Recovery options
Recovery is not one programme and it does not look the same for everyone. Some people use treatment services, medication, counselling or peer support. Many use a combination.
What recovery can involve Recovery is about more than getting through withdrawal or simply not drinking.
Recovery can mean rebuilding physical health, sleep, routines, relationships, work, finances and confidence, as well as finding a way to live without returning to harmful drinking.
What you need may change over time. The support that gets you through the first few weeks may not be the same support you need six months later.
See treatment options→Local recovery and alcohol services Community alcohol services can provide treatment, follow-up care and ongoing recovery support.
Local services may offer one-to-one support, group work, recovery planning, relapse prevention, medication reviews, help with physical and mental health and links to practical services.
Find local alcohol and drug services in Scotland↗ Read about getting help→Alcoholics Anonymous AA offers free peer-support meetings for people who want to stop drinking.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a 12-step programme based on mutual support between people with experience of alcohol problems. Meetings are available in person and online, and there are groups across Scotland.
Alcoholics Anonymous — 0800 9177 650Call Find an AA meeting↗SMART Recovery SMART Recovery uses practical tools to help people change addictive behaviour and maintain recovery.
SMART Recovery uses evidence-based techniques including cognitive behavioural approaches and motivational methods. Meetings are available in person and online.
Find a SMART Recovery meeting↗ SMART Recovery UK↗Counselling and psychological support Some people need help with the habits, triggers or problems that sit behind their drinking.
Counselling or psychological treatment can help with cravings, routines, stress, trauma, low mood, relationships and the situations in which drinking has become difficult to control.
Find local alcohol treatment services↗ WithYou — find local or online support↗Medication in recovery Medication can help some people reduce cravings or lower the risk of returning to heavy drinking.
Medicines used after detox or during longer-term treatment are not suitable for everyone. A doctor or specialist alcohol service can discuss whether medication is appropriate for you.
Read about medicines used in alcohol treatment→Residential rehabilitation Some people need a structured residential setting for a period of intensive treatment and recovery.
Residential rehabilitation may be considered where community treatment is not enough or where someone needs a stable, structured environment away from the pressures around their drinking.
Access is usually arranged through local treatment pathways. A local alcohol service can explain what is available and how referrals work in your area.
Find a local alcohol service and ask about residential rehabilitation↗ Scottish Government — national alcohol and drug service specification↗Practical problems can affect recovery Housing, debt, work and family problems do not disappear because someone has stopped drinking.
Recovery can be much harder if you are worried about rent, debt, homelessness, work or family problems. Asking for practical help can be part of treatment rather than something separate from it.
Citizens Advice Scotland / Money Talk Team — 0800 028 1456Call Shelter Scotland — housing advice↗ Read about alcohol, work and housing→Mental health matters too Anxiety, depression, trauma or suicidal thoughts may need treatment alongside alcohol recovery.
Tell your GP or alcohol service if mental health problems are part of what is happening. Alcohol treatment should not mean ignoring serious depression, anxiety, trauma or other mental health difficulties.
Breathing Space — 0800 83 85 87Call Samaritans — 116 123Call Immediate danger or medical emergency — 999CallIf you drink again A return to drinking does not mean treatment or previous progress was pointless.
Relapse can be serious, especially after a period without alcohol because tolerance may have fallen. Ask for help again quickly rather than waiting for things to become worse.
Read about relapse→ Find local alcohol support↗You can use more than one kind of help Treatment, peer support and practical help can work alongside each other.
There is no rule that says you have to choose between a GP, local alcohol service, counselling, AA, SMART Recovery or medication. Many people use several forms of help at the same time or at different stages.
Start with getting help→ Compare treatment options→