Support for Health Sector Action

Overall focus

• People get help for their drinking problems (and get it early).
• Help is available in a broader range of settings (eg primary health, EDs, Family Planning, Work and Income, Police).
• A wider range of treatment options are available, including brief interventions.
• There are more health sector champions promoting action on reducing alcohol-related harm.
• Alcohol is widely recognised as an important health issue (as opposed to being simply a crime or violence issue).

The HPA works with primary health care providers to encourage them to routinely identify people who are drinking problematically and provide them with advice and, if necessary, referral so that they get the help they need to make positive change. This is often referred to as brief interventions.

The Alcohol Drug Helpline - 0800 787 797

The Alcohol Drug Helpline provides free, confidential information, insight and support on any problem, issue or query you have about your own or someone else’s drinking or drug taking. You can contact the Helpline seven days a week from 10am to10pm.

You can also obtain the contact details of the specialist drug and alcohol treatment services in your area (the Addictions Treatment Directory) by ringing the Helpline or from the provider’s website www.adanz.org.nz/Services/Home.