Bedfordshire's Drug & Alcohol Line: whether you are a young person, a parent, a user or just someone who wants to find out more, Bedfordshire's Drug & Alcohol Line can offer drug and alcohol information or put you in touch with a local service that's appropriate for your needs. 

Telephone: 01234 332901

FRANK: A national, confidential drugs helpline available 24/7, for general information, facts and advice for everyone. 

Telephone: 0800 77 66 00

Drinkline: A national helpline offering advice and information for people with alcohol problems or anyone concerned about alcohol misuse. 

Telephone: 0800 917 82 82

Addaction in Bedford and Dunstable: a service for those with drug misuse issues who reside in the Bedfordshire area. Addaction offers a range of services including one to one support, information and advice about drugs, referrals to other agencies, free condoms, needle exchange, safer injecting advice, black box therapy (Dunstable) and acupuncture. Addaction can also give information about local pharmacy services across Bedfordshire including needle exchange

Contact information

• Addaction Bedford: (01234) 352220
• Addaction Dunstable: (01582) 501780

Bedfordshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (B:DAAT) is responsible for developing appropriate treatment services in Bedfordshire. There are a number of treatment services available locally offering a range of interventions from advice and information through to inpatient detoxification and residential rehabilitation

Bedfordshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (B:DAAT) is working hard with local services to ensure that the different levels of treatment are linked up in order to provide clients with different options because what works for one person may not work for everybody. B:DAAT is also working to ensure that people who have complex needs get the support they need, for example, drug use is often linked to other issues such as mental health, homelessness and B:DAAT works with all the relevant local agencies to ensure integrated treatment and support across Bedfordshire for the people who need it.

Whoever you are and whatever drug and alcohol issues you may have, B:DAAT is working in partnership to provide the support that's right for you.

In small doses it can make you relaxed and happy. In large doses it can make you feel down. Alcohol affects different people in different ways, so it’s hard to know how much you can handle.  It can make you lose control so you don’t always know what you’re doing - this may cause accidents. Large doses can you feel sleepy and feel sick. Long-term heavy use of alcohol can cause heart and liver problems and stomach conditions.

It is illegal:

• for under 18’s to buy alcohol
• for people to sell alcohol to under 18’s
• to buy alcohol for someone under 18's

Different people react to different drugs in different ways. There is no way to know exactly what is in a drug before you take it. This means that there is always a risk when you take any drug. Drugs react with each other, so mixing different types of drugs and mixing drugs with alcohol can increase the risks.

Driving under the influence of drugs is illegal and can result in a fine of £5,000, 12 months disqualification from driving, and up to 6 months in prison. Drug driving can be very dangerous for the driver, passengers and other road users.

For a quick introduction to common drugs - and drugs that cause the most worry, you can visit the FRANK website. It has an A-Z list of drugs, outlining the risks of taking them and their legal status. The list describes the appearance of different drugs, the way they are used, their effects, the chances of getting hooked, health risks and UK law.

FRANK also has a free helpline 0800 77 66 00.

Addiction is not having control over doing, taking or using something, to the point that it may be harmful. Common addictions are to alcohol or drugs, but you can become addicted to anything, from gambling to chocolate. Whatever the addiction you cannot control how you use it, and become dependent on it to get through daily life.

If you need help you can contact:

Gamblers Anonymous

Citizens Advice

NHS Direct or call 0845 46 47