Better Lives - Islington's Drug and Alcohol Service
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Better Lives is an integrated drug and alcohol service delivered by North London NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Via and Humankind.
We offer a free and confidential support service for individuals and their families affected by drug and alcohol problems.
Our specialist team include substance misuse practitioners, doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists and pharmacists, as well as complementary therapists, volunteers and peer mentors. Together we offer a high quality and professional service that supports individuals and their families who wish to receive advice, assessment and treatment for their drug and/or alcohol problems. We also offer advice and training to local community organisations
- Borough(s): Islington
- Email: betterlivesreferrals@candi.nhs.uk
- Age range treated: 18+
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Address:
Please note: this service runs from three locations,
- Service hours: Service hours may vary, please see useful information.
Conditions treated
Drug and alcohol problems
How to access this service
Self-referral by attending drop-in or email or telephone(details below)
Drop-ins
309 Gray’s Inn Road, London. WC1X 8QS
Mondays to Fridays between: 10am – 3;30pm, except on Thursday: 10am to 12 noon
Or
99-101, Seven Sisters Road, London. N7 7QP
Mon, Wed and Fri: 9:30-11:00 and 1pm-3:30pm
Tue and Thurs: 1:00pm -3:30pm to start the processPhone numbers and email addresses
Grays Inn Road: 0203 317 6650
Seven Sisters Road: 0203 317 6099
28b Kings Henry Walk: 0203 317 7277
Family Service: 020 3317 7437
General Referral: betterlivesreferrals@candi.nhs.uk
Family Service Referrals: blfamilyreferrals@candi.nhs.uk
Criminal Justice Referrals: cj.betterlives@candi.nhs.ukIf unable to attend drop in, other arrangements can be made.
What to expect
Outpatient treatment for substance and alcohol misuse which includes:
- One-to-one keyworking
- Physical health support including blood borne virus testing and treatment, liver scans, onwards referrals to physical health services in Islington
- Recovery oriented group work including a women’s group, self-help groups, and mutual aid groups
- An abstinence-based day programme
- Opiate Substitute prescribing
- Alcohol relapse prevention medication
- Community alcohol detox
- Psychological therapy
- Assessment and access to residential detoxification and rehabilitation
- Counselling
- Specialist input around Benzodiazepine and Opiate withdrawal
- Dedicated workers for Novel Psychoactive Substances
- Access to debt and housing advice
- A comprehensive aftercare package including relapse prevention groups, education, training and employment (ETE) support
- Our Family Service offers support, advice, and short-term interventions to family members
Clients will receive an initial assessment, after which they will be allocated to a keyworker and an initial care plan will be developed.
Service manager(s)
Gillian Paterson
Useful Information
Where we are based
99-101 Seven Sisters Road, N7 7QP
- Opening hours: Monday: 9.15am-8pm, Tuesday: 1pm-5pm, Wednesday: 9.15am-5pm, Thursday: 1pm-5pm, Friday: 9.15am-6pm (between 5-6 is not open access)
309 Gray’s Inn Road, WC1X 8QS
- Opening hours: Monday: 9am-5pm, Tuesday: 9am-5pm, Wednesday: 9am-8pm, Thursday: 9am-5pm (closed between 2pm-4pm), Friday: 9am-5pm
28b King Henry’s Walk, N1 4NX
- Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 9am-5pm, Thursday: 1pm-5pm. There is late night access to this site for planned events on Wednesday and Fridays – for more information on this please contact the site.
Better Lives Family Service
Better Lives also offers a service to families living in Islington who have a child or children under 18 years of age where the parent is using drugs or alcohol and adults who are affected by the drug or alcohol problems of someone close to them.
Find out more about the Better Lives Family Service by visiting the Humankind website here: Better Lives Family Service – Humankind (humankindcharity.org.uk)
