Alcohol and Substance Misuse

Alcohol and drugs - Lancashire County Council

 

Support for young people, parents and carers

Find advice and tips for talking to your children about the risks associated with underage drinking.

 

YouthZone provides information and advice about drugs and alcohol for young people in Lancashire.

 

Support for adults

Inspire Lancashire - drug and alcohol support service

Free, confidential support for anyone affected by drugs or alcohol across the county. Whether you want to cut down, stop completely, or get advice for someone else, Inspire can help.

Inspire Lancashire is part of Change Grow Live and works in partnership with local councils and health services to ensure everyone has access to compassionate, person-centred support

They offer:

  • One to one and group support for drug and alcohol recovery
  • Specialist treatment and harm reduction advice
  • Health and wellbeing checks
  • Naloxone training and supply
  • Community outreach and education
  • Free training for professionals and workplaces

How to refer:

Tel: 08081 698 673

Website: www.inspirelancs.org.uk

 

Recovery Support Service

Red Rose Recovery – commissioned by Lancashire County Council

Offers tailored support to help people rebuild their lives after substance misuse.
Services include:

  • Group sessions and one-to-one support
  • Community events and volunteering opportunities

To access support, visit one of our Hubs listed below or call 01772 821 440.

Central Lancashire – 33 Lune Street, Preston, PR1 2NN

East Lancashire – St James Old School House, Cannon Street, Accrington BB5 2ER

North Lancashire – 58 Penny Street. Lancaster, LA1 1XF

Website: https://redroserecovery.org.uk/

The Well Communities

A recovery community built on support, inclusion, and lived experience. For over a decade, we’ve helped people across North Lancashire and Cumbria overcome drug and alcohol challenges, rebuild confidence, and move toward healthier, more positive lives.

We offer free, long-term support for anyone facing issues such as addiction, offending, homelessness, mental health challenges, or trauma. Our peer-led approach, backed by professionals and partners, creates a safe space where people can belong, grow, and give back.

At The Well Communities, our community drives our work - because recovery is a journey we take together.

Website: https://www.thewellcommunities.co.uk/

Very Brief Intervention

Ask

We're asking everyone about alcohol, is that okay?

  • This question may be promoted from some verbal or visual prompts i.e. the person has stated that they have a hangover or there is evidence of drinking in the home etc.

How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?

  • If the answer given indicates around 4 or more times a week you may wish to consider asking how many drinks do they have on each of these occasions, explain that unit measures can be quite confusing and offer to explain a simple unit measurement guide 
  • The principle behind understanding units and applying these to the guideline is important. Essentially, the greater the dose consumed, the greater the chance of unwanted effects.

This is one unit...

The Chief Medical Officers (CMO) guideline for both men and women states that:

  • To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis 
  • If you regularly drink as much as 14 units per week, it's best to spread your drinking evenly over three or more days 
  • If you wish to cut down the amount you drink, a good way to help achieve this is to have several drink-free days a week. 

Healthcare professionals are advised to use the questions within the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption (AUDIT C)

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption (AUDIT C)

Assist

State some of many benefits to reducing alcohol intake

  • Save Money 
  • Improved relationships
  • Reduce calorie intake/lose weight
  • Improved fertility if you are trying for a baby
  • Improved sleep
  • Reduced risk of injury
  • Fewer hangovers
  • More alert and higher performing at work
  • Reduced risk of high blood presure
  • Reduced risk of cancer
  • Reduced risk of liver disease

Act

NATIONAL SUPPORT

Do you think you would benefit from some further support to reduce your drinking to 'lower risk' levels?

  • Speak to your GP, a loved one or call Drinkline 0300 1231110 (Mon-Fri 9am - 8pm, weekends 11am - 4pm). The Drinkline service provides free, confidential, accurate and consistent information and advice to callers who are concerned about their own or someone else`s drinking regardless of the caller`s age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity or spirituality.
  • Want a quick, friendly chat about alcohol? Our trained advisors are on hand to give you some confidential advice. You don't even have to make a phone call. Drinkchat is online between 9am - 2pm (UK time) from Monday to Friday.   https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/support-services/chat-with-an-advisor 
  • Download the 'One You' drinks tracker makes it easy to keep an eye on the booze and take control with daily tips and feedback) available on iTunes or google play.          
  • Get further information from the NHS www.nhs.uk

SELF CARE 

Further tips on cutting down

Make a plan
Before you start drinking, set a limit on how much you're going to drink.

Set a budget
Only take a fixed amount of money to spend on alcohol.

Let them know
If you let your friends and family know you're cutting down and it's important to you, you could get support from them.

Take it a day at a time
Cut back a little each day. That way, every day you do is a success.

Make it a smaller one
You can still enjoy a drink, but go for smaller sizes. Try bottled beer instead of pints, or a small glass of wine instead of a large one.

Have a lower-strength drink
Cut down the alcohol by swapping strong beers or wines for ones with a lower strength (ABV in %). You'll find this information on the bottle.

Stay hydrated
Have a glass of water before you have alcohol and alternate alcoholic drinks with water or a soft drink.

Take a break
Have several drink-free days each week.  

Local Support and Contact Details