Alcohol treatment options
Everyone’s journey from alcohol problems is different. The right treatment for you will depend on your experiences and your situation.
All of our services are slightly different, so please contact your local service directly to discuss the support that's right for you. Typically, your options will include:
Making changes yourself
If you’re not at risk of withdrawal, you can work on cutting down or quitting alcohol yourself. We listed some steps you can take to address your drinking and make positive changes.
If you drink every day and notice unpleasant withdrawal effects when you aren't drinking, you shouldn’t quit alcohol suddenly. It can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Get in touch with your local treatment service to arrange a safe detox.
Groups and meetings
Making positive changes in your life is a lot easier when you have support from other people. Recovery groups and meetings are a chance for people with similar experiences to help and inspire each other.
You can take part in group sessions and meetings at most Change Grow Live drug and alcohol services. There are also lots of other options for getting group support. Some of them involve therapy that focuses on thoughts and behaviour, such as SMART Recovery. Others, like Alcoholics Anonymous, focus on peer support from others with similar experiences.
If you prefer, there are also online groups like Breaking Free Online. Find more groups and support options further down this page.
Detox
A detox will probably be the recommended path for you if you’re dependent on alcohol. Alcohol dependency means you drink alcohol every day and have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when you are not drinking.
The detox will be part of a bigger recovery plan. A medical professional will oversee everything and guide you through it.
The detox might be in-patient treatment at a service or medical facility, or it could be something you do at home. You might be given medication to help you with the detox, and the withdrawal in particular.
A detox isn’t the end of treatment – it’s usually the beginning of your recovery. You’ll probably need to follow it with regular support, which could include one-to-one meetings, counselling, or attending a support group. It could also be followed by in-patient rehab.
Medication
If you’re dependent on alcohol, you might be prescribed medication to help you manage withdrawal symptoms as you cut down your drinking, manage cravings, or stop drinking completely.
These medications work in different ways, and they tend to be most effective in when used combination with other treatments, such as therapy or group support. Speak to your doctor to find out more about medication, or get in touch with your local service.
Our services in Scotland
We don’t prescribe any medication at our Scottish services, but we work closely with partners in the NHS. We will make sure you can access any prescribing and other health services you need to achieve your goals.
Find your local service
