Drug use: support and treatment

Drug use can cause illness, injury and early death. It affects individuals, families and the community.

Each year, alcohol, tobacco and other drug use in Queensland accounts for an estimated 4,300 deaths and over 65,000 hospital admissions.

The majority of these hospital admissions are for tobacco and alcohol related conditions and injuries.

There are many types of drugs, and the misuse of legal or illegal drugs can take a toll on a person’s ability to function mentally and physically, and impact their ability to maintain relationships and work roles.

Help and support

If you are concerned about your own or someone else's drug use and would like more information to help, the following services are available.

Queensland

Alcohol and Drug Information Service

Adis 24/7 Alcohol and Drug Support provides a 24 hour, 7 day a week counselling, information and referral service for anyone with concerns about their own or someone else's use of alcohol or other drugs. This is a free, anonymous and confidential service.

What does this service provide?

• Compassionate, understanding and non-judgemental support for anyone in Queensland experiencing issues with alcohol and other drugs
• Information about alcohol and other drugs and advice on treatment options
• Referral information for local services
• An extensive range of print and downloadable resources
• A consultancy service for health professionals

Who can use this service?

• People concerned about their own alcohol or drug use
• Relatives and friends concerned about someone else's alcohol and drug use
• Health and other professionals working with people affected by alcohol or drug use
• General public

You can phone Adis anytime on 1800 177 833.

Alcohol and Other Drug Services (AOD)

In Queensland, treatment services are provided in local communities by Queensland Health's Hospital and Health Services, non-government and private organisations.

Services can provide comprehensive assessments for substance use as well as brief intervention, treatment planning, case management, counselling, withdrawal, residential and non-residential treatment programs, and referral to other services if required.

To locate your nearest AOD service:

• call ADIS on 1800 177 833 or use their service finder
• search the health service directory for drug/alcohol
• call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services

To locate a service in your local area visit the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council site.

Queensland Indigenous Substance Misuse Council Services (residential rehabilitation) include:

• Gindaja Treatment and Healing Indigenous Corporation (Yarrabah)
• Ferdy's Haven (Palm Island)—Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service
• Gumbi Gumbi Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation (Rockhampton)
• Gidgee Healing—Normanton Recover and Community Wellbeing Service (Normanton)
• Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Alcohol Services (Brisbane)

Quitline 13 QUIT (13 78 48)

Quitline helps smokers interested in changing their smoking behaviour.

National

Alcohol and Drug Foundation

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation's Website provides more information about treatment options and what kind of help is available.

Family Drug Support

Family Drug Support provides help for families to deal with alcohol and drug issues. Call 1300 368 186 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Counselling online

Counselling online is a free, 24 hour, 7 day online service where you can communicate live and one-on-one with a professional counsellor about any alcohol or drug related concern.

This service is free for anyone seeking help with their own drug use or the drug use of a family member, relative or friend. You can choose to remain anonymous or register with the service.

Counselling Online is a program operated by Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre in Melbourne, Victoria.

Lifeline

Lifeline provides a support and suicide prevention service. Call 13 11 14, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For young people

Reach Out

Reach Out provides resources on topics including alcohol and other drugs.

Kids Help Line—1800 551 800

Kids Help Line is a free, confidential phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5-25. Call 1800 551 800, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Headspace—1800 650 890

Headspace is a service for people aged 12-25 going through a tough time. They can provide help with all sorts of issues like relationship break ups, drug taking, exam stress, bullying, depression and more. Services are either free, or low cost (will need to provide a Medicare card).

Find your nearest Headspace service in Queensland.

For students, parents, teachers and school communities

Positive Choices is an online portal to help school communities access accurate, up-to-date drug education resources and prevention programs.

For workplaces

National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA)

NCETA provides a range of practical resources to assist workplaces to develop responses to alcohol and other drug related risks, including ice training for frontline workers.