Where to get help

There are a number of information, support and counselling services providing support around alcohol and alcohol related problems. Contact details for many of these services can be found on the services section of the drugs.ie website.

HSE Helpline 1800 459 459 Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm

We are a free and confidential, active listening helpline and email support service offering non-directive support, information, guidance and referral to anyone with a question or concern related to alcohol and drug use or HIV/sexual health. The Helpline receives a diverse range of queries and provides an opportunity to explore a concern in confidence with onward referral when necessary. The Drugs/ HIV Helpline and Email Support Service is a HSE service and is accessible nationwide.

What we do:

We aim to support callers/emailers to talk about their situation, explore their feelings and how things are impacting on them. We help identify their supports and explore the options that are available. We offer information and guidance, without telling you what to do. We have comprehensive information on almost 400 services nationwide.

Who contacts the Helpline?

We regularly receive calls/emails from people with a concern in relation to themselves, but also many contacts are from family, partners and friends. Professionals contact us seeking information on services for clients. We have dealt with over 60,000 calls to date.

Two helplines in one:

Alcohol & Drugs Helpline: Contact us with questions or concerns related to any mood altering substance, whether it is legal or illegal. We have information on the substances, their effects and the services that are available to deal with them. We also have the skills to offer you a space to reflect, explore and look at ways of coping with challenging issues.

Ways to contact us:

Helpline - Call us for free on 1800 459 459, from Mondays to Friday, between 10am and 5pm.
Email - If you wish to use this service just send an email to drugshiv@hse.ie Replies are sent within 3 working days. Encrypted responses available on request.
Facebook - Visit us on facebook
Web - See us on www.hse.ie/go/drugshivhelpline

Crosscare's Drug and Alcohol Programme provide an online information and support service Monday-Friday, 9am and 5pm. Visit the drugs.ie live helper

You can also go to your GP who will be able to refer you to get the support that you need.

Fact or Myth

Alcohol problems are mostly caused by 'alcoholics'.

Myth: Immediate problems like motor accidents, violent assaults and accidental injury are mostly caused by moderate drinkers who occasionally overdo it.

Drinking coffee sobers you up?

Myth: Your liver is like a car with one gear. It can only work at one speed. So there is only one cure for drunkenness - time. Drinking coffee will make you wide awake and drunk. Taking a cold shower will make you cold, wet and drunk.

A 'blackout' is when you pass out from drink?

Myth: It's a type of memory loss. Your friends can recite what you did, but you can't. It is an early warning sign to cut down.

It is not safe to drink when you're pregnant?

Fact: The alcohol enters your baby's bloodstream, therefore the safest thing for your baby is not to drink at all. Regular heavy drinking can cause foetal alcohol syndrome, which causes serious developmental problems for your baby's development.

Women can't 'hold' their drink as well as men?

Fact: Men have more bodily fluids than women, so alcohol is more diluted in their systems. This goes even for women and men of the same height and build.

Alcohol causes as much damage to society as heroin?

Myth: Alcohol causes much more damage than heroin and all the other illegal drugs put together. It is a factor in 88% of public order offences, 34% of marital breakdowns and 33% of fatal road accidents.

There's nothing to do around here except drink?

Myth: Drinking is a big feature of Irish social life, but is not the only pastime. Take a minute to think of three non-drinking things you could do. It's just a matter of looking at things differently.

Fact Myth

Publications