Below is a list of National Organisations, listed by topic area, that you may find useful. Please note: all links on this page are to external sites and will open in a new browser window. The Scottish Government cannot be held responsible for the information appearing on websites outside their control.
- Bloodborne Viruses
- Children and Young People
- Criminal Justice Services
- European/International websites
- Families and Carers
- Information and advice on drugs and their health risks
- Mental Health
- NHS and Scottish Government
- Recovery
- Statistics
- Substance Misuse
- Other Substances –
Alcohol, Tobacco, Volatile Substances
Bloodborne viruses
Hepatitis C Scotland - Provides information on all aspects of Hepatitis C in Scotland including where to get help.
Help and information line - 0870 242 2467
Hepatitis C Trust - The Hepatitis C Trust is a national UK charity offering information, support, advocacy and representation for people affected by Hepatitis C.
Help and information line – 0845 223 4424
HIV Scotland - A voluntary sector policy and support organisation, providing HIV information, advice and signposting to services for both professionals and the public.
National AIDS Trust - A national policy development and campaigning organisation, covering HIV and AIDS.
Terrence Higgins Trust – UK wide, HIV and sexual health charity, offering a range of support services, including: Education, counselling, contact with support groups, help accessing HIV testing and information and advice. Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland has offices in Glasgow and Aberdeen.
Free help and information line - 0808 802 1221 (from 10am to 10pm weekdays and from 12pm to 6pm weekends)
myHIV
Children and Young People
Childline – Counselling and information service for children and young people in the UK covering a wide range of issues.
Free help and information line – 0800 1111
Fast Forward - A national voluntary organisation based in Edinburgh. Fast Forward promotes health and wellbeing through education by, with and for young people, focusing on the prevention of drug, alcohol and tobacco misuse.
The Lowdown - run by Young Scot and provides information and advice about health and any health concerns you might have as a teenager.
Free and confidential information line - 0808 802 4444 (open Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm)
YouthlinkScotland - Aims to support the development of high quality youth work services which promote the well being and development of young people.
Young Scot - National youth information and citizenship charity providing young people with a mixture of information, ideas and incentives to help them become confident, informed and active citizens.
Young Scot extra - Offers information on a range of topics for young people, including, health, money and relationships.
Free and confidential Information line- 0808 801 0338
Criminal Justice Services
Apex Scotland - National agency working with offenders, ex-offenders and young people at risk to address employability needs.
Crimestoppers - Independent charity helping to find criminals and solve crimes. Provides a free, anonymous helpline to report information about any crime, including drugs-related crime.
SACRO - National agency aiming to promote community safety across Scotland through providing services to reduce conflict and offending.
Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) – Police agency tasked with preventing, detecting and reducing serious organised crime in Scotland. The SCDEA website provides information on: Policing, current drug enforcement and non-enforcement issues, research and substance misuse education programmes.
European/International websites
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction - Provides information on drugs and drug use in Europe.
Families and Carers
Families Outside – Provides support and information for families affected by imprisonment in Scotland through its Support & Information Helpline, as well as providing direct one to one support through its network of family support workers.
Free support and information helpline - 0500 83 93 83
Scottish Families Affected by Drugs (SFAD) - Supports families across Scotland affected by others’ drug misuse and raises awareness of the issues affecting them. SFAD provides a confidential helpline for anyone who is concerned about someone they care about who is misusing drugs. If you want to talk, they will listen and can provide information and signposting to local services including Family Support Groups.
Information helpline - 08080 10 10 11 or email helpline@sfad.org.uk
Information and advice on drugs and their health risks
Crew 2000 - Specialists on psycho stimulant drug use and new or emerging drug trends. Crew 2000 is a national organisation which offers a ‘stepped care approach’ to service provision and has links with national and international organisations.
Drugscope - National membership organisation for the drug sector aiming to inform policy development, reduce drug-related harms and promote health and well-being. The Drugscope website provides an online drug encyclopaedia and information on all aspects of drug use. DrugScope also publishes Druglink, the leading current affairs magazine about drugs.
DS Daily - A free daily drug and alcohol news service from DrugScope, informing subscribers of the latest news, resources, research and reports relevant to all with an interest in substance misuse.
FRANK – Information and advice on drugs and the health risks associated with drugs.
Free help and information line - 0800 77 66 00
Mental Health
Breathing Space - A free and confidential telephone service for any individual who is experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety, or who is unusually worried and in need of someone to talk to.
Free help and information line - 0800 83 85 87. Open 24 hours at weekends, 6pm Friday to 6am Monday and from 6pm to 2am on weekdays (Monday - Thursday)
Samaritans - National charity providing confidential emotional support 24 hours a day by telephone, email, through its branch network and outreach activity for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Help and information line - 08457 90 90 90
NHS and Scottish Government
NHS Health Scotland - The national agency for improving the health of Scotland’s population, covering every aspect of health improvement, and spanning a range of health topics.
NHS Inform - National health information service, providing a coordinated approach and a single source of quality assured health information for the public in Scotland.
Help and information line - 0800 22 44 88
The Scottish Government – Responsible for drugs policy, and for providing funding to support a wide range of services in Scotland. The Government's Drug Strategy is delivered in partnership with Scotland's 30 Alcohol & Drug Partnerships, and with statutory and voluntary organisations.
Recovery
Scottish Drugs Recovery Consortium - Charity established to drive and promote recovery for individuals, family members and communities affected by drugs across Scotland.
Statistics
Drug Misuse Information Scotland - Provides information, statistics and research on drug misuse in Scotland.
Health Protection Scotland (HPS) - established by the Scottish Government in 2005 to strengthen and co-ordinate health protection in Scotland.
National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) - NHS special health authority, established to improve the availability, capacity and effectiveness of drug treatment in England.
Substance Misuse
Scottish Drugs Forum – A national non-government drugs policy and information organisation that is a national resource of expertise on drug issues. SDF aims to support and represent, at both local and national levels, a wide range of interests, promoting collaborative, evidence-based responses to drug use.
It also supports and maintains the Scottish Drug Services Directory providing information on where to get help for a drug problem in Scotland.
Other Substances
Alcohol
Alcohol Focus Scotland - National voluntary organisation working to reduce the harm caused by alcohol. Provides policy research and advocacy, training and development and information.
Drink Aware - UK-wide charity, aiming to change the UK’s drinking habits by promoting responsible drinking, helping reduce alcohol misuse and minimise alcohol-related harm. Provides information to help people make informed decisions about the effects of alcohol on their lives and lifestyles.
Drink Smarter - Information and advice on alcohol and alcohol related issues, including: Sensible drinking guidelines, health and wellbeing, relationships and handy tools.
Drinkline Scotland - Free helpline providing help and advice on alcohol related issues.
Helpline - 0800 7 314 314
Tobacco
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Scotland – National organisation campaigning for effective tobacco control legislation in Scotland and raising awareness about tobacco use and its harmful effects.
Volatile Substances
Re-Solv - National UK wide organisation working to prevent deaths and harm associated with volatile substance abuse. Works in partnership with other organisations, to develop training and information resources and provide direct training and support
