      <p><strong><a title="Residential Program"
                  href="/helpline#residential-programs/">Residential
                  programmes</a> – </strong>Some people will benefit from a structured residential programme, the
          average length of which is 6-12 weeks, but can be up to one year.</p>
      <p><strong><a title="Medication"
                  href="/helpline#medication">Medication</a> –
          </strong>Medication is sometimes used to help with detoxification, promote abstinence or prevent relapse to
          alcohol and other drug use within a comprehensive.</p>
      <p><a title="Methadone"
              href="/helpline#methadone"><strong>Methadone</strong></a> –
          Methadone treatment is an example of harm reduction assistance.</p>
      <p><a title="Detox" href="/helpline#detox"><strong>Detox</strong></a> –
          Some people require a withdrawal management service, colloquially referred to as “detox” or detoxification
          treatment.</p>
      <p><a title="Relapse Prevention"
              href="/helpline#relapse-prevention"><strong>Relapse
                  Prevention</strong></a> – Relapse can be an issue for many people who seek treatment for problems with
          alcohol or other drugs.</p>
      <p><a title="After Care" href="/helpline#after-care"><strong>After
                  Care</strong></a> – After-care involves providing on-going support so that the gains made in treatment
          are not lost.</p>
      <p><a title="Psycho-Social Therapies"
              href="/helpline#psycho-social-therapies"><strong>Psycho-Social 
                  therapies</strong></a> – Counsellors and other professionals use a wide range of therapies and
          techniques to meet people’s psychological and social needs.</p>
  </div>
    

Types of Help


      <div class="aod-content">
      <p>Living with or supporting someone experiencing a severe substance (alcohol or other drug) addiction can be very
          stressful, distressing and confusing.</p>
      <p>Family and whānau may want to use the Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017 to get
          their loved one into treatment.</p>
      <p>But compulsory assessment and treatment is a last resort and the Act can only be used after all other
          options have been tried without success.</p>
      <p><strong>Even if your loved one has serious addiction problems and all other options have been tried the Act may
              still not apply.</strong></p>
      <p>The Act will only apply to people who are very unwell due to severe substance addiction <strong>and</strong> who
          are unable to make their own decisions about treatment</p>
      <p>It is very unlikely that the Act will apply to someone under the age of 17.</p>
      <p>If someone can think through the consequences of their decisions, even if that decision is to refuse
          treatment, the Act can’t be used, no matter what we think about that choice.</p>
      <p>
        <a href="https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/mental-health-and-addictions/preparing-commencement-substance-addiction-compulsory-assessment-and-treatment-act-2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read more information about the Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017</a>.
      </p>
      
      <h3>How to make an application</h3>
      <p>If you believe that your family and whānau member has a severe substance addiction and is unable to make their
          own decisions about addiction treatment, you can apply to have them assessed, either through:</p>
      <ul>
          <li>an authorised officer, or</li>
          <li>your GP or other medical practitioner.</li>
      </ul>
      <p>Deciding to use the Act can be a difficult decision and an authorised officer, a trained health professional, can
          talk with you about the Act, support you to make the application if appropriate, and support you and your family
          and whānau member to get ongoing help.</p>
      <p>You can contact your GP, or local District Health Board or NGO alcohol and other drug service to arrange to talk
          to an authorised officer.</p>
      <p>Check out the resources we have on this site on <a href="/helping-others">helping others</a> or contact us on <a href='tel:0800787797'>0800 787 797</a> / SMS <a href="sms:8681">8681</a>.
      
      <h3>What happens if your family and whānau member meets all the criteria for use of the Act?</h3>
      <p>If the authorised officer thinks your family and whānau member may meet the criteria they will arrange for an
          assessment by an approved specialist.</p>
      <p>Approved specialists are health professionals that have been appointed by the Ministry of Health to make the
          final decisions about compulsory assessment and treatment.</p>
      <p>If the person meets all the criteria the approved specialist will sign a Compulsory Treatment Certificate and
          arrange health care and withdrawal management (detoxification) for your family and whānau member. After this it
          is likely that your family and whānau member will be transferred to a treatment centre that has been approved
          for this purpose by the Ministry of Health.</p>
      <p>You will be kept informed of when this will happen, where your family and whānau member will be and how to keep
          in touch. It may also be possible to visit and stay at the centre.</p>
      <p>In the treatment centre your whānau member will be under the care of health workers to stabilise their health and
          restore their ability to make decisions about addiction treatment.</p>
      <p>The purpose of compulsory treatment is to restore a person’s ability to make their own decisions about addiction
          treatment if possible. Once someone is assessed as being able to make decisions about treatment for addiction
          they will be discharged from the Act. If they decide at this stage to accept treatment this will be provided by,
          and at, a different service.</p>
      <p>When decision making ability is not restored or your family and whānau member does not want to engage in
          treatment, workers at your local alcohol and other drug service and at the treatment centre will talk with you
          and your whānau about what happens next.</p>

      <h3>What happens if your family and whānau member does not meet all the criteria?</h3>
      <p>The authorised officer will talk with you and support you with other options for getting help for your family and
          whānau member and yourself.</p>
      <h4>Looking after yourself is important</h4>
      <p>You do not need to do this on your own.</p>

      <h4>More information</h4>
      <p>You can get information and support for yourself and your family and whānau from: 
      <strong>Alcohol Drug Helpline:</strong> <a href="https://alcoholdrughelp.org.nz/">www.alcoholdrughelp.org.nz</a>; phone 0800 787
          797; text <a href='sms:8681'>8681</a></p>
  </div>
    

Compulsory assessment and treatment


      <div class="aod-content">
      <p>The Alcohol Drug Helpline can assist allied professionals who have clients with alcohol and other
          drug problems. Assistance includes:</p>
      <ul>
          <li>Advice on identification and intervention for alcohol and other drug disorders including local treatment and
              support options. Call the Helpline on <a href='tel:080087797'>0800 787 797</a>, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
          </li>
          <li>Following referral to the Helpline, through our call back service we contact the client to follow up with
              help and support and access to Helpline services.</li>
          <li>Screening, triage, brief assessment and formal <a title="New Referral" href="/contact#referral">referral</a> with navigation support to specialist treatment for clients as required.</li>
      </ul>
      <p>Click <a title="Referrals" href="/contact#new-referral">here</a> to find out
          how easy it is to make a referral.</p>
  
  </div>
    

Information for Professionals


      <div class="aod-content">
      <p>The Alcohol Drug Helpline is one of many resources available to help you along your journey to recovery. Listed
          below are links to those resources.</p>
      <ul>
          <li>Al-Anon – Offering hope and recovery to all people affected by the alcoholism of a loved one or friend.
              Ring 0508 425 4666 to find meetings and contacts in your area.</li>
         
          <li><a href="http://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Drug Foundation</a>
              – The Drug Foundation has been at the forefront of major alcohol and other drug policy debates for more
              than 20 years. During that time they have advocated strongly for policies and practices based on the best
              evidence available.</li>
          <li><a href="http://kina.org.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kina</a> – Are you impacted upon by
              alcohol or drugs, or someone you know uses drugs or drinks a lot of alcohol? Use this interactive <a
                  href="http://kina.org.nz/how-are-you-feeling/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tool</a> to
              explore your feelings or discover strategies for <a
                  href="http://kina.org.nz/what-can-i-do/alternative-strategies/" target="_blank"
                  rel="noopener noreferrer">looking after yourself.</a></li>
          <li><a href="http://www.needle.co.nz/home_page.html/262" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The New
                  Zealand Needle Exchange Programme</a> – A health education and health promotion
              service for people who inject drugs.</li>
          <li><a href="http://www.alcohol.org.nz/help-advice/standard-drinks/a-guide-to-standard-drinks" target="_blank"
                  rel="noopener noreferrer">The Straight Up Guide to Standard Drinks</a> – A guide produced by the Health
              Promotion Agency to see how much alcohol there is in your choice of drink.</li>
          
              <li><a href="https://thelevel.org.nz/" target="_blank"
                  rel="noopener noreferrer">The Level - Straight up drug info</a> – We help New Zealanders learn, think and talk about their use of alcohol and other drugs and offer practical ways to begin to make changes. Our aim is to provide a supportive place, free of judgement. Our information is researched and reviewed by experts in the field and people who use drugs.
                  </li>

                  <li>
                  Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand funded services: <a href="https://info.health.nz/mental-health/alcohol-and-drug-addiction/getting-help-with-alcohol-or-drug-addiction" target="_blank"
                  rel="noopener noreferrer">Getting help with alcohol or drug addiction</a>
                  </li>

              <li><a href="https://highalert.org.nz/" target="_blank"
                  rel="noopener noreferrer">Home : High Alert</a> – Drug Information and Alerts Aotearoa New Zealand (DIANZ) is supported by a network of health professionals and social services (both Government and Non-Government Organisations).</li>

              <li><a href="https://www.odysseychch.org.nz/meth-help" target="_blank"
                  rel="noopener noreferrer">Meth Help | Odyssey House</a> – are available for anyone who is experiencing a problem related to methamphetamine – those that use and those who have concerns regarding someone else’s use. Service users are assigned their own Counsellor and can be supported at any stage of their journey.</li>
      </ul>
      <p> </p>
      <p> </p>
  
  </div>
    

Other Resources


      <div class="aod-content">
      <p>Simple screening is a brief process to discover the likelihood that a person has a problem, the presence of other
          related problems, and whether there is any immediate danger to the person or others. It is usually the starting
          point for getting help.</p>
      <p>Screening may include or be followed by a “brief intervention”. A brief intervention allows a person to identify
          their level of use, consider the pros and cons of continuing to use, and any reasons they may have for wanting
          to change. Brief intervention can be delivered in a range of non-specialist settings.</p>
      <p>Where screening indicates that problems are severe, a person may be referred on to specialist services for
          assessment and treatment.</p>
  </div>
    

Screening and Brief Intervention


      <div  class="aod-content">
      <p>Comprehensive assessment is considered to be essential to identify the help that is likely to be most effective
          for the individual. This is done by a trained counsellor or health clinician, who will ask questions about the
          person’s alcohol and/or drug history, their personal circumstances, and look at the issues underlying and
          sustaining their use of alcohol or other drugs.</p>
      <p>The goal is to determine the nature of the problems (and related problems if present), including mental and
          physical health, spiritual well-being, family, social and cultural strengths and issues, offending and legal
          problems, and develop a treatment plan with the person seeking help. A quality assessment is the basis for
          matching the different treatment options available to the individual’s specific needs and circumstances.</p>
  
  </div>
    

Comprehensive Assessment


      <div  class="aod-content">
      <p>Counselling involves having regular sessions with an alcohol and other drug counsellor who can listen to an
          individual and help them develop a plan and strategies for dealing with their alcohol and other drug issues.</p>
      <p>Counselling is usually an on-going situation where a person can choose how often and how long they would like to
          see the counsellor. They can talk with their counsellor about anything they need to talk about. Everything
          discussed in counselling is protected by confidentiality; only in extreme cases where they believe someone is in
          danger can a counsellor ever tell anyone else what has been told to them, unless they have asked for and
          received permission to do so from the person involved.</p>
  
  </div>
    

1 on 1 Counselling


      <div  class="aod-content">
      <p>Support groups do not provide treatment, but can complement treatment. The groups are informal, available to
          everyone, and offer a high level of mutual support, social contact and understanding between members. Many
          people participate in self-help groups before, during and/or after treatment.</p>
  
  </div>
    

Self Help Groups


      <div  class="aod-content">
      <p>Some people will benefit from a structured intervention such as a day programme, where they attend a
          non-residential programme, during the day or in the evenings, over a period of time, usually around 6-12 weeks.
          Programmes are offered in a group setting; this means that you will be with other people who are also seeking to
          change their alcohol or other drug use.</p>
  
  </div>
    

Day Programs


      <div  class="aod-content">
      <p>Some people will benefit from a structured residential programme, the average length of which is 6-12 weeks, but
          can be up to one year.</p>
      <p>Residential treatment is suited to people who experience severe physical, emotional and social problems
          associated with alcohol or other drug misuse. Being able to get away from the everyday stresses of life in a
          safe, caring, supported environment where people are able to work through drug or alcohol issues with the help
          of experienced specialists, can be very beneficial.</p>
      <p>These programmes are usually abstinence based, which means that people who go to these services are asked to
          cease alcohol and other drug use for the duration of their treatment programme with the aim that they will
          continue to live this way after the programme is completed.</p>
  
  </div>
    

Residential Programs


      <div  class="aod-content">
      <p>Medication is sometimes used to help with detoxification, promote abstinence or prevent relapse to alcohol and
          other drug use within a comprehensive, individualised treatment programme. This requires the supervision of a
          trained medical professional.</p>
  
  </div>
    

Medication


      <div  class="aod-content">
      <p>Methadone treatment is an example of harm reduction assistance. In such programmes, opiate users are placed on a
          daily dose of oral methadone so that they no longer need to access illicit opioids such as heroin or morphine
          derivatives.</p>
      <p>There are two immediate advantages that come from this. The first is that the user no longer has to inject him or
          herself, so there is a substantial health gain involved. The second is that by getting methadone from a legal
          source, the user now has the option of living life without the financial problems often associated with
          acquiring illicit drugs. In this way, methadone provides dependent opiate users with the opportunity to move
          away from a criminal lifestyle and ‘normalise’ their lives.</p>
      <p>Methadone is a prescription medication; so the treatment is delivered either by specialist addiction services or
          authorised general practitioners supported by specialist addiction services. Medication is generally
          administered or dispensed in community pharmacies.</p>
  
  </div>
    

Methadone


      <div  class="aod-content"><p>Some people require a withdrawal management service, colloquially referred to as “detox” or detoxification treatment. This is for people who have a physical dependence on alcohol or other drugs. Physical dependence is when people:</p>
      <ul>
      <li>Need to increase how much they take to get the same effect and/or</li>
      <li>Suffer physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms if they stop drinking or using drugs</li>
      </ul>
      <p>The goal of detox is to ensure the person who wants to stop or reduce the amount of alcohol and/or drugs they are taking is supported to do so as safely and comfortably as possible.</p>
      <p>Abstinence is often the immediate treatment goal. Detox is not usually effective on its own in producing long-term abstinence; service providers see it as a first treatment stage for those who require it.</p>
      <p>Withdrawal management services are provided in a range of settings. Services can be provided at the service user’s home, in a dedicated community residential support facility, or in a dedicated in-patient medical facility. Withdrawal can sometimes be life-threatening and may require specialist medical management. Some services utilise complementary therapies such as mirimiri and rongoa during the course of withdrawal.</p>
      <p>We encourage people with signs of withdrawal to contact a specialised service.</p>
                              
                                                  </div>
    

Detox


      <div  class="aod-content"><p>Relapse can be an issue for many people who seek treatment for problems with alcohol or other drugs.</p>
      <p>Relapse prevention aims to teach people how to identify, anticipate and manage problems and situations that may lead to a relapse. Most specialist treatments include relapse prevention as a key part of treatment. It is also an important part of self-management when a person no longer requires formal treatment.</p>
                              
                                                  </div>
    

Relapse Prevention


      <div  class="aod-content"><p>After-care involves providing on-going support so that the gains made in treatment are not lost. Continuing care is important because people who have received help can face a high risk of relapse in the time immediately after treatment.</p>
      <p>After-care can include relapse prevention, self-help groups and individual support for those wishing to maintain the changes they have made in treatment. Access to education or training, advisory services, peer support and social networks and employment support may also be included.</p>
                              
                                                  </div>
    

After Care


      <div  class="aod-content"><p>Counsellors and other professionals use a wide range of therapies and techniques to meet people’s psychological and social needs. These therapies are based on different experiences and research, using different models of addiction and dependency. Counsellors will select the ones that are most likely to work for each individual they see.</p>
                        
                                          	</div>
    

Psycho-Social Therapies


      <div class="aod-content">
      <h3>Thank You So Much</h3>
      <p>“Thank you so much, I know without help I wouldn’t have got there, and you were a core part of that. If I didn’t have you to talk to and if you didn’t understand what I was saying and let me talk, I don’t thing I would have come through it. You’re such a good counseller and worker and person in general. You did it so well. I’ve had a lot of people involved before and they didn’t have a clue. You saved a life, you saved a few, I think along the way, by having such a positive effect on me, thank you so much for being such a beautiful person.”</p>
      </div>
    

Stories

Thank you so much, I know without help...

Alcohol & Drug

Nau mai, welcome to the Alcohol Drug Helpline. Our alcohol drug telephone helpline is only a call away. Call 0800 787 797, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to speak with a trained counsellor.

Our alcohol drug telephone helpline is only a call away. Call 0800 787 797, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to speak with a trained counsellor.