Alcohol Scotland

Information, advice and support to help relieve the misery caused by Scotland's alcohol problems. For people worried about their drinking, families and friends affected by alcoholism, and anyone looking for practical help or clear answers.

Treatment & recovery

Treatment is not one thing. The help you need depends on how much you drink, whether you are dependent, your physical and mental health, and what has happened when you have tried to stop before.

Where to start You do not need to know what treatment you need before asking for help.

Start with your GP, Drinkline Scotland or a local alcohol service. They can help work out whether you need medical withdrawal support, specialist treatment, counselling, medication or longer-term recovery support.

Drinkline Scotland — 0800 7314 314 Call Find alcohol support and local services in Scotland ↗ WithYou — online support and local services ↗
Your GP and local alcohol services They can assess your drinking, your health and whether it is safe for you to stop.

Your GP can talk to you about your drinking, check your physical and mental health and refer you to specialist alcohol services where needed. Local alcohol services may offer assessment, community treatment, counselling, medication, detox support and ongoing recovery help.

Tell them how much you drink, whether you get shakes, sweating, anxiety or other symptoms when alcohol wears off, and whether you have ever had seizures or severe withdrawal before.

Find local alcohol and drug services in Scotland ↗
Detox and withdrawal support If you are dependent, stopping safely may need medical treatment.

Detox means managing alcohol withdrawal safely. Depending on your risk, this may be supported at home, through a community alcohol service, in residential treatment or in hospital.

If you drink heavily every day, need alcohol to stop shakes or anxiety, or have had withdrawal before, get medical advice before stopping suddenly.

Read about alcohol withdrawal → NHS 24 — 111 if you need urgent advice and it is not life-threatening Call

Severe confusion, hallucinations, seizures or collapse are emergencies. Phone 999 or go to A&E.

Counselling and psychological treatment Treatment can help you understand what keeps the drinking going and how to change it.

Alcohol treatment can include one-to-one counselling, group work and psychological approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy. This can help with cravings, habits, stress, relationships and the situations that make drinking harder to control.

Ask your GP or local alcohol service what is available in your area. Some services accept self-referrals as well as GP referrals.

Find alcohol services in your area ↗
Medication Some medicines can help with withdrawal or reduce the risk of drinking again.

Medication may be used during withdrawal, and some medicines can be prescribed as part of longer-term alcohol treatment. What is suitable depends on your drinking, health, other medicines and treatment plan.

This is something to discuss with your GP or specialist alcohol service. Do not use someone else's medication or try to manage withdrawal with medicines on your own.

Residential rehab Some people need a period of structured treatment away from home.

Residential rehabilitation is one option for some people with serious or long-standing alcohol problems. It usually combines a structured daily programme with psychological treatment, recovery work and support away from normal drinking routines.

Access and funding vary by area. Your local alcohol service can tell you whether residential treatment is appropriate and what routes are available locally.

Find your local alcohol service ↗
Recovery groups and peer support Treatment does not have to end when the drinking stops.

Some people find it easier to stay stopped when they have regular contact with other people in recovery. You can use peer support alongside NHS or specialist treatment.

Alcoholics Anonymous — 0800 9177 650 Call Find an AA meeting ↗ SMART Recovery — find an in-person or online meeting ↗
If you drink again Going back to alcohol does not mean there is no point trying again.

Contact the people or service that were helping you and tell them what has happened. If you have returned to heavy drinking, do not suddenly stop again without thinking about withdrawal risk.

Look at what happened before you drank again: where you were, who you were with, how you were feeling and what support was missing. Treatment can be changed. You do not have to start from nothing.

Drinkline Scotland — 0800 7314 314 Call