Drugs and alcohol

Currently adults are advised to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spread across more than 3 days.  

The number of units in a drink depends on the strength of the alcohol, and the amount of it in the drink. As a guide:

Find out how many units of alcohol you drink in a week on the Alcohol Change website.

How alcohol can affect you 

Sometimes, we can drink too much alcohol, without even realising it. In other cases, some may feel like they rely on alcohol to function, or to get through the day. The misuse of alcohol and drugs can have a big impact on our health and wellbeing, as well as our families, and the communities we live in.  

Physical health

Regularly drinking above 14 units a week increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer. Cutting down is one great way to help reduce blood pressure. 

Mental health

Regularly drinking alcohol affects your brain chemistry and can increase the risk of depression, low mood, and anxiety. Drinking could make you feel more tired or down. 

Weight

Many people do not realise how many calories are in their drinks. Reducing how much alcohol we drink is a good way to cut down our calorie intake. 

Caring roles

Supporting someone with alcohol issues can cause a range of problems for the carer or family member, including stress, impacts on health and wellbeing, financial issues, caring responsibilities, and having to miss work to care for that person.   

Gambling 

Gambling (also known as betting) involves any games of chance that are played for money. This could be things like betting on sports (like football or horseracing), playing bingo, and or playing casino games (like roulette, poker, or blackjack). Gambling can have a negative impact on health and wellbeing. It may also impact on other areas of life, such as household finance.

Drug and alcohol support services in Newcastle

There are a range of services for those who are struggling with alcohol, drug, and gambling issues, and for those who may need help supporting them. 

Newcastle Treatment and Recovery (NTaR) - Drug and Alcohol Service 

The service can support people living within Newcastle for issues with drug and alcohol use. The support is available for all ages and substances.  There are many types of support that can be provided, these include specialist assessment, medical and nursing care for addiction, recovery coordination, psychosocial, health support and a range of recovery support.  You can also self-refer if needed. NTaR also delivers support for children and young people through a dedicated young people’s team, offering a range of age-appropriate interventions.   

How to Access: 

Please note: Some activity also takes place at Fenham Hub and other community venues. If you are worried about where an assessment will take place, please speak to the service.  

Harm Reduction Service

The harm reduction service delivers a range of open access and confidential support for drug and alcohol users. You can access support such as needle and syringe exchange, nursing support, blood-borne virus testing, and access to naloxone.  You will also get lots of advice or information, and the staff will work with other services to support your needs.   

There are other needle exchange services in the city, including pharmacy exchanges, and the exchange at the Joseph Cowan Health Centre.  

How to Access: 

Positive Response to Overcoming Problems of Substance Misuse (PROPS) 

PROPs provide services and support across Newcastle and North Tyneside to the families and carers of loved ones who are struggling with alcohol and drug use. Support provided includes:  

• 1 to 1 and peer support groups
• training
• counselling services
• support for young people affected by a loved one’s substance misuse 

 How to Access: 

George Street Social - The Road to Recovery Trust  

George Street Social is run by the Road to Recovery Trust with the aim to help and support people recover from addiction. There are a range of support groups and mutual aid groups running from George Street Social, which is a safe and welcoming space. You can be at any stage of your recovery to attend. Everyone is welcome.  

How to Access: 

Residential Rehabilitation: Drug and Alcohol Social Work Team 

The drug and alcohol social work team is a small specialist team who can do an assessment for suitability for residential rehabilitation for adults living in Newcastle.  If you want to be considered for residential rehabilitation you need to be in treatment or have a specialist assessment with the Newcastle Treatment and Recovery service. You can discuss this further with your keyworker within the service or the social work team.  

If you would like to speak to someone about the residential rehabilitation you can make contact via phone: 0191 2772355 or email: mhadmin@newcastle.gov.uk 

Community Rehabilitation – Oaktrees 

Oaktrees offers a fully supported and structured, 12 step intensive programme for people wanting to become sober. The programme lasts around 12 weeks with good links to a range of fellowship and recovery groups in the city. To access Oaktrees, you should have had a specialist assessment or support plan from NTaR, but you can call the service for more information on the number below. 

Ridley Villas

Ridley Villas is supported housing that provides help for women who have children, who are living in Newcastle and Gateshead who need support with overcoming issues with drugs or alcohol, or both.   

How to Access: 

Newcastle Service User and Carer Forum  

We provide a forum for service users and carers  to chat and to raise any issues that you may have. 

It also provides a supportive place for peer led activities, training, volunteer opportunities, advocacy, and mentoring.   

If you would like to attend the forum or if you would like more information please:

• email publichealthadmin@newcastle.gov.uk 

Forums take place from midday to 2pm at:

• The Recovery College (ReCoCo), 2nd Floor, No.1 Carliol Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6UF

In 2025 the forum will meet on:

• Thursday 17 April
• Thursday 1 May
• Thursday 15 May
• Thursday 29 May
• Thursday 12 June
• Thursday 26 June
• Thursday 10 July
• Thursday 24 July
• Thursday 7 August
• Thursday 21 August
• Thursday 4 September
• Thursday 18 September
• Thursday 2 October
• Thursday 16 October
• Thursday 30 October

More information and advice

Stigma  

We know that stigma is often linked to drugs and alcohol. We are working with the NHS Alliance ‘Stigma Kills’ campaign and the Anti Stigma Network to tackle stigma. 

This work is important as we know that stigma can stop people from accessing and receiving the support they need. 

Carers

If you think that you are a carer or you are unsure, then there is further information and support available. Please visit our Carers page.

Support for children and young people

If you need support or advice for children and young people regarding drug and alcohol issues, there are other services or information that may be able to help: 

• Pressures - Balance 
• Alcohol advice - NHS
• Alcohol Change: alcohol and mental health
• Adfam Family Support
• Your GP
• Alcoholics Anonymous  
• Narcotics Anonymous 
• Gamblers Anonymous 
• Help for problems with gambling - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• Talk to Frank Drug Support 

Health alerts and awareness  

• Drug Spiking  – Drug spiking | Newcastle City Council
• Nitrous Oxide - PROPS - Nitrous Oxide dangers - YouTube 

Drug market profile

The drug market profile gives a public health-focused and comprehensive analysis of the drug market in the Newcastle area.

For more information see:

• Health and wellbeing needs assessments