Alcohol and other drugs

Confidential support for people experiencing emotional distress

Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to crisis support and suicide prevention services. They are available 24/7 to listen, without judgement, to any person in Australia who is feeling overwhelmed, experiencing crisis, or longs to be heard. Lifeline has short-term strategies available for preventing and recovering from substance misuse.

Phone 13 11 14

Free and confidential phone and online counselling for young people

Kids Helpline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone and online chat counselling service for young people and the adults who care about them. Kids Helpline provides information for young people on the risks of drugs, alcohol and vaping, tips on how to stay away from substances, and how counselling can help.

Phone 1800 551 800

Free, private and safe social platform for 12 to 25-year-olds across Australia

My Circle is a free, private, safe, and confidential social platform for 12 to 25-year-olds across Australia. Supported by Kids Helpline counsellors, My Circle lets young people ask questions of others to learn more about their experiences and how they can cope.

Sign up to My Circle.

Confidential telephone counselling, information and referral service

ADIS is a confidential telephone counselling, information, and referral service that offers advice and information. Experienced counsellors will assist regarding further assessment or treatment and can identify local support services.

Phone 1800 177 833

Early intervention mental health services for 12 to 25-year-olds

Headspace provides early intervention mental health services to 12 to 25-year-olds. They support young people with mental health, physical health, and alcohol and other drug services. The Yarn Safe portal also offers tips for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to stay safe around drugs and alcohol.

Phone 1800 650 890

Find a Headspace centre near you.

Free and confidential professional counselling via chat, email and self-help resources for people struggling with addiction

Online Alcohol & Drug Counselling provides free and confidential 24/7 professional counselling via chat and email, self-help resources, and an online forum for people struggling with addiction. They also offer residential peer programs in collaboration with the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC) for young people seeking recovery from alcohol and drug use.

Free and confidential phone service for people struggling with addiction, including treatment options

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction, including available treatment options.

Phone 1800 250 015

Online portal that recognises cultural diversity providing access to evidence-based drug education

Positive Choices is an online portal that recognises cultural diversity and provides access to interactive evidence-based drug education resources for school-aged young people. Resources for young people include webinars, factsheets, videos, games, and information on understanding the effects of alcohol and other drugs, including addiction.

Telephone service dedicated to helping Queenslanders quit tobacco smoking and vaping

Quitline is a telephone service dedicated to helping Queenslanders quit tobacco smoking and vaping. Quitline also has a team of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander quit support specialists, and the free Yarn to Quit program provides phone support and a 12-week supply of nicotine replacement products for First Nations people.

Phone 13 78 48

Not-for-profit healthcare provider offering evidence-based help to young people

Lives Lived Well is a not-for-profit healthcare provider that offers evidence-based services to help young people overcome drug and alcohol problems and bring about a sense of wellbeing. They offer free and flexible one-on-one counselling, group sessions and online counselling, residential rehabilitation programs, and free withdrawal support day programs, with dedicated programs supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.

Confidential support for parents, carers and young people experiencing emotional distress

Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to crisis support and suicide prevention services. They are available 24/7 to listen, without judgement, to any person in Australia who is feeling overwhelmed, experiencing crisis, or longs to be heard. Lifeline has resources available to help family, parents, and carers to recognise substance misuse and to support a young person struggling with a medication addiction.

Phone 13 11 14

Inspiring positive change and delivering evidence-based approaches to minimise alcohol and drug harm

The ADF is Australia’s leading organisation committed to inspiring positive change and delivering evidence-based approaches to minimise alcohol and drug harm. They provide support to family, parents, and carers to help a young person make safer choices about their alcohol or other drug use and how to access support services. The ADF also has resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including tips on how to have a yarn with someone who is struggling.

Confidential telephone counselling, information and referral service

ADIS is a confidential telephone counselling, information, and referral service that offers advice and information. ADIS provides a safe, anonymous, and confidential space for people to talk about their concerns for loved ones and receive information about support and treatment options.

Phone 1800 177 833

Not-for-profit healthcare provider offering evidence-based help

Lives Lived Well is a not-for-profit healthcare provider that offers evidence-based services to help people overcome drug and alcohol problems and bring about a sense of wellbeing. They offer free and flexible one-on-one counselling, group sessions and online counselling, residential rehabilitation programs, and free withdrawal support day programs. The Breakthrough for Families service helps family, carers, and their young people with free education sessions or individual support appointments. Lives Lived Well also offers programs to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, including counselling and residential rehabilitation.

Phone 1300 727 957

Information, online resources and counselling for friends and family members of anyone struggling with alcohol and drug misuse

Family Drug Support is a 24/7 support service that provides information, online resources, and counselling for friends and family members of anyone struggling with alcohol and drug misuse. They provide practical information and guides on dealing with conflict, setting boundaries, supporting someone through detox, and harm reduction.

Phone 1300 368 186

Tailored support on how to help young people struggling with drugs and alcohol

Headspace provides early intervention mental health services to 12 to 25-year-olds. They support young people with mental health, physical health, alcohol, and other drug services, as well as work and study support. Headspace offers tailored support on how to talk to a young person about drugs and alcohol and how to access support.

Phone 1800 650 890

Find a Headspace centre near you.

Online support meetings for family and friends of people affected by alcohol and drug misuse

SMART Recovery Australia runs Weekly SMART Family & Friends support meetings online and in-person with trained facilitators who often have their own experiences as a family member affected by a loved one’s relationship with alcohol, drugs, or other problematic behaviours. SMART Recovery is an evidence-based recovery method grounded in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Online interventions and support packages for families and friends supporting a loved one struggling with alcohol and other drugs

FFSP offers online interventions and support packages designed by experts to help families and friends supporting a loved one who may be using ice, alcohol or other drugs. It includes information on how families and friends can best help their loved ones and protect them from adverse impacts of their lifestyle of drinking alcohol or using drugs. FFSP also recognises that supporting someone who is drinking or using can be extremely stressful and aims to assist families and friends to best manage the demands of this role.

Online portal that recognises cultural diversity providing access to evidence-based drug education

Positive Choices is an online portal that recognises cultural diversity and provides access to interactive evidence-based drug education resources for school-aged young people. Resources for families, parents and carers include webinars, factsheets, and tips on how to talk to a young person about alcohol and other drugs. Positive Choices also provides dedicated resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, parents, and carers.

Empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to make healthy choices

Deadly Choices aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. Deadly Choices encourages mob to stop smoking, eat good food, exercise daily, and access their local Community Controlled Health Service to complete an annual health check.

Find your local First Nations medical service.

National website providing culturally appropriate resources and information for community members working do reduce harms from alcohol and other drugs

The Knowledge Centre is a national website that provides relevant and culturally appropriate resources and information for community members working to reduce harms from alcohol and other drug use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Knowledge Centre Community Portal is for Elders and community members who may be concerned about alcohol and drug use in their mob and provides support on how to act.

Emotional, practical and financial support for carers

Carer Gateway can provide emotional, practical, and financial support for unpaid carers. Carer Gateway offers online and phone counselling, and provides practical information and resources including coaching, online skill courses, tailored support packages, emergency respite, and the facilitation of peer support groups.

Phone 1800 422 737

Confidential and professional telephone support for parents, carers and guardians

Parentline is a confidential telephone service providing professional counselling and support in Queensland. Counsellors at Parentline can assist parents and carers with developing strategies for positive parenting and personal coping and help contribute to the resilience and wellbeing of their family. Parentline is funded by the Queensland Government.

Phone 1300 301 300

Free, safe and confidential online community for parents, carers and supporters of young people

My Circle for Parents is a free, safe, and confidential online community for parents, carers, and supporters in young people's lives to talk with other parents, get tips for difficult life moments and transitions, and access helpful resources. My Circle for Parents is hosted by Kids Helpline.

Sign up for My Circle for Parents.