💂‍♂️ UK 💂‍♂️ Why is so hard to get help from drug/alcohol services in the UK?

[FatBellyWhipSlay]

So this is a genuine question.

I see stuff all the time of addicts in the USA getting telemedicine literally the same day for ORT

and in other countries too. why in the UK is so damn hard to get any help ?

I have just spoke to a local drug service and its upto a 6 week wait to speak to a doctor

why is it so bad is it the dark ages still ?

 

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

So this is a genuine question.

I see stuff all the time of addicts in the USA getting telemedicine literally the same day for ORT

and in other countries too. why in the UK is so damn hard to get any help ?

I have just spoke to a local drug service and its upto a 6 week wait to speak to a doctor

why is it so bad is it the dark ages still ?

Maybe your area is just bad? When I asked for help, my doctor rang the place and literally had me booked in first thing the next morning to be titrated onto methadone.

 

[Jnowhere]

So this is a genuine question.

I see stuff all the time of addicts in the USA getting telemedicine literally the same day for ORT

and in other countries too. why in the UK is so damn hard to get any help ?

I have just spoke to a local drug service and its upto a 6 week wait to speak to a doctor

why is it so bad is it the dark ages still ?

Money or lack there of in the NHS. Besides the 'ostrich approach' to drug and alcohol problems seems to be at work. That is my take from posts and and when I watched Prime Minister's Questions many times, many years ago.

 

[Bleaney]

In the meantime, you could try looking up to see if there are any charitable substance recovery organisations in your area such as Rise, Turning Point, Lifeline, Smart.

These can help you with the psychological side of things, the Drs might just refer you to a specialist for assessment for an ORT script and nothing else.

 

[FatBellyWhipSlay]

Maybe your area is just bad? When I asked for help, my doctor rang the place and literally had me booked in first thing the next morning to be titrated onto methadone.

yeah I have spoken to a few people online who literally, like you, got referred, and the next day they walked out of the place with a Bupe/Methadone script

I am in the East Midlands and have been told I MAY be able to be seen by a medic on the 3rd Feb to 10th Feb, but that doesnt necessarily mean a script, its weird, my doctor even advised me to call them so I thought it would be quicker

 

[FatBellyWhipSlay]

In the meantime, you could try looking up to see if there are any charitable substance recovery organisations in your area such as Rise, Turning Point, Lifeline, Smart.

These can help you with the psychological side of things, the Drs might just refer you to a specialist for assessment for an ORT script and nothing else.

whilst I agree with the physcoligal side of things, the first port of call is the physical symptoms for me, the shrink stuff can come after and take time as part of the process

i even watch these vids on you tube about people in bristol literally walking into this place seeing a nurse and walking our with a script, all within a day, unless I am looking in the wrong places ?

 

[TheUltimateFixx]

Seems to be very variable depending on the region. Here in the area where I live, there's a good number of pharmacies that do needle exchange, and there is (or used to be) a drop-in centre 34 miles from my town that provided support and harm reduction-oriented services, but trying to get a doctor's appointment for anything is slooooww.

 

[Ismene2]

The only time I ever contacted drug help lines was when I was raided during Operation Ismene (can you believe the bastards named it after me?). I was panicked to fuck and needed a kind voice so I rang the fuckers.

"I need help
What with
I've had the five-oh through the door they are talking like I owe them all kinds of time... I'm shitting it.
We only help with addicts go to someone else"

It was at this point I knew i fucked up and put the phone down.

 

[GulpingBatteryLiquid]

Postcode lottery mate , it's shite

What's your exact issue? If you're heavily withdrawing from alcohol or benzos you can probably hit A&E. Not sure what the situation with opiates is because WD isn't deadly just very unpleasant.

 

[FatBellyWhipSlay]

So i have been to a drop in centre today. I was lucky as I was the first one there so I got to see a doctor and now been prescribed espreanor 8mg a day starting Wednesday. Just waiting for the script now... lucky