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Friday, 9 January 2009

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Getting help with drug or alcohol problems and getting clinical waste collected

Your doctor, can help you to get advice and a referral to services for help with an alcohol or drug addiction problem. Your council can also assist you with the disposal of clinical waste.

Help in an emergency - alcohol

Alcohol is a drug and has strong effects. If you notice someone who has drunk alcohol and is behaving in a way that makes you anxious about their safety or the safety of those around them, or who has become really ill from drinking alcohol, take the following steps:

tell the person you're concerned about them and their safety
phone 999 and ask for an ambulance or assistance from the police
make sure the person's airways aren't blocked, for example by vomit, and check they haven't swallowed their tongue
don't let the person fall asleep without someone watching them
don't let the person leave, or walk alone
never let the person drive - take their car keys if possible
get assistance from the police or paramedics as quickly as you can

Alcohol misuse information Opens new window

Help in an emergency - drugs

Look out for danger signs in yourself or other people who have taken drugs - like overheating, dizziness, sickness, sudden tiredness, headaches, cramps and aching arms and legs.

People on drugs showing these symptoms or looking distressed could have had an allergic reaction to the drug they have taken, or may have overdosed. It's important to take the following steps immediately:

get help immediately, being totally honest about any drugs they've taken
phone 999 and ask for an ambulance
clearly and calmly say where the patient is, what drugs they've taken and what their symptoms are
you may be instructed to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, put the patient into the recovery position or do something else to save the person's life
make sure the person's airways aren't blocked, for example by vomit, and check they haven't swallowed their tongue
collect evidence of any drugs that might've been taken - this is vital for doctors so they know the best treatment to give
collect containers that drugs were kept in, including wrappers, packets, cling film, tin foil and syringes and get a small sample of the vomit if the person was sick
stay until the ambulance arrives

Getting help locally

Many local councils have dedicated drug and alcohol support teams. You can apply for this service if you are in need of help and support because of your dependency on drugs and alcohol, and you want to do something about it.

Treatment is given to those who most need it first. In addition, specialist social workers work with people vulnerable to drugs and alcohol misuse, like people who are homeless.

Carers, friends and relatives may also be able to get support and advice - if you are concerned about someone you know, contact your local council to find out about their drug and alcohol services.

The National Drugs Helpline is on 0800 77 66 00. It's a free and confidential telephone helpline, which gives information about drugs and drug abuse. It's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Drinkline, the National Alcohol Helpline, is on 0800 917 8282. It offers confidential info, help and advice, and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Collection of needles and other clinical waste

Used syringes, drugs, pharmaceuticals and surgical waste can be collected and disposed of by your local council. Contact them to arrange this if you need to.

The following links will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local authority website where you can find out more.