Substance misuse
If you feel that you need help with your alcohol or drug problem, we will talk with you about your care needs and about the sort of help that is available.
This is called an assessment and can lead to us arranging a service that is right for your needs or putting you in touch with other specialist organisations.
Who can get help?
If you live in Lambeth and want help to stop misusing drugs or alcohol or to sort out the problems that drug or alcohol misuse may be causing, we may be able to help.
Resources are limited and we must ensure that arranging help for the most vulnerable and frail people in our community comes first. This may mean that we cannot always provide all the services we would like or always meet your needs in the way you may prefer.
Anyone who feels that they need a service must first get a referral from another agency, such as your GP, hospital or specialist drug or alcohol organisation.
What services are available?
We work closely with other council departments, health services and voluntary agencies. Depending on your needs, we can arrange or provide a range of services. This might include:
- Information and advice
We can put you in touch with local and national organisations that specialise in drug and alcohol misuse
- Detoxification
We can advise you on how you will be able to refer yourself to a detoxification scheme in order to help you to safely manage withdrawal from drugs or alcohol
- Counselling and day care provision
Staff in the substance misuse team can arrange counselling with trained and experienced counsellors or a place at a day care facility. This will be confidential and will aim to help you to remain drug or alcohol free
- Residential rehabilitation
Following detoxification, if care at home is not suitable, a period of care, support and counselling in a residential facility may be arranged
- After-care
A team of after-care workers including psychologists and occupational therapists can provide training, education and ongoing support for people who have left treatment or have been recently discharged from prison
Is there help for family members?
Yes - if someone in your family has a problem with drugs or alcohol, we may be able to provide you with information about agencies which will be able to support and advise you.
Is there a charge for services?
It depends on the service we have arranged. Some services are free, others have a set charge and others are charged on a sliding scale, depending on your income.
There is never a charge for a community care assessment.
We will always give you information about any charges so that you know how much the services will cost before you use them.
What do I do now?
If you feel that you or a member of your family may need help with drug or alcohol problems, you should contact one of the useful organisations listed below, or the more specialised organisations listed on the alcohol advisory service or drugs advisory service pages.
Some of the organisations can help you directly. Others can help you by referring you to us for an assessment for other services.
If you are already in contact with us or with a hospital, you can ask staff to contact the substance misuse team on your behalf. You can also ask your GP to do this for you.
If you feel that you or a member of your family may need help with alcohol-related problems, you can contact any of the organisations listed on this page.
If you feel that you or a member of your family may need help with drug-related problems, you can contact any of the organisations listed on this page.
If you need to get in contact with us urgently you can call us outside of office hours on 020 7926 1000.
The after-care team can provide training, education and ongoing support for people who have left treatment.
Useful organisations
Marina House
Addictions Resource Centre
63-65 Denmark Hill
Camberwell
London SE5 8RS
Maudsley Acute Assessment Unit
Maudsley Hospital
Denmark Hill
Camberwell
London SE5 8AZ