Who can help them stop?

Some people can stop using drink or drugs if they get the right help, from someone who is trained to help them. There are hundreds of organisations out there that just help  people who have problems with drink or drugs. They can get help from

• National helplines
• Local support groups
• Doctors and hospitals
• Social workers

It can take some people a long time to get help with their drink or drugs problem. When they get help, getting better can also take time.

However long they take to get help, you can get help now:

• Talk to an adult about what’s going on. If you want to be sure that the person you talk to will not tell anyone else, talk to a helpline like ChildLine - you don’t have to give them your name. If you are not in danger, youth workers, connexions workers or counsellors can usually keep what you say private. Social Workers can find help for your whole family.
• When your family member’s drink or drug problem is not a secret anymore, it will be less scary to talk to people about it.
• It’s okay to have feelings about what is happening – you may feel scared, angry, stressed  or guilty. If you have a Young Carers Project in your area, you will be able to talk to a Young Carers Worker who can understand what you are going through. You may be able to meet other young people who have similar problems in their families.