Mental health and substance use

Short answerDescribe both the mental-health concerns and the alcohol or drug use when asking for help. Ask which service will take the lead and how the services will work together. “Dual diagnosis” and “co-occurring conditions” are terms services may use for this situation.

If someone needs urgent help after taking drugs or drinking: call 999 for an ambulance and tell the crew what you know. For urgent mental-health help, use the route for your UK nation.

Source: FRANK

FRANK says to call 999 for an ambulance if someone needs urgent help after taking drugs or drinking and to tell the crew everything you know.

When asking for help

Give the full picture. Describe the mental-health changes, what has been used, when, and any immediate risks or physical symptoms.
Ask who is responsible for the next step. Ask the service to record both sets of needs and explain which team will coordinate the response.
If a service refuses, ask for that decision in writing. Ask what service is being offered instead and pass on any new or worsening risk.

Sources for England: NICE and UK Government guidance

In England, NICE's quality standard says people aged 14 and over should not be excluded from mental-health services because of coexisting substance misuse, or from substance-misuse services because of severe mental illness. The 2025 co-occurring-conditions framework describes “everyone's job” and “no wrong door” as the main principles for services. Service standards and complaints routes differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

If they are passed between services

Ask who will take the lead“Please record that both mental-health and substance-use needs are present. Which service will take responsibility for the next step, and how will the two services coordinate the response?”

If the answer remains unclear, use when mental-health services say no. That page explains how to ask for the decision and reason, send new information and use the complaints route for each UK nation.

Find alcohol or drug support

England

The NHS has service finders for alcohol and drug support in England. A GP can also discuss local treatment options.

Find alcohol support and NHS drug-support guidance.

Wales

DAN 24/7 is the all-Wales bilingual drug and alcohol helpline. NHS 111 Wales lists it as available 24 hours a day on 0808 808 2234.

NHS 111 Wales: DAN 24/7.

Scotland

NHS inform links to local alcohol and drug services through Scotland's Service Directory.

NHS inform: drug support and alcohol support.

Northern Ireland

The Public Health Agency's Drugs and Alcohol NI directory lists local services and their referral routes.

Find a service in Northern Ireland.

Do not advise an alcohol-dependent person to stop suddenly

The NHS says a person who gets withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop or reduce drinking should get medical help first. A GP or specialist alcohol service can advise on treatment.

NHS: alcohol-use disorder.

Support for family and friends

Adfam

Adfam supports families affected by drug or alcohol use and lists family services and resources. Adfam for families.

UK SMART Recovery Family & Friends

Its meeting finder includes online and in-person Family & Friends groups. Find a SMART Recovery meeting.

Here for Someone is an independent information project. It is not a substance-use, crisis or medical service. This page organises public guidance and service information from the organisations linked beside it.

Sources checked: 27 August 2026

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