Drugs and drug abuse

With the right help and support it's possible for you to get drug-free and stay that way.

If you need treatment for drug addiction, you're entitled to NHS care.

How we can help

STAR, which stands for Support, Treatment, Advice and Recovery, provides a single front door to accessing drug and alcohol support services across Northamptonshire.

STAR can be used by clients, family members of those with drug and alcohol problems and professionals who work with clients with substance misuse issues.

Alternatively, call the team on 0808 169 8512 from Monday to Friday between 9am and 4:30pm.

STAR services

STAR offers a number of different services depending on your needs including:

Substance to Solution

Dedicated staff are available for anyone requiring support around their recovery. We offer support to the individual in maintaining recovery. Working with the individual, the recovery worker will offer information, advice and guidance, with links to the local community. Groups and activities are also available at Substance to Solution to assist service users in their recovery journey as well as links to mutual aid groups and longer term recovery support options.

Substance to Solution (S2S) offers:

  • one to one support
  • prescribing options
  • options for home detox or in-patient detox, groups
  • structures and peer-led activities and key work sessions exploring strengths and resources that will support service users to achieve their chosen goals

​NGAGE

NGAGE with Aquarius is an early intervention drug and alcohol service for young people aged between 10 to 18 in Northamptonshire.

NGAGE is a free and confidential service that provides information, education, advice and support to young people in relation to drug and alcohol use, with dedicated workers for Northampton, Kettering, Corby, Daventry, Wellingborough, South Northamptonshire and East Northamptonshire.

There is also a youth group, Evolve, which offers positive activities and opportunities for young people to get involved.

Referrals are accepted from all agencies, parents and young people themselves. If you are referring a young person, please ensure you have their consent to do so.

Family Support Link

Family Support Link aims to reduce the physical, psychological and emotional harm caused to families, living with, or caring for someone who is addicted to drugs and/or alcohol, empowering them to improve their lives, by offering a confidential telephone help line, support group and one to one meetings for the family, completely separate from that offered to the substance user.

The services provides effective support, counselling, education and early intervention for those families, including and often forgotten, grandparents particularly those who may be left looking after children and young people. Families that we support come from a wide range of social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds across a variety of ages.

In addition, community awareness sessions and training sessions for companies, professionals, and voluntary organisations can be offered.

​The Bridge

Bridge is a peer support project which links volunteers who have recovered from alcohol and/or drug misuse with members who have serious substance misuse problems.

Bridge also provides a range of activities, events and support. There are recovery workers who work with members to sustain their recovery and staff who specialise in advice and guidance on benefits, housing and employment.

Members will have some motivation to control, reduce or cease their drug and/or alcohol use and benefit from the support and encouragement of volunteers who have direct experience. Volunteers are trained for their role and fill an important and sensitive position.

Members can benefit from all the services Bridge provides or choose those that would be most beneficial.

Aquarius

The Healthy Futures project delivers Drug and Alcohol Awareness training to front line workers and volunteers who have contact with people potentially at risk from their use of drugs and alcohol, this includes prescription and over the counter medication.

All our training is from 10am to 12:15pm and courses run every month around the county.

Book a place

We also offer bespoke training packages to meet the needs of your group.

Other support available

Talk to Frank

Talk to Frank for everything you need to know about drugs, their effects and the law, including:

  • advice on peer pressure
  • advice if you're worried about a friend
  • advice if you're worried about a child
  • to find local support

Visit the Talk to Frank website

Adfam

Adfam is a charity that works to improve support for those affected by someone else's substance use. The Adfam website includes a directory of useful organisations.

Find useful support organisations

Encompass 

Encompass provides safe therapeutic space for those facing addictions.

Last updated 06 March 2023