Skip to content

Help for drugs and alcohol use

There’s help available in York at whatever level you might need it, whether that be with your own drinking or drug use or because you are affected by someone else’s substance use. Click on the relevant section below to find out more today.

SUPPORT SERVICES

City of York Council Health Trainers

The City of York Council Health Trainers offer free, confidential one to one support and guidance to help you make the changes you want to see in relation to reducing alcohol, healthy eating, quitting smoking and getting more active.

For more details, see: CYC Health Trainers – City of York Council or request an appointment.

 

New Ways

The New Ways team is on hand to support you if you are concerned about how much alcohol you’re drinking and want support to make changes but don’t need treatment for physical dependence to alcohol. You can access up to 10 support sessions close to your home / work or online to help you make the changes you want to see. New Ways is funded by City of York Council.

To find out more or request an appointment, get in touch via the online form or contact the New Ways team:

 

York Drug and Alcohol Service

York Drug and Alcohol Service is run by specialists from Change Grow Live (CGL) and Emerging Futures and funded by City of York Council. They provide support for people who are drinking at possibly dependent levels. Support is free and confidential, and the range of support includes:

  • Clinical staff and recovery co-ordinators provide support tailored to individual needs and goals, including detox
  • ASPIRE: 12 week abstinence-based day rehabilitation programme at Bowes Morrell House, Walmgate (Mon-Fri)
  • Connections with peer support and community groups / activities to support ongoing recovery

To find out more or request an appointment, get in touch via the online form or contact the team:

 

Rehab

In York, you can join ASPIRE, York’s community rehab, which offers 12 weeks of intensive support to address substance use and the issues underlying it. You attend during the day Monday-Friday but you leave for evenings and weekends and sleep in your own bed.

Find out more about ASPIRE here, or contact the Aspire team: 

residential rehab offers the same type of intensive support to address substance use and often the issues underlying it while you live in a residential facility away from York which is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can find out more about residential rehab at Live Well York | Residential Rehab for Substance Use Disorders.

 

PEER SUPPORT

There are a wide range of mutual aid groups running in York. York Drug and Alcohol Service can give you more information, or see:

Fancy a Cuppa? Recovery Cafes

York in Recovery run pop-up ‘recovery cafes’ which are warm, friendly spaces to come and find out what’s happening for those in recovery around York. If you're looking for support, affected by addiction or want to support recovery, you're welcome to drop in. Whether you stopped drinking 10 years ago, 2 weeks ago, or you're still drinking and want to come and meet people and scope out what it’s all about, you're very welcome. Call in and have a chat:

Just turn up! Or for more details, call Mark from York in Recovery - 07724 312084 or email info@yorkinrecovery.org.uk.

York in Recovery are experts in lived experience of substance use disorders and offer a safe space, fun activities, and companionship for members of the York community who are either in recovery or who may not be in recovery but have an interest. We’re a judgement free zone, we’ve all walked in each other’s shoes, so if you’re considering starting your path to recovery, or if you’ve been in recovery for some time and are looking for a bunch of like-minded people to hang out with – come along! Find out more at the York in Recovery website. 

The Sober Girls Club

A sobriety group for women aged 18-29 meeting in York on Fridays, 5-7pm. Are you in recovery or just want to meet new people away from alcohol?

For more details, including venue information, contact:

SUPPORT SERVICES

York Drug and Alcohol Service

York Drug and Alcohol Service is run by specialists from Change Grow Live (CGL) and Emerging Futures and funded by City of York Council. They provide support for people dealing with issues related to drugs and/or alcohol. Support is free and confidential, and the range of support includes:

  • Clinical staff and recovery co-ordinators provide support tailored to individual needs and goals, including detox
  • Needle exchange
  • Naloxone (emergency medication to buy time for emergency services to arrive for an opioid overdose) kits and training
  • ASPIRE: 12 week abstinence-based day rehabilitation programme at Bowes Morrell House, Walmgate (Mon-Fri)
  • Connections with peer support and community groups / activities to support ongoing recovery

To find out more or request an appointment, get in touch via the online self-referral form or contact the team:

Rehab

In York, you can join ASPIRE, York’s community rehab, which offers 12 weeks of intensive support to address substance use and the issues underlying it. You attend during the day Monday-Friday but you leave for evenings and weekends and sleep in your own bed.

Find out more about ASPIRE here, or contact the Aspire team: 

residential rehab offers the same type of intensive support to address substance use and often the issues underlying it while you live in a residential facility away from York which is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can find out more about residential rehab at Live Well York | Residential Rehab for Substance Use Disorders.

 

PEER SUPPORT

There are a wide range of mutual aid groups running in York. York Drug and Alcohol Service can give you more information, or see:

York in Recovery and pop-up recovery cafes

York in Recovery run pop-up recovery cafes which are warm, friendly spaces to come and find out what’s happening for those in recovery around York. If you're looking for support, affected by addiction or want to support recovery, you're welcome to drop in. Whether you stopped drinking 10 years ago, 2 weeks ago, or you're still drinking and want to come and meet people and scope out what it’s all about, you're very welcome. Call in and have a chat:

Just turn up! Or for more details, call Mark from York in Recovery - 07724 312084 or email info@yorkinrecovery.org.uk.

York in Recovery are experts in lived experience of substance use disorders and offer a safe space, fun activities, and companionship for members of the York community who are either in recovery or who may not be in recovery but have an interest. We’re a judgement free zone, we’ve all walked in each other’s shoes, so if you’re considering starting your path to recovery, or if you’ve been in recovery for some time and are looking for a bunch of like-minded people to hang out with – come along! Find out more at the York in Recovery website. 

The Sober Girls Club

A group for women aged 18-29 meeting in York on Fridays, 5-7pm. Are you in recovery or just want to meet new people away from drugs and alcohol?

For more details, including venue information, contact:

The Gate York

The Gate York offers a range of support for children and young people up to 25 years affected by someone else’s substance use (they also work with young people around their own substance use). To find out more or request an appointment, get in touch via the online form or contact the team:

 

York Carers Centre

York Carers Centre run support groups for anyone who is affected by a family member or friend’s drinking, drug use or gambling in York. 

 

Al-Anon

Al-Anon Family Groups are for anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else's drinking. There are groups meeting in York face-to-face and online.

 

Nacoa

Nacoa - national charity offering free, confidential information, advice and support to everyone affected by their parent's drinking, including a free and confidential phone helpline. They also have information and advice for grandparents: helping grandchildren affected by their parent's drinking.

Stitch Away the Stigma

Stitch Away the Stigma stitching sessions - an opportunity to meet others who have also been affected by a loved one's substance use and to contribute to an ever-growing wall hanging. No sewing experience necessary!

The Gate York

The Gate York offers a range of support for children and young people up to 25 years affected by their own or someone else’s substance use. Their aim is to provide young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to identify and appropriately respond to risks associated with substance use.

To find out more or request an appointment, get in touch via the online form or contact the team:

Last updated: 03/07/2024

Websites you may be interested in

York in Recovery

York In Recovery are a peer-support, and peer led recovery group. 

York in Recovery
Healthwatch York logo

Mental Health

The York Mental Health and Wellbeing Guide created by Healthwatch York is very comprehensive and full of useful contact information and support available in York.

Mental Health - Live Well York

York Talk Money

This information is to encourage us all to get talking about money and to let you know about the support available and where to get help both online and across the city.

York Talk Money