Realising that alcohol is impacting your health or family life is brave. It’s an important first step. Wanting to make a change takes courage, and you do not have to do it alone. We’re here to support every resident. We do this with kindness, respect, and professional care. Our aim is to help you regain your well-being and feel in control again.
Signs you might need support
It can sometimes be hard to notice when drinking is becoming a habit. A friendly chat or expert advice could help if:
- You often feel a strong urge to have a drink
- Loved ones or friends have expressed concern about your drinking
- You feel that alcohol is causing problems in your relationships or daily life.
A wonderful place to start is by speaking with your GP. Being open and honest with your GP about how much you drink helps them give you the best care.
Consuming units of alcohol
One unit is 10ml of pure alcohol. It is the amount of alcohol the average adult can process in an hour. The number of units in a drink depends on its size and alcohol strength. A pint of strong lager has three units. In contrast, a pint of low-strength lager has about two units. Knowing your units will help you stay in control of your drinking.
To keep the health risks associated with alcohol low, it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week. If you drink as much as 14 units per week, it is best to spread your drinking over three or more days. If you drink heavily once or twice a week, your risk of long-term illness goes up.
A good way to cut down is to have several drink-free days each week.
Safe ways to cut down or stop drinking
If you’ve been drinking alcohol daily, stopping all at once can be very risky for your health. It is very important to get medical advice before making big changes so you can stay safe.
When you cut back on alcohol, you may feel mild to moderate withdrawal effects, like:
- Feeling anxious or nervous when you wake up
- Sweating or mild shaking in your hands
- Feeling sick or vomiting in the morning.
Your GP can prescribe medicine to ease these symptoms. They might make you feel more comfortable as you cut down your alcohol intake.
When to seek emergency help
If you or someone you care about has severe withdrawal symptoms, call 999. Emergency signs include:
- Seeing or hearing things that are not there. These are called hallucinations
- Severe shaking
- Seizures or fits.
Getting support in Harrow
Most people receive help to cut down or stop drinking while continuing to live at home.
- Compass provides a free, confidential service. It's for children and young people who need help with their own or someone else's drug or alcohol use. The service is for under-18s but they can stay with the service up to the age of 24.
- Harrow Recovery Centre is a recovery-focused service provided by Via. It is free to all Harrow residents aged 18 or over.
- One You (NHS) is here to help you get healthier and feel better. It has free tips, tools and support.
- Drink Coach can help you work out how much you are drinking. It can also identify if you are at risk of harming your health.
Staying alcohol-free is an ongoing journey. It works best with steady support. Relying only on family or friends can be tough. So, having a long-term plan with local specialists can boost your chances of success.
Whatever your situation, please reach out. Friendly, confidential help is waiting for you.
