Recovery support for adults

Developing Health and Independence (DHI)

DHI run several treatment and recovery services across its 3 hubs in the city:

  • Bristol Central: Brunswick Court, Brunswick Square, St Pauls, Bristol, BS2 8PE
  • South Bristol: Symes Community Centre, Peterson Avenue, Hartcliffe, BS13 0BE
  • North Bristol: Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead, Bristol, BS10 5PY

DHI Services

Open access group sessions

You can get brief advice and information and can usually take part without having to have a full assessment.

Structured group sessions

You will first need to have a full assessment.  This is followed by more in-depth interventions to help you in your recovery by providing help with:

  • psychological investigation and support
  • basic needs such as food and clothing
  • access to residential rehabilitation
  • finding employment
  • family and community relationships
  • access to healthcare services

If you need medication it's provided as an integrated and structured part of the programme.

Peer support programme

Peers are people with direct experience of problematic alcohol and substance use. They are trained to provide support both before and after treatment. Several peer-led support services are available, including:

  • one-to-one sessions
  • group sessions
  • sporting and creative activities

Contact DHI:

Self-help

DHI also provide a self-help portal where you can find specific information on drugs and alcohol, for those that don't wish to use a formal support service.

If you're in the criminal justice system

DHI run a service specifically for people in the criminal justice system, such as those being released from prison, or who have a probation officer.

Contact E5:

Bristol Drugs Project (BDP)

Bristol Drugs Project provide psychological and social support as part of your route to recovery. Their booking system allows doctors to get patients an appointment within 5 days. This can be face to face, in a range of venues across Bristol, over the phone or online.

Heroin and other opiates

You must first visit your GP and ask them to refer you to BDP to start receiving help. You will be allocated a support worker who will discuss the psychological aspect of the problem with you and give you counselling. The GP will determine whether a prescription is a necessary part of the treatment. The counselling will continue, in consultation with the GP, with a view to gradually reducing the medication or changing it to a more suitable alternative.

Alcohol

You can book an appointment in-person, over the phone, or online, during which an expert advisor will help you find the most appropriate support for your needs.

Walk-in and outreach services

BDP helps those in the most high-risk situations at an early stage. It provides a range of group-work and walk-in services on weekdays and Saturday mornings.

The services include:

  • Needle and Syringe Programme (NSP) at Brunswick Square and throughout Bristol at selected pharmacies
  • blood borne virus testing
  • Naloxone and Nitazene testing strips
  • provision of crack pipes
  • drug checking service, in partnership with the The Loop

Contact BDP:

  • 11 Brunswick Square, St Paul's, Bristol BS2 8PE
  • call 0117 987 6000

Community support services

BDP also run several free specialist support services for different communities in Bristol:

  • Wet Clinic help people that are alcohol dependent get access to health services if they struggle to access primary care in the usual way. This is in partnership with BrisDoc's Homeless Health Service.
  • Women's Morning: a weekly support group women with past or current problematic alcohol or drug use to meet and talk to other women in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. A free crèche service is available.
  • Prism: LGBTQ+: specialist drug and alcohol support service for LGBTQ+ people. Appointments can be booked with a specialist worker who can help people with harm reduction information, safer using advice and equipment.
  • The 50+ Crowd A social support group for people over 50 to take part in both group activities and get one-to-one advice.
  • Creative Communities (PDF) offer a range of free to access community recovery activities such as orchestra, drama and gardening groups.

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Services (AWP)

AWP provide a range of specialised services which include:

  • support for the highest risk patients who need to be closely monitored by a team of specialists
  • an inpatient unit
  • a specialist psychology service
  • an outpatient detox programme when highly specialist support is needed

Find out how you can access these services.

Ara recovery for all (Ara)

Ara provide accommodation for people working on their recovery from drug and alcohol use who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

For more information call 0117 930 0282. 

National Services

Waythrough

Waythrough offer intensive, personalised employment support to people accessing structured treatment.

Read more about how the IPS can help people find work

Contact:

Self-help groups

In person and online self-help groups for people experiencing difficulties with drugs or alcohol.

Information

  • FRANK, the national drug and alcohol advisory service
  • Alcohol Change UK, for those concerned about their own alcohol use or that of others
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