Everyone has the right to feel in control of their choices.
Sometimes people find their use of alcohol and other drugs changing their thoughts and actions.
These changes can lead to people hurting themselves or the people they love. Thinking about how this behaviour is affecting their family can be confronting and scary.
It takes courage to acknowledge there may be a problem and to seek assistance.
Support is available for talking about alcohol and other drug use.
Help is can be found to gain control of alcohol and other drug use that is effecting you or your family.
It’s ok to ASK for help. Help is available.
Emergency help
If you, your partner or family member is in danger now, phone the police on 000 (triple zero).
Information for you
Know Your Options has information for individuals concerned about alcohol and other drug use for themselves and friends and family. This includes signs there might be a problem, how to talk about your concerns and ways to reduce risks associated with using alcohol and other drugs.
The eASSIST is an electronic version of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) which was developed by the World Health Organisation. The ASSIST helps identify the risks associated with substance use and the personalised feedback helps explore options for change. The ASSIST has eight questions and takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.
Parenting advice and information from Positive Choices may help you to talk to your children about drugs and alcohol.
headspace have information to help parents know the difference between normal behaviour, such as moodiness, irritability and withdrawal, and an emerging mental health or alcohol and other drug problem.
Advice to prepare for talking to young people about alcohol and other drugs is also provided by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.
headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, providing mental health services to 12-25 year-olds. They provide information, activities and counselling for alcohol and other drugs, as well as mental health, physical health, and work and study.
Reach Out has information for young people and parents about minimising the risks of alcohol and other drugs, including an app useful for quitting any activity or substance.
Be Smoke Free has information about the benefits of quitting smoking and different ways to do so, including a Facebook Support Group.
Raising Children Network provides ad-free parenting videos, articles and apps backed by Australian experts
Free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information to help you and your family grow and thrive together, including:
Emerging Minds develops mental health policy, services, interventions, training, programs and resources in response to the needs of professionals, children and their families. They have a variety of resources for families about substance use.
The Families Growing Together program offers parents and carers a range of face-to-face workshops and online webinars to suit their parenting needs.
For Aboriginal families and communities, a co-design process is used to tailor the workshops.
- My Child and Me – a two-part workshop for parents of children aged 2–12 years
- Living with Young People – a two-part workshop for parents of children aged 12–18 years
- Growing and learning in the family — a two-part workshop to support parents to connect with their child through play
- Coping Skills – a two-part workshop exploring stress and resilience
Delivered in a relaxed and informal style, these workshops and webinars offer parents helpful information and a choice of simple, practical strategies based on the latest parenting research and using information from Parenting SA.
Workshops and webinars are all live and free and are designed to be interactive with videos, activities and time for parents to discuss information together in small groups or through the chat function.
Services for you
For information about all alcohol and other drug treatment and support services in South Australia visit the Know Your Options website.
Path2Help is a personalised service directory providing custom results based on the answers to a few questions. You don’t need to know what you’re looking for, Path2Help’s intuitive search function does it all for you.
Thorne Harbour Health is a South Australian alcohol and other drugs service specifically for people in the LGBTIQA+ community or who are living with HIV.
The Aboriginal Sobriety Group Indigenous Corporation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the sobriety and healing of Aboriginal people. They provide support and pathways away from grief, loss, trauma and abusive lives.
Aboriginal Community Connect (Uniting Communities) is a ‘one-stop’ service if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person seeking help.
They can support you with challenges related to drug and alcohol use, isolation, poverty and disadvantage. You may like support for your social or emotional wellbeing, or with housing if you are visiting Adelaide. They also offer services to help people to work through the effects of trauma.
Uniting Communities Community Hub Centre
Prospect Road
Prospect SA 5082
Phone 8202 5660
4 Third Street
Murray Bridge SA 5253
Phone 0428 856 943
11 Wehl Street
Mount Gambier SA 5290
Phone 8202 5672
5 William Street
Berri SA 5343
8586 6362
Someone to talk to
Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) is a confidential telephone counselling, information, and referral service.
Telephone 1300 13 1340 (South Australian callers only - local call fee) any day between 8:30am and 10:00pm.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
Phone: 1300 222 222
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
Narcotics Anonymous is a fellowship for people for whom drugs have become a major problem. Members meet regularly to help each other recover from addiction.
Phone: 1300 652 820
Counselling Online is a free and confidential service that provides 24/7 support to people across Australia affected by alcohol or drug use. Support options include email, chat and telephone support with a counsellor, as well as self-assessment, online support community, self-help, and articles.
Quitline is a confidential, evidence-based telephone counselling service. The SA Quitline operates Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 8.00 pm.
Phone 13 78 48 or Text ‘call back’
Aboriginal Quitline is run by Aboriginal people, for Aboriginal people to support them to live smoke-free. Callers request to speak to an Aboriginal counsellor when they call 13 78 48 or request a call back.
Family Drug Support offer advice, support groups, education programs and counselling for friends and family supporting others with their issues with alcohol and other drug use. The Family Drug Support Line is available 24 hours, 7 days.
Phone 1300 368 186
ASK was built for you so we welcome your feedback and suggestions. Use the contact us form to let us know of new services or changes. Services can also request to be added to the ASK Service Directory, or have their listing updated.
ASK was built for you so we welcome your feedback and suggestions. Use the contact us form to let us know of new services or changes. Services can also request to be added to the ASK Service Directory, or have their listing updated.