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Where to get help with substance use in Australia

12 June 2025 6 min

Finding help with substance use in Australia is harder than it should be, partly because the landscape is fragmented and partly because most resource lists are either outdated, incomplete, or written for people already in crisis. This is an attempt to be more useful than that.

The resources below are organised by what you're actually looking for , from "I just want some information" through to "I need structured treatment." None of them require you to have decided anything about your use, and most are free.

If you want information

Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) Australia's primary national organisation for drug education and harm reduction. The ADF's drug facts pages are well maintained, evidence-based, and cover every substance including alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, stimulants, PIEDs, and emerging drugs. If you want to understand what something is and what it actually does, start here.

NDARC , National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre The leading Australian research centre for AOD. Their public-facing resources include accessible summaries of current research and data on drug use trends. For anyone who wants to understand the evidence rather than take claims on faith.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) National data on drug and alcohol use across the population. Useful for understanding where your use sits in a broader context , the National Drug Strategy Household Survey data lives here.

Hi-Ground A harm reduction information platform specifically for people who use drugs. Practical, non-judgmental information including drug checking results, safer use guides, and substance-specific resources. Particularly good for MDMA, stimulants, and newer substances.

If you want to talk to someone

Alcohol Drug Information Service (ADIS) Confidential telephone counselling, information, and referral , available 24 hours a day in most states. You don't need to be in crisis to call.

Hello Sunday Morning / Daybreak Free app-based community and behaviour change programme specifically for alcohol. Peer support, journalling, and moderation tools. Designed for people who want to change their relationship with alcohol , not necessarily stop entirely. One of the better-designed digital interventions available in Australia.

Smart Recovery Australia Free mutual aid meetings based on CBT and motivational principles rather than 12-step frameworks. Available in person and online across Australia. Suitable for any substance, including alcohol. A good option for people who want peer support without the AA framing.

Lifeline | 13 11 14 Not substance-use specific, but relevant if substance use is connected to mental health distress. 24-hour crisis support, also available via online chat.

Beyond Blue | 1300 22 4636 Mental health support with useful resources on the relationship between mental health and substance use. Online chat available.

If you want structured support or treatment

Your GP The most practical first step for most people. GPs can administer validated screening tools, provide brief advice, refer to specialist AOD services, and manage medication-assisted treatment where appropriate. Your medical record is confidential , employers and insurers cannot access it without your consent.

State AOD services Each state operates community-based AOD counselling, case management, and treatment services. Most are free or low-cost.

NADA , Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies The peak body for non-government AOD services in NSW. Their website includes a service directory that is more current than most government directories.

Odyssey House Residential and community-based treatment services across NSW and Victoria. Long-term residential programmes for people with complex or severe substance use issues.

For specific populations

LGBTQ+ ACON , NSW-based but with national resources. Peer support and AOD services designed for LGBTQ+ communities, including specific programmes for chemsex.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Many state AOD services have dedicated Indigenous programmes , ask when calling. The Healing Foundation also maintains relevant resources.

PIEDs and steroids Roidsafe , confidential, GP-free pathology testing for people using anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs. Medicare-funded bloodwork referrals without an in-person consultation. For background see our articles on PIEDs in Australian needle and syringe programs and the GP clinical guide to PIEDs.

Young people headspace , mental health and substance use support for 12–25 year olds. Centres nationally, online and phone support available.

If you're not sure what you need

That's the most common situation, and it's a reasonable one. The ADIS lines above are staffed by trained counsellors who can help you work out what, if anything, would be useful , without any commitment to a particular path.

If you want to understand your own patterns before deciding anything else, self-monitoring is a low-barrier starting point. Our articles on grey area drinking, what a drinking diary tells you, and you don't need a rock bottom are good places to start.

ayodee is a self-monitoring tool for substance use, mood, and wellbeing. It's a useful starting point before, during, or alongside any of the above. Anonymous, no email required. Free to start at ayodee.app.

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