Ngā ratonga haumanu ā-hapori Community treatment services

There are services in the community to help you and your whānau with alcohol or drug problems. Services range from individual or group counselling, medication assisted treatment, peer support services, intensive outpatient programmes, or Court referral to a drink or drug driving intervention programme.

Getting help if you are drunk or on drugs

If you need to talk, call the alcohol drug helpline: 0800 787 797

You can also visit the website: Alcohol Drug Helpline (external link)

In crisis

If you are really sick, or are concerned about someone’s condition, call 111 and ask for an ambulance.

Who community treatment services are for

Community treatment services are suitable for people who want to:

  • reduce harm from alcohol and other drug use
  • achieve recovery
  • reduce stigma.

Who provides the service

Community treatment services are provided by:

  • regional community alcohol and drug services
  • non-governmental organisations
  • private providers.

You may be able to receive support from several services at the same time. For example, you may seeing a counsellor or attending a peer support group, and want to phone a helpline counsellor when you need to.

If you are told a service has a waiting time, do not let this put you off making contact. Other supports can be put in place while you wait. Ask the service what they suggest.

Freephone, text or online chat

Open all

Speak to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 0800 611 116

Healthline (internal link)

Kaupapa Māori support services.

Support for working through issues affecting young people.

Hope and help for young people and adults who are friends and relatives of a problem drinker.

Counselling

Counselling is for anyone who would like to work with a counsellor one on one.

Who provides it

Counselling is provided by regional services, non-governmental agencies, and private providers.

How much it costs

Regional and non-governmental services are free.

Private providers charge a fee. 

What to expect

Counsellors can help you make the changes you want to make, and help you get into other treatment.

How to access it

Contact your healthcare provider, the community alcohol and drug service (CADS) in your region, or contact a helpline. 

Alcohol and Drug Helpline

Withdrawal management (detox)

Detox is for anyone who wants to stop using alcohol or drugs after regular, heavy use.

Who provides it

It is provided by regional community services and non-governmental organisations. In high risk situations, withdrawal management may be provided in a specialist hospital unit.

How much it costs

This is a free service.

What to expect

Detox generally has some form of withdrawal symptoms. For most substances, symptoms last 2 weeks. Depending on the substance, many symptoms can be safely managed without the use of medication, or specialist medical or nursing input. 

Withdrawal symptoms — psychoactive substances

When specialist addiction services are required

Detox is best managed by specialist addiction services when:

  • withdrawal symptoms are potentially intense
  • withdrawal symptoms are life threatening
  • the person going through withdrawal has coexisting problems. 

How to access it

Contact your healthcare provider, the community alcohol and drug service (CADS) in your region.

If you are told a service has a waiting time, do not let this put you off making contact. Other supports can be put in place while you wait. Ask the service what they suggest.

Peer group support

Peer group support is for people who would like to be supported by others who have had a problem, and are working hard not to use drugs or alcohol.

Who provides it

Peer group support is provided by Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous

How much it costs

These are free services.

What to expect

You meet with others to share experiences and strategies for managing recovery. 

Group sessions

Group sessions are for people who would like to know more about the effects of alcohol and drugs, and talk to other people about these.

Who provides it

They are provided by regional community services, non-governmental organisations, and private counselling services. 

Contact the community addiction service at your hospital.

How much it costs

These sessions are free. 

What to expect

They are also an opportunity to have one on one counselling sessions. 

Day programmes

Day programmes are for people who need intensive support with their alcohol or drug problem, but a residential live-in programme is not suitable for them.

Who provides it

They are provided by regional community services and non-governmental organisations. 

To be put in contact with a service provider, contact the addiction service at your hospital. You can also contact a helpline. 

Alcohol and drug helpline

How much it costs

These are free programmes. 

What to expect

Day programmes (sometimes called an intensive outpatient programme) can include 3 to 4 group sessions every week, for up to 8 weeks.

Opioid substitution treatment

Opioid substitution treatment is for people who want to come off drugs like:

  • homebake
  • codeine
  • morphine
  • fentanyl
  • oxycontin.

Who provides it

This treatment is provided by regional community services, non-governmental agencies, and some doctors. 

Ask for a referral from your healthcare provider, or contact the local community addiction service at your hospital.

How much it costs

This treatment is free. 

What to expect

Opioid substitution can include medication that reduces cravings and withdrawals. 

What is opioid substitution treatment — Te Pou (external link)

OST and you: a guide to opioid substitution treatment — Te Pou (external link)

Support options — The Level (external link)

Drink and drug driving intervention programmes

These programmes are for people who have been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Your legal advisor may suggest you attend a course before your court appearance. A judge or probation officer may order you to attend the course. 

Who provides it

Various organisations around Aotearoa New Zealand.

How much it costs

The cost varies, so make sure to check. 

What to expect

You will attend weekly group sessions for 6 to 8 weeks.

How to access the programme

To find out what courses are available contact the addiction service at your hospital, or a community probation officer.

Community probation officer — Department of Corrections (external link)

You can also contact a helpline. 

Alcohol and Drug Helpline (external link)