Drugs and Alcohol: a Guide

Information on Drugs & Alcohol issues for professionals and service users in NI.

This App provides an overview of the theories which underpin substance misuse, the relevant policy and legislation, the up-to-date drug and alcohol statistics for NI, the principles and values in working with substance misuse and a regularly updated directory of services via an easy to access regional map. The App has been created to ensure ease of access for service users, people who use alcohol and / or drugs and who require updated information and also workers who are involved at all levels of drug and alcohol service provision.

You can register with our email update service to get reminders when we have updated the App content or there have been important changes to legislation, policy etc.

People who misuse / abuse drugs, alcohol or other substances may experience varying levels of distress at personal, familial, community / and societal levels. At the individual level, this may include damage to their physical and mental health and well-being, and possibly to their ability to support themselves. There may also be problems associated with their families’ lives via negative impacts on the health and well-being of their children and in some cases place a burden of care on other relatives (including their children). There may also be negative impact on the communities in which they live through the crime and anti-social behaviour sometimes associated with substance misuse.

Recognition of the complex nature of issues related to substance misuse is crucial in order to gain an understanding of the problems faced by many people who misuse alcohol and drugs. Poverty, multiple adversities, poor housing, long term unemployment, family breakdown, poor mental health and emotional well-being and financial instability may be precipitating factors in substance misuse or may be consequential factors of the misuse trajectory.