Substance misuse can have negative effects on a person's health.
You can get help for yourself or someone else using a range of services and apps that help people who misuse drugs or alcohol.
You can also report substance misuse or discarded needles in your area to us.
Substance misuse support for adults
Medway Treatment and Recovery Service - River
River stands for Responsive, Inspirational, Visible, Empowering and Recovery Orientated.
This service helps people
The service is for people who:
- are aged 18 and over
- live in Medway
- have issues with drugs or alcohol or are impacted by a loved one's substance use (even if that
loved one is not ready to get support themselves).
To refer yourself or a loved one and to find out more about the support available:
River is run by The Forward Trust and Open Road.
Narcotics Anonymous
If you're an addict, or think you may have a problem and want to talk about it, you can contact Narcotics Anonymous by:
- phone: 03009 991 212, available from 10am to midnight
- finding and attending meetings online or face to face. Find meetings on the Narcotics Anonymous website.
Try Dry app
The Try Dry app is full of tools and resources to help you take control of your drinking all year round.
Medway Alcohol Support Line
This service is for people who are worried about their drinking habits. Regular telephone sessions aim to help you understand and change your relationship with alcohol.
More about the Medway Alcohol Support Line.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous offer support to:
- help you become sober
- stay sober
- your friends, family and loved ones.
Find your nearest Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
Mind
The charity Mind has information and support for those using recreational drugs and alcohol.
Support includes:
- useful contacts for addiction
- how to help someone else struggling with drug and alcohol use
- support for drug and alcohol use
- advice on mental health.
Find support on the Mind website.
Stop smoking support
You can improve your health and save money if you stop smoking.
Find out about our local stop smoking services.
Dentaid
The mobile dental unit run by Dentaid provides help to people with their oral health if their recovering from addiction.
Find out more about the mobile dental unit.
Substance misuse support for young people
Open Road provides support for young people in Medway who misuse substances.
Visit Open Road’s Young Person’s website or phone 01634 566 285.
Needle exchange services
Needle exchange services provide injecting drug users with access to sterile needles, syringes, and other equipment to encourage the safe disposal of used needles and syringes.
Needle exchange services can be accessed at the River main hub and some pharmacies in Medway.
Report substance misuse
You can report information relating to drugs to our Local Drug Information System (LDIS) to help reduce harm.
You can also report discarded needles in your area using our online form.