Drug Treatment Options
There are different types of treatment available to help you reduce or stop drug use. Your healthcare professional will explain the options, answer your questions, and work with you to choose the approach that best suits your needs. Treatment is personalised, non‑judgemental, and focused on keeping you safe and supporting your recovery.
Types of Treatment
• Advice and support
Supportive conversations that help you think about your drug use, understand risks, and explore small steps you can take towards change.
• Talking therapies
Counselling and psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), can help you understand your relationship with drugs and develop new coping skills.
• Community or specialist drug services
Local services provide regular support, group programmes, harm‑reduction advice, recovery planning, and connections to wider help such as housing, mental health, and peer support.
• Detoxification (detox)
A planned detox can help you stop using drugs safely. This may involve medication and close support. Detox can take place at home with support or, for some people, in a hospital or specialist unit.
• Medication
Certain medications may help with withdrawal symptoms, cravings or mental health needs. Your professional will discuss whether medication is helpful as part of your treatment plan.
• Harm‑reduction
This includes advice on staying safer, Blood Borne Viruses (BBV) testing, wound care, access to clean equipment, naloxone to prevent overdose, and information on how to reduce risk. Harm reduction is offered without judgement and can be part of any stage of recovery.