Blog

At Port of Call, we spend our days supporting people who are affected by addiction and are seeking help and treatment. We hear many worries as well as a mix of misconceptions, shame and secrecy around addiction and rehab, all of which stands in the way of people seeking support. In a bid to open […]

We wanted to share the survey results for our attitudes to addiction in 2019 blog post. What do you think is the biggest problem substance in the UK now? What would you think is the most likely age for someone to be receiving alcohol addiction treatment? What proportion of men in England do you think […]

On November 1, 2018, medical marijuana became legal and available to patients in the UK on NHS prescriptions. Medical marijuana is the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts. This substance can, and has been, used to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions. The legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK came about […]

According to the mental health charity, Mind, one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem every year. On top of this, it is reported that one in six people in England will experience a common mental health problem such as depression and anxiety in any given week. So where does […]

Watching a loved one become controlled by alcohol can obviously be a painful experience. Offering help can be extremely difficult, especially if that person doesn’t acknowledge they have a problem or refuse to accept your assistance. If you’re feeling helpless and want to understand how to help an alcoholic then hopefully this guide will point […]

Port of Call believes new figures are further proof dependent drinkers aren’t getting the support they need to keep them out of hospital. Public Health England figures released today (Feb5) reveal that there were 1.7 million hospital admissions linked to alcohol in England in 2017 to 2018 – a rate that has been increasing every […]

The term alcohol dependence refers to the desire to drink and the inability to quit drinking. This is when a person becomes physically or psychologically dependent on the consumption of alcohol. As of 2013, this term was reclassified as ‘alcohol use disorder’. Alcohol dependence can be identified if you suffer three of seven key indicators […]

Have you ever been concerned about your alcohol intake? Or are you concerned that you are displaying the traits of an alcoholic? If the answer is yes, you will need to take steps towards seeking help. We’re here to help you answer the important questions and take those steps towards help and recovery. First, we’ll […]

Giving up drinking alcohol for good presents a big challenge – even if your consumption is relatively moderate. We live in a society where alcohol is an accepted part of life, integral to many social circles and events. If you’ve decided to stop drinking or are interested in giving up, you may be concerned about […]

A ‘functioning alcoholic’ is someone who is dependent on alcohol but remains able to maintain an apparently ‘normal’ life. The term is not a medically recognised one, yet it is a description many people are able to relate to. Knowing the signs may be the difference between getting help for yourself or a loved one  […]