Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care Information

Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care (SDAC) has been a registered Charity since 1986, providing advice and support to drug and alcohol users and their concerned friends and relatives in Surrey and surrounding areas. We offer four main Services: 24 Hour freephone Helpline, Telephone Counselling Service, Telephone Boot Camp and Outreach Programme. 24 Hour freephone Helpline - This confidential Helpline is well known locally and open to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, offering help and support for anyone who is concerned about their own or someone else’s drug and/or alcohol problem. From the calls, we can offer referrals into professional treatment services or connect callers to local services if they are outside the Surrey County Council area. In addition to supporting people with substance misuse, the Helpline started taking calls from people with mental health problems in December 2018. In 2011 SDAC was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Last year the Helpline took 1313 calls, 82% of which were from Surrey residents and we referred 154 people into treatment services. The Telephone Counselling Service (TCS) was launched in 2010 and has supported between 500 and 600 people a year. Last year, 2508 counselling sessions took place, supporting over 250 people with addiction issues. To meet the demand, with the help of further funding, we are working to increase this figure year on year from 2020. We have also just launched a Telephone Boot Camp Pilot Project for those in need of more intensive therapy and support. SDAC also runs an Outreach Programme for Surrey schools, colleges, youth groups and uniformed organisations to educate young people and adults about the effects of substances and advise them of the support services available. Young people are often deeply affected by the drug and alcohol habits within their own circle of family and friends. We also help adult community associations in Surrey with similar education and information.