The truth about treatment

You might have heard things that are stopping you asking for help with your drink or drug problem. Like you’ll get reported to the police, or you’ll have your belongings taken from you, or you’ll end up having to pay for treatment. None of these are true.

Find out below what really happens when you ask for help.

Your privacy and safety

When you visit a support service, the person you see will talk to you about confidentiality. They’ll explain that all your details will be kept confidential, unless someone’s concerned about your safety. So they would only give your information to others if it’s necessary for your or someone else's protection. And they would let you know they’re doing it, and explain why.

Has a bad experience affected you?

For many people, drinking or drug use can be a reaction to a very difficult event in the past – such as physical or sexual abuse, death of a loved one, separation from children, relationship breakdown or military experiences.

An event like this could be behind your problem with drugs or alcohol. The support you get will help you deal with anything from your past that you find difficult to face.

We understand, but not everyone does

You’ve probably met people who don’t understand addiction. They don’t see it as an illness, and maybe even think you deserve it.

But when you ask for help from local services, the people you talk to will understand completely. They might have had the same problem themselves, and they know addiction is a health issue that needs medical treatment. No one will judge you. They just want to support you.

Drink and drug problems are different for men and women

There are many differences between men and women in the way they develop drug or alcohol problems. Here are some of the main ones:

• Women tend to become dependent on drink faster and with lower amounts than men do, because they generally have less body water to dilute the alcohol.
• Women develop health problems due to substance use – such as cancer and nerve damage – faster than men do.
• Women are more likely to suffer depression and anxiety, and to have been sexually or physically abused – all these can lead to drink or drug problems.
• Men are five times more likely than women to develop an alcohol or drug problem.
• Men use more alcohol and drugs, more frequently, than women do.
• When getting help, men often find it harder to talk about their emotions and to deal with them.

The support you receive will reflect these differences, and more.