Recommendations for alcohol and other drugs from Professor David Best of Derby University based on evidence he outlined at yesterday’s NHS Addictions Provider Alliance conference:
- Get specialist help if you need it, including to deal with any trauma or long-term psychological health problems
- You can rely on peer support. It can be but it doesn’t have to be mutual aid groups like AA or NA [Narcotics Anonymous]
- Move away from using friends and find social groups that do not include alcohol
- Do things—sport, education, hobbies—they build your social networks and your self-esteem
- You can help yourself a lot by helping others
- Be optimistic—you will get there—most people do