Call us today on:  
01782 283 113

Coronavirus (COVID-19): a message to everyone we support

We hope you’re doing OK in these worrying times.

We wanted to let you know that we’re working hard to make sure we continue to provide help and support to anyone who is experiencing issues with drugs and alcohol throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

If you’re already being supported by us

Staff in our service are working closely with other organisations to make sure there’s no interruption to the support you receive.

We’re looking at ways to carry on working with you, including making more use of phones and online appointments to support you.

In the meantime, we have put together a list of places where you can find support, community and advice online.

If you have any questions, please contact us by phone, text or email. We’ll do our best to make sure you still get the help you need.

If you have coronavirus symptoms

If you’re registered with our service and develop symptoms of coronavirus, please don’t come into the service but do contact us to let us know.

Symptoms include:

  • a high temperature (you feel hot to touch on your chest or back)
  • a new, continuous cough (you’ve started coughing repeatedly)

If you have these symptoms, government advice is to stay at home for seven days. If you need us, we’ll continue to support you online or by phone during this time.

See more NHS advice about coronavirus.

If you’re not registered with one of our services

If you’re not registered with our service, we can still support you if you are experiencing issues with drugs and alcohol.

Or you can chat to someone and get advice online (please note that our online team can’t make or change appointments or organise prescriptions for you).

You can also read advice on our website.

If you’re on a prescription and develop symptoms

If you develop coronavirus symptoms, please contact us and give us the name of another person who can pick up your prescriptions. We’ll make sure your pharmacy knows.

We’ll do everything we can to make sure that you carry on getting your prescriptions as normal, and will update you if anything changes.

We’ll also make sure you have a supply of naloxone if you need it.

If you’re using drugs

Using drugs can increase your risk of developing coronavirus.

Please be extra careful not to share any drugs or equipment during the outbreak. This includes pipes, bongs, nasal straws and joints, as well as works for injecting.

Prepare your own drugs, first washing your hands with hot water and soap for 20 seconds.

Read more about staying safe from coronavirus if you’re using.

If you need new equipment (works)

Our needle exchange is still open. If you think you may need more stuff than usual, just let staff know.

For more information and support, you can chat to us online.

If you’re feeling worried or anxious

It’s important that we all look after our mental wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak.

Try to keep up a daily routine and stay in touch with friends and family.

See some more tips from the Mental Health Foundation.