Useful addresses
We have included the following organisations because, on preliminary investigation, they may be of use to the reader. However, we do not have first-hand experience of each organisation and so cannot guarantee the organisation’s integrity. The reader must therefore exercise his or her own discretion and judgement when making further enquiries.
Al-Anon Family Groups UK and Eire (also Alateen)
61 Great Dover Street
London SE1 4YF
Helpline: 020 7403 0888 (24 hours a day)
Website: www.al-anonuk.org.uk
Offers support to families and friends of problem drinkers; can refer to local groups. Alateen, part of Al-Anon, is dedicated to helping teenagers with an alcoholic relative. For details of local meetings ring the helpline.
Al-Anon Information Centre
Republic of Ireland
Room 5, 5 Capel Street
Dublin 1, Republic of Ireland
Helpline: 01 873 2699 (10.30am–2.30pm, Mon–Fri)
Northern Ireland
Peace House, 224 Lisburn Road
Belfast BT9 6GE
Helpline: 028 9068 2368 (Mon–Fri 10am–1pm,
6–11pm, 7 days a week)
Scotland
Mansfield Park Building, Unit 6, 22 Mansfield Street Partick, Glasgow G11 5QP Helpline: 0141 339 8884 (10am–10pm, 365 days a year)
Alcohol Concern
64 Leman Street London E1 8EU Tel: 020 7264 0510 Website: www.alcoholconcern.org.uk
Agency working against alcohol misuse at national as well as local level. Supports specialist and non-specialist service providers helping to tackle all problems at a local level. Members receive regular magazine and have access to information and training services.
Alcohol Concern Cymrn
Sophia House, 28 Cathedral Road Cardiff CF11 9LJ Tel: 029 2066 0248 Website: www.alcoholconcern.org.uk
See above for information.
Alcohol Education and Research Council (AERC)
Eliot House (EH 1.4), 10–12 Allington Street
London SW1E 5EH
Tel: 020 7808 7150
Website: www.aerc.org.uk
Funds alcohol research and innovative educational projects in the UK. Information on completed projects can be found on the website, especially via the Alcohol Insights series.
Alcohol Focus Scotland
166 Buchanan Street
Glasgow G1 2LW
Tel: 0141 572 6700
Website: www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk
Offers information and support services including public health and campaigns on issues related to alcohol problems. Also provides training to volunteers staffing helpline.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
PO Box 1, 10 Toft Green
York YO1 7NJ
Tel: 01904 644 026
Helpline: 0845 769 7555
Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Offers information and support, via local groups, to people with alcohol problems who want to stop drinking.
Benefits Enquiry Line
Tel: 0800 882200 Minicom: 0800 243355 Website: www.dwp.gov.uk
N. Ireland: 0800 220674
Government agency giving information and advice on sickness and disability benefits for people with disabilities and their carers.
Citizens Advice Bureaux
Myddleton House, 115–123 Pentonville Road London N1 9LZ Website: www.adviceguide.org.uk
HQ of national charity offering a wide variety of practical, financial and legal advice. Network of local charities throughout the UK listed in phone books and in Yellow Pages under ‘C’.
Clinical Knowledge Summaries
Sowerby Centre for Health Informatics at Newcastle (SCHIN Ltd) Bede House, All Saints Business Centre Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2ES Tel: 0191 243 6100 Website: www.cks.library.nhs.uk
A website mainly for GPs giving information for patients listed by disease plus named self-help organisations.
Drinkline
Helpline: 0800 917 8282 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) Department of Health confidential helpline offering information and advice to callers who are concerned about their own or someone else’s drinking. Can refer to local support services.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
MidCity Place, 71 High Holborn
London WC1V 6NA
Tel: 0845 003 7780
Website: www.nice.org.uk
Provides national guidance on the promotion of good health and treatment of ill-health. Patient information leaflets are available for each piece of guidance issued.
NHS Direct
Tel: 0845 4647 (24 hours, 365 days a year)
Website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Offers confidential health-care advice, information and referral service. A good first port of call for any health advice.
NHS Smoking Helpline
Freephone: 0800 022 4332 (7am–11pm, 365 days a year)
Website: http://smokefree.nhs.uk
Pregnancy smoking helpline: 0800 169 9169
(12 noon–9pm, 365 days a year)
Have advice, help and encouragement on giving up smoking. Specialist advisers available to offer ongoing support to those who genuinely are trying to give up smoking. Can refer to local branches.
Patients’ Association
PO Box 935 Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3YJ Helpline: 0845 608 4455 Tel: 020 8423 9111 Website: www.patients-association.com
Provides advice on patients’ rights, leaflets and a directory of self-help groups.
Quit (Smoking Quitlines)
63 St Mary’s Axe London EC3 8AA Helpline: 0800 002200 (9am–9pm, 365 days a year) Tel: 020 7469 0400 Website: www.quit.org.uk
Offers individual advice on giving up smoking in English and Asian languages. Talks to schools on smoking and pregnancy and can refer to local support groups. Runs training courses for professionals.
Useful links
BBC
A helpful website: easy to navigate and offers lots of useful advice and information. Also contains links to other related topics.
Patient UK
Patient care website.
US Government
