Help for you
You do not have to wait for the person who drinks to ask for help before you get support. Their drinking may be the reason you are struggling, but you are the one living with the fear, stress, arguments, money worries and exhaustion.
Talk to someone now If you need to talk to someone who understands what alcohol is doing to your family, there are people you can call.
You do not need the person who drinks to agree that there is a problem before you ask for help.
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs — 08080 10 10 11, Monday to Friday 9am–11pm Call Scottish Families — helpline, one-to-one support, webchat and local help ↗ Drinkline Scotland — 0800 7314 314, free and confidential Call Al-Anon Family Groups — 0800 0086 811, 10am–10pm every day Call Families of Alcohol Abuse — information, personal stories and community ↗See your GP Your GP can help with your own health and point you towards local services.
Living with someone else's drinking can affect your sleep, anxiety, mood, blood pressure and general health. You can see your GP because of what is happening to you, even if the person who drinks refuses help.
Your practice can assess your physical and mental health, discuss treatment if you are struggling with anxiety, depression or sleep, and help you reach other NHS or local services where needed.
If the person who drinks decides they want help, their GP can also be one route into assessment and alcohol treatment.
NHS Inform — alcohol support and local alcohol and drug services in Scotland ↗Get practical advice Money, housing, debts and joint accounts often need practical action, not another conversation about drinking.
If rent, mortgage payments or bills are being missed, joint debts are building up, benefits are affected or you are worried about keeping your home, contact Citizens Advice Scotland.
Citizens Advice Scotland / Money Talk Team — 0800 028 1456 Call Find your local Citizens Advice Bureau ↗If you are worried about joint accounts, cards, overdrafts or money being taken without your agreement, contact your bank directly. Ask what they can do to protect the account, change access or stop further losses.
If housing is at risk, Shelter Scotland explains your rights and what to do if you may become homeless or need somewhere safe to stay.
Shelter Scotland — housing and homelessness advice ↗Support from people who understand You can speak to people who know what it is like to live with someone else's drinking.
Alcohol Focus Scotland does not provide counselling or a family helpline. For immediate alcohol advice it directs people to Drinkline Scotland.
If you are frightened of them Alcohol does not excuse threats, violence, intimidation or controlling behaviour.
If you are being threatened, controlled, frightened or hurt, Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline is available 24 hours a day. They can help with safety planning, housing and finding local support.
Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline — 0800 027 1234, 24 hours Call Domestic abuse help, webchat, safety planning and housing advice ↗If you or anyone else is in immediate danger, phone 999. For a non-emergency police matter, phone 101.
Immediate danger — phone 999 Call Police Scotland — 101 for non-emergencies Call Read about boundaries and protecting yourself →If children are involved Schools, social work, family support and child helplines can all be part of the help.
If alcohol is affecting a child, speak to the school, GP, health visitor or your local council children and families/social work service. You do not have to wait until the child is in immediate danger before asking for advice.
Children First — 08000 28 22 33, practical and emotional family support Call Childline — 0800 1111 for children and young people Call Children & families — all the child and family help in one place →If you are struggling yourself Living with someone else's drinking can leave you exhausted, anxious, depressed or unable to cope.
If you are feeling low, anxious or overwhelmed, speak to your GP. You can also call Breathing Space in Scotland or Samaritans.
Breathing Space — 0800 83 85 87 Call Breathing Space — phone and webchat support in Scotland ↗ Samaritans — 116 123, free 24 hours a day CallIf you need urgent medical help and your GP is closed, phone NHS 24 on 111. If someone is in immediate danger, phone 999.
NHS 24 — 111 for urgent medical help when it is not life-threatening CallIf they say they want help Give them somewhere concrete to go rather than trying to become their treatment service yourself.
They can contact their GP, Drinkline Scotland or a local alcohol service. If dependence is possible, they should get medical advice before suddenly stopping.
Drinkline Scotland — 0800 7314 314 Call Find local alcohol and drug services in Scotland ↗ Alcoholics Anonymous — 0800 9177 650 Call Read about treatment and recovery →