Have you thought that you would benefit from support with your drinking? Are you not sure where to start looking for that help?

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Reaching out for support can feel scary, especially if you're not sure how to do it. As a GP who spends most of my time in the recovery community, I spend a lot of time helping people navigate the various support options available and it can be overwhelming.

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This guide aims to help you navigate the systems and options and how to see if they're right for you.

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We built Clean Slate Clinic with the mission to smash down barriers to accessing support and making the process simpler and a programme that is realistic for people to get support alongside their normal day-to-day lives.

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What are the options?

Navigating the alcohol services across the UK can feel difficult as there are just so many different systems and pathways which can vary depending on where you live.

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Many people ask 'Who do I call? My GP? NHS? Charities? Mental Health Services? Groups like AA? How do I find the best option/options for me?'

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This guide is designed to support you through these questions and explain what is available for you, how you can access it and why it can feel difficult or daunting.

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We'll guide you on what to look for in any provider so you can make a decision you feel confident about.

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The web of support

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This is a general overview of the main categories of alcohol support you may encounter:

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Conventional services

‍These are the local Drug & Alcohol service in your area which is provided by the Local Authority (e.g. the Council) but may have some crossover with the NHS.

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Everyone in the UK has a right to access free-at-the-point-of-care support through these services.

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Mental Health Services‍

People can access their local IAPT service which is a free NHS talking therapies for help with common mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. It is very common for alcohol use and depression/anxiety to co-exist.

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However, many mental health specialists advise treating the alcohol issue first as that has a better chance of improving symptoms than talking therapies alone.

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Charities

‍There are a number of national and local charities that provide support.

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Recovery Community

‍These are usually local hubs or collections of organisations that support people directly in their community.

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Another term here may be Lived Experience Recovery Organisations which are run by people who have been through addiction and use their recovery experience to help those in need.

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Peer-Support Groups‍

These are made up of people who have lived experience, including SMART Recovery and 12-step groups like AA.

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Private Services‍

There are many private options including private counsellors, coaching services as well as detox services and inpatient rehabs.

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Apps

‍There's a variety of self-help/motivational apps out there that can support people dealing with particular issues, mental health or behavioural change.

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Safety first: If you currently drink daily, or have experienced shakes, sweats, seizures, hallucinations, or confusion when you've tried to cut down, please do not stop or reduce suddenly without medical guidance. Alcohol withdrawal can be medically serious. Speak to your GP or call 111 for urgent advice. In an emergency, call 999.

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Find what works for you

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Like most things in life, there is not one single solution for everyone. Alcohol dependence is a complex interplay of biology, psychology, social and environmental conditioning alongside habit.

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It's a personal journey and what helps one person may not suit another and that's OK.

That does not mean one service is 'better' or 'worse' than another; the best option for someone is one that works for them.

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Research consistently shows that the strength of the match between an individual and their treatment approach is one of the strongest predictors of success.

A programme that allows you to feel connected, fits your circumstances and addresses your concerns and goals is far more likely to lead to lasting change than one chosen under pressure or without enough information.

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So take your time, keep an open mind and look at a variety of options to see what seems like the best fit.

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What to look for in any provider

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Whether you're considering NHS services, a private programme, or a combination of different types of support, these four criteria apply across the board:

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Registered and regulated in the provider's own name

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Any service offering medical detox or clinical treatment in the UK must be registered if they carry out regulated services (e.g. medical or social care) with the following:

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England

‍The Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk)

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Scotland

Health Improvement Scotland

(healthcareimprovementscotland.org)

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Wales

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (hiw.org.uk)

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Northern Ireland

The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority RQIA (rqia.org.uk)

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For England, you can verify this at cqc.org.uk/care-services. Be cautious of providers that claim clinical oversight through a third-party arrangement rather than being directly regulated themselves. This is an important detail to research.

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Structured aftercare following detox

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Detox addresses the physical dependence on alcohol. Without structured clinical support afterwards, relapse rates are high.

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NICE clinical guideline CG115 recommends that detox should always be followed by ongoing psychosocial intervention.

A credible provider will include aftercare as a core part of the programme, not as an optional add-on.

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Independently verified outcomes

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It is reasonable to ask any provider for their outcome data. Results that have been evaluated by a reputable academic or research organisation carry more weight than self-reported marketing claims.

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A personalised clinical approach

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Be wary of rigid, one-size-fits-all protocols. The best providers will conduct a thorough assessment before recommending a treatment plan; this should include a review of your circumstances, drinking history, physical and mental health, home and social environment, and your goals.

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Why Clean Slate Clinic exists

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We built Clean Slate Clinic because we recognised the gap in the above services where people can fall between the cracks and not have access to the most suitable care for their situations.

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For many people experiencing alcohol dependence the existing options present a difficult choice, particularly those managing careers, families and day-to-day responsibilities.

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NHS community alcohol services provide valuable support, but can suffer from under-resources and high demand which can lead to longer waiting times and limited intensity and duration of available treatment.

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Residential rehabs can offer immersive care, but it requires stepping away from your life for weeks, which is not feasible or desirable for everyone.

The treatment duration is focussed on detox and the aftercare follow-up can be on the shorter side.

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Detox-only services address physical withdrawal but the guidelines and research is clear that detox-only (without aftercare with psychosocial interventions) is not an effective treatment for alcohol dependence in the longer term.

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Clean Slate was designed to give people another choice and sits between the conventional/NHS services and the very expensive residential rehabs.

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Our model is clinically rigorous, medically supervised and structured for the long term, whilst being delivered in your own home, so that recovery happens in the environment where real life happens.

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Here is what that looks like in practice

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Doctor-led and CQC-registered

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Clean Slate Clinic is registered directly with the Care Quality Commission (ID: 1-22152371205). Our clinical pathways are designed and overseen by addiction-specialist doctors and delivered by qualified clinicians.

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This is not a wellness programme with a medical veneer, it is a regulated clinical service, held to the same regulatory standards as hospitals and the NHS.

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A 12-month programme, not a quick detox

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Detox is a medical event of stopping alcohol. Recovery is a learning process.

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Our programme spans three phases over 12 months: 1) assessment/preparation, 2) medically supervised withdrawal with daily clinical reviews and structured reviews, 3) recovery and maintenance phase with ongoing clinician appointments and access to SMART Recovery meetings. This reflects the evidence that lasting change requires sustained support.

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Home-based by design

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Behaviour change research shows that new coping strategies are most effective when they are learned in the environment where they will be used.

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Removing someone from their daily life can create a false sense of confidence that collapses on return.

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Our model is built around the opposite principle: supported change in real-world conditions.

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Independently verified outcomes

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Our treatment outcomes are evaluated by independent academic researchers and not self-reported.

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We believe that if a provider cannot show you verified data on how their clients do, that is worth noting.

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A social enterprise, not a volume business

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Clean Slate Clinic is a certified social enterprise (Social Enterprise UK, No. 17863). Our purpose is to make evidence-based addiction treatment more accessible.

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We exist to deliver good clinical outcomes, not to maximise patient throughput.

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Suitability matters to us

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We do not accept every referral. Our onboarding process includes a clinical suitability assessment and we will tell you directly if we believe another type of service would better meet your needs. The guide below exists because we mean that.

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Who Clean Slate works well for

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Our programme tends to be the best fit for people who are drinking at dependent levels, want to make a significant change, but need to continue managing their work, family and daily responsibilities during treatment.

Many of our clients are professionals who have been functioning outwardly while struggling privately; people who need a programme that takes both the clinical and the practical realities of their situation seriously.

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If that describes your situation, you can take our confidential suitability assessment or book a call with the team to find out more.

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Your wider options in the UK

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Clean Slate is one option among several and the right choice depends on your personal circumstances. Below is an overview of what else is available:

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Your GP

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Your GP is your advocate for navigating the healthcare service. They are a great resource for continuity of care and liaising between any specialist teams caring for you.

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If you have general concerns about your mental health then they can be a good resource too.

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As Drug & Alcohol Support is usually provided by the Local Authority (council) as opposed to the NHS then your GP often just signposts you to contact the services directly (they don't usually need to refer you and you can contact them directly).

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Your GP cannot usually prescribe specialist medications to help with alcohol dependence. If speaking to your usual GP feels uncomfortable, you can request a different doctor at the same practice or book a telephone appointment.

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NHS / Local Authority community alcohol services

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Every area in England has NHS-commissioned drug and alcohol services and most accept self-referrals. These typically offer assessment, key work sessions, group therapy and in some cases, medically supervised detox.

You can find your nearest service using theNHS alcohol support service finder (nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/Alcohol-addiction-support) or by searching via FRANK at talktofrank.com.

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These services are free and confidential. The trade-off is that waiting times and treatment intensity vary by area and the level of ongoing support may be less structured than a private programme.

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Private residential rehabilitation

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Residential rehab provides an immersive, structured environment away from daily life. Stays typically range from 28 days upwards and costs vary significantly from around £6,000 for a four-week programme to considerably more for specialist or luxury facilities.

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Before committing, check CQC registration, ask about aftercare provision and review their most recent CQC inspection report at cqc.org.uk/care-services.

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Residential treatment can be the right choice for people who need a period of complete separation from their environment, or whose home circumstances are not safe for a home-based approach.

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It is generally not necessary for everyone and the evidence on long-term outcomes is mixed unless robust aftercare is included.

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Peer support groups

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Peer support provides something clinical treatment often cannot: the experience of being genuinely understood by someone who has been where you are.

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12-Step / 'Fellowship' Meetings (e.g. Alcoholics Anonymous)

‍Meetings across the UK, in person and online. The helpline number is 0800 917 7650. More at alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk.

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SMART Recovery UK

‍Evidence-based mutual aid using cognitive behavioural tools. Meetings available online and locally. More at smartrecovery.org.uk.

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Both are free, require no referral and you can attend to listen before deciding.

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Counselling, therapy and recovery coaching

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One-to-one support can be valuable at any stage. The BACP therapist directory at bacp.co.uk/search/Therapists lets you search for accredited counsellors by specialism, including alcohol and addiction.

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Trauma-informed approaches such as EMDR or trauma-focused CBT can be particularly relevant for people whose drinking is connected to past experiences.

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Recovery coaching is a distinct discipline from clinical therapy. Coaches work alongside you to build practical, social, and personal resources that sustain long-term change.

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Our partner, J2 ARMS, offers personalised recovery coaching pathways designed to support individuals before, during, and after clinical treatment. More at j2arms.com.

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Helplines and information services

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If you're not ready to commit to a programme but want to talk through your situation, these services are free and confidential:

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Drinkline

‍0300 123 1110. Free national alcohol helpline. Weekdays 9am–8pm, weekends 11am–4pm.

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Drinkaware

‍Independent information, self-assessment tools, and a service finder at drinkaware.co.uk.

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Alcohol Change UK

‍Guides, research, and tools including the Try Dry app. More at alcoholchange.org.uk.

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With You

‍Free drug and alcohol support across England and Scotland at wearewithyou.org.uk.

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For people in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

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Scotland

‍Contact your local Alcohol and Drug Partnership, or call Drinkline Scotland on 0800 7314314.

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Wales

‍DAN 24/7 is a free, bilingual helpline available 24 hours on 0808 808 2234.

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Northern Ireland

‍Lifeline helpline on 0808 808 8000, or search via the Public Health Agency.

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Support for family and friends

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Adfam is a UK charity that supports families and friends of people affected by alcohol or drug use. They provide confidential helplines, online resources, practitioner training and a searchable directory of local support groups specifically for relatives and carers. For more info visit adfam.org.uk or call 07442 137421 (note this is not a helpline but an enquiry line).

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Al-Anon (al-anonuk.org.uk) offers meetings and a helpline for families and friends. Nacoa (nacoa.org.uk) provides a free helpline for children and young people affected by a parent's drinking.

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Making a decision

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There is no perfect moment to start and there is no single correct path. What matters most is that whatever you choose addresses your personal situation and drivers towards alcohol and supports you through stopping drinking and then extends beyond to work on long-term change.

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If you are comparing providers, use the criteria in this guide to ask informed questions. A good provider will welcome that scrutiny.

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A few things worth remembering

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Ambivalence is normal; most people who change their relationship with alcohol did not feel "ready" when they started. Readiness often comes after the first step, not before it. You do not have to do this journey alone.

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Reach out

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Support is always available.If you'd like to explore whether our programme at Clean Slate Clinic is right for you, or simply want to talk through your situation and learn more about us then you can book a call with us.

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There is no obligation, no pressure, we just want to support you whether that is with our programme, or helping you find another service that works for you.