Signposting
In this section you will find a list of other useful agencies and websites (for adults as well as young people), together with a brief description of what they do. If you click on the white heading, this will open a page in a new window.
There are sections on: Drugs and Alcohol (including similar Agencies in other areas); Health and Wellbeing; Housing and Accommodation; Publications and general information.
Drugs and Alcohol
Addaction (adult alcohol service) aims to help transform the lives of people affected by drug and alcohol problems by offering a wide range of services in England and Scotland.
Adfam‘s mission is to improve the quality of life for families affected by drug and alcohol use. It is committed to ensuring families stay on local and national policy agendas. The vision is that all families affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol use should be able to access the support they require, with a commitment to working until this is a reality. Adfam helps to ensure that the needs of families are accounted for on various forums, steering groups and advisory bodies.
Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is an independent expert body that advises government on drug-related issues in the UK.
Angelus Foundation has the aim to educate, encourage and assist individuals to be more knowledgeable about the risks to their health and wellbeing of using ‘legal highs’ and other harmful social substances, including alcohol, in order that they may be ever more responsible for the choices they make and, as a result, lead more wholesome and safer lives.
ARA‘s (Addiction Recovery Agency) Community Recovery Services are based in central Bristol, providing support for people who want to become abstinent from problematic drug and alcohol use. Services comprise structured treatment and supported housing designed to support clients on their recovery journey.
Cannabis Skunk Sense (CanSS) is a registered charity currently run and funded principally by volunteers. Its mission is to raise awareness of the continuing and growing threat to children, teenagers and their families, posed by cannabis use. The Charity was born out of the desperation of parents with children suffering from behavioural and mental problems as a result of drug taking: typically cannabis.
Check Point of Torbay, aims promote and safeguard the well-being of children and young people aged up to 22 who need help and support with housing, health, relationships, drug and alcohol use and those who have run away from home or who have been forced to leave home.
Community for Recovery is a new website which can give you help and support if you misuse any of the following products, or if someone you know misuses them: gases, aerosols, petrol, glues, solvents, poppers, laughing gas… they’re there to help. It has been set up by Re-Solv and Solve It, who are the two UK agencies that work to prevent volatile substance abuse (‘VSA’) and support all those whose lives are affected by it.
Devon Drug Services (adult drug service), was EDP Drug and Alcohol Services, works with people across Devon and Dorset who have, or are affected by, drug and alcohol problems; and also works both in the community and in prisons. Improving the quality of life and opening doors for people affected by substance misuse so they can improve their lives and those of their families and communities.
Drinkaware aims to change the UK’s drinking habits for the better, by promoting responsible drinking and finding innovative ways to challenge the national drinking culture to help reduce alcohol misuse and minimise alcohol-related harm. An independent, UK-wide charity, supported by voluntary donations from across the drinks industry to equip people with the knowledge they need to make decisions about how much they drink.
DrinkIQ is a global recource designed to help you make responsible choices about drinking: or not drinking.
Druglink‘s objective is to make a significant and positive impact on the lives of those misusing drugs & alcohol, their families and the communities in which they live, by providing a diverse and responsive range of services.
DrugScope is a UK charity supporting professionals working in drug and alcohol treatment, drug education and prevention, and criminal justice. It is an independent centre of expertise on drugs; the national membership organisation for the drug field and also the primary source of independent information on drugs and drug related issues.
FRANK helps you find out everything you might want to know about drugs (and some stuff you don’t). For friendly, confidential advice, Talk to FRANK.
Harbour, of Plymouth, will help anyone, including family and friends, affected by the misuse of drugs and alcohol by providing information, education, assessment and care co-ordination. It manages community based treatment services and works together with other services, voluntary, private and public, to see that every available option to address individual needs is explored.
Harm Reduction International is largest global harm reduction association and is one of the leading international sources of research, policy and legal analysis and advocacy on harm reduction and drug policy reform.
National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) is a National Health Service special health advisory, established to improve the availability, capacity and effectiveness of drug treatment in England with the aim of helping to people overcome their addiction and regain their lives.
Re-Solv is the longest serving national charity solely dedicated to the prevention of solvent and volatile substance abuse.
Solv It provides a dedicated service to young people, adults, professionals and organisations that promote understanding, awareness and education of the consequences of volatile substance abuse, working towards the prevention of related deaths, illness, accidents, crime and the impact such abuse has on the family and community, enabling a safer and healthy environment
WHYNOTFINDOUT is a website designed to provide you with the information you need to help you make informed decisions about legal highs. The content of this site is provided by independent advisors including leading experts in toxicology.
YZUP offers support, information and advice about drugs and alcohol to young people under 19yrs, throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Health and Wellbeing
CAMH‘s (Child and Adolescent Mental Health) website is intended to provide a free and comprehensive source of information for young people, parents and professionals about the range of mental health difficulties and disorders that may be encountered during childhood and adolescence.
The Childhood Bereavement Network (CBN) is a national, multi-professional federation of organisations and individuals working with bereaved children and young people in the belief that all children have the right to information, guidance and support to enable them to manage the impact of death on their lives.
Children & Young People’s Services (CYPS). The success of the county of Devon depends on high standards of educational achievement for all people to learn throughout their lives. Children & Young People’s Services have long-term ambitions for children and young people wherever they live in the county, whatever their circumstances and whatever their needs.
Fixers is a movement of young people tackling issues they feel stongly about, to make a difference to others. ‘Fixers’ are young people who want to change things for the better. Many have been through difficult times, and have used that experience to campaign on issues that matter to them, like being homeless, domestic abuse, or drink and drug misuse. As part of their campaigns, and working with professional producers, they are creating some fantastic films, songs, music videos and other resources.
Freedom Social Projects is a Christian, charitable, not-for-profit company, based in Barnstaple, North Devon. It is responsible for the management of a range of projects dealing with the care, education, relief of poverty, suffering and hardship of vulnerable client groups.
Helpguide helps you help yourself to better mental and emotional health with easy-to-read, ad-free articles that offer information, hope and effective self-help choices. Expert, ad-free resources help you resolve health challenges.
HSE (Health and Safety Executive) is the national independent watchdog for work-related health, safety and illness. It is an independent regulator and acts in the public interest to reduce work-related death and serious injury across Great Britain’s workplaces.
icould: inspiration for your career – Thinking about it but don’t know where to start? Why not discover more about your strengths and what makes you tick with our personality profile quiz? Based on work by Carl Jung and Myers-Briggs, the Buzz Test can prove a useful starting point when thinking about your career. As well as finding out what sort of jobs are popular with your personality type, the test can help you explore your temperament, learning styles, relationships and stress management.
MindFull is a brilliant new service for 11-17 year olds, providing support, information and advice about mental health and emotional wellbeing; helping you to overcome life’s ups and downs and feel confident and happy about who you are. You choose the type of support you receive and, because MindFull is online, you can get it whenever you want it, wherever you are.
NHS Choices is the online ‘front door’ to the NHS. It is the country’s biggest health website and gives all the information you need to make choices about your health.
Rethink Mental Illness has been challenging attitudes and changing lives, since 1972. Helping people living with conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorders and more, to recover a better quality of life. Helping millions of people affected by mental illness by challenging attitudes, changing lives. Providing expert, accredited advice and information to everyone affected by mental health problems.
Young Devon is a progressive charity that exists to “change the odds in favour of young people”. Challenging negative stereotypes and campaigning shoulder-to-shoulder with young people, Young Devon’s primary objective is to enhance lives and promote opportunity for those least likely to have their voices heard.
Young Minds promotes child and adolescent mental health and mental health services, and is also involved in consultancy work, training and producing information leaflets.
Youthhealthtalk is a website about young people’s real life experiences of health and lifestyle. This is not just a website about the medical facts, this is about real people and real lives. Watch, listen and read young people talking about their experiences, and feel free to join in the forums.
Housing and Accommodation
BPAG (Barnstaple Poverty Action Group) is an independent community-based charity that provides a range of services to people across Northern Devon who are experiencing crisis and hardship; working to prevent and resolve homelessness, rough sleeping and to reduce the impact of poverty and financial exclusion.
Exeter has a wide range of housing where extra care and support is available to residents with additional needs. Using the white Exeter link will direct you to information that has been provided by the participating agencies and is hosted on Exeter City Council’s website.
House of Heroes is a Christian Charity that provides the opportunity for men and women to overcome life controlling issues and lead a new life. Many residents come from a background of homelessness and addiction. When they join they become a member of the Therapeutic Community (TC).
Resettlement UK aims to bridge the gap between policy and practice – support workers and 15-18 year old custody leavers in order to increase the likelihood of improved long-term outcomes. In many ways the resettlement needs of young custody leavers are identical to the needs of care leavers. Their work supports the development of more appropriate resettlement support services for this group.
St Mungo’s homeless services opens doors for homeless people. Mainly based in London and the South, it provides accommodation and support projects with emergency homeless services (including street outreach teams and emergency shelters) for rough sleepers and hostels. Support for homeless people in recovery – opening doors to safe housing; drug and alcohol support; physical and mental health care. Providing help for homeless people in gaining life skills; housing advice for prisoners to prevent them becoming homeless on release.
Supported Housing: Exeter Foyer (Guinness Care and Support) is a 36-bed supported housing project, offering accommodation, support and guidance to help young people move into independent living. St Petrock’s is an Exeter-based charity helping people who are homeless, or vulnerably housed, lead more settled and fulfilling lives.
Young People’s Housing Advice – Housing and support options in Devon. This site is designed for young people, parents and practitioners within Devon to access information and advice, with the aim of preventing youth homelessness. The site contains helpful information for young people and parents, up-to-date housing advice and legislation as well as filmed case studies and supported housing walkthroughs.
Publications
DDN – Drink and Drugs News is the magazine for all professionals in the drug and alcohol field. DDN provides news, features, research and the latest thinking in the field. DDN works in partnership with the major organisations in the field to produce a living network for everyone involved with substance misuse.
Druglink is a bi-monthly magazine for all those UK professionals interested in drugs and drug-related issues: whether it’s treatment, public health, education and prevention, criminal justice or international. Druglink includes the latest news, feature articles, interviews, factsheets, reviews and listings
Lifeline Publications and Research – Telling the truth about drugs. Drug advice and information resources for drug agencies, schools, young people’s projects and prisons. Drug education and information resources that are: evidence based, accessible, affordable.
General Information
Downtools The Stuff About Knife Crime has been designed specifically with the aim of engaging with and educating our children, from the ages of 11-18, in order to get them involved in the challenge to prevent knife crime. The North West was the focus of a pilot campaign which is now being rolled out nationally to an audience of 7.5 million children and their families. Working in partnership with The Criminal Justice Board, Crimestoppers, Housing Associations, Members of Parliament and a growing number of companies and corporate sponsors who are working towards the same objective: to rid our streets of the threat of violence and knife crime.
DrinkandDrugs.net is a web portal for professionals in the substance misuse sector and wider health, social care and criminal justice settings – and for individuals affected by drugs and alcohol use.
The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) is an executive, non-departmental public body, with board members appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice. The YJB oversees youth justice in England and Wales; works to prevent offending and re-offending by children and young people under the age of 18; ensures that custody for them is safe, secure and addresses the causes of their offending behaviour.
Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) will help you if you get into trouble with the law. They look into your background problems and help you get your life back on track. If you get into trouble with the law, your local youth offending team will be there to support and supervise. They will also help your family if needed. They do this in different ways, and can get involved if: you get in trouble with the police or you get arrested; you are charged with a crime and have to go to court; you are convicted of a crime and given a sentence. There will usually be a caseworker in the youth offending team so you and your family only have to deal with one person.
We Know our website is accessed by people all over the world. In this section you may find interesting stuff from ouside the UK:
Information from the USA:
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From California: Addiction Recovery – Alcohol Abuse – frequently asked questions will help anyone interested in learning more about alcohol dependency to understand what it is and how to determine if someone has a drinking problem.
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The Dangers of Drunk Driving – a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that 20% of drivers aged 16 and older drove within two hours of consuming alcohol within the past year.
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Teens4Safety – lots of interesting stuff about what you shouldn’t do if you’re behind the wheel.
