HELP WITH ALCOHOL · AUSTRALIA
Need help with alcohol?
Here’s where to start.
Alcohol helplines, counselling, your GP, detox, rehab. There are different kinds of help - and you don’t have to know which one you need.
Understand your options, what good support looks like, and whether Clean Slate could be right for you.
A short suitability test. No commitment to treatment.
Looking for an alcohol helpline?
The National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline is 1800 250 015 — free and confidential. Available 24/7 in most states; South Australia: 8.30am–10pm. In immediate danger, call 000.
Clean Slate is a treatment service. The national hotline is a separate service.
“I NEED HELP WITH ALCOHOL. WHERE DO I START?”
You don’t need to know which service you need yet.
Maybe you’re drinking more than you meant to. Maybe you’ve tried cutting down, only to end up back in the same place. Or maybe you just want to talk to someone who understands.
Helplines, counselling, your GP, detox and rehab can all help. They do different jobs. The useful question is: what support do you need now - and what will help you keep the change going?
A WAY TO MAKE SENSE OF THE OPTIONS
Look at the whole journey.
These four parts help you compare alcohol services. You may not need every part, and a clinical assessment helps establish what fits.
Assessment
Understand your drinking, your health and the support you need.
Withdrawal support
If your body depends on alcohol, get help to stop safely.
Therapy
Work on the patterns behind drinking and learn ways to manage them.
Aftercare
Keep getting support as you put those changes into everyday life.
The important distinction: getting through withdrawal and changing your drinking long term are different parts of the work.
ALCOHOL SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA
Your options, and what each one does.
Start with the kind of help you’re looking for. Services can work together, and what they offer varies by provider.
01Alcohol helplines & online counsellingWhen you need to talk, or don’t know where to start.
02Your GPWhen you want to understand what’s going on.
03Alcohol counselling & psychologyWhen you want help changing the patterns behind drinking.
04Peer support groupsWhen you want connection with people who understand.
05Medical detoxWhen stopping drinking needs medical support.
06Residential rehabilitationWhen you need a structured place to recover away from home.
07Public alcohol & drug servicesWhen you need publicly funded treatment and support.
Need more than a conversation? If you need help with withdrawal as well as the drinking itself, look for a plan that connects medical care with ongoing support.
WHAT THE TREATMENT GUIDELINES SAY
If you need detox, ask what happens afterwards.
Getting through withdrawal does not, by itself, prevent a return to drinking. The Australian treatment guidelines recommend connecting withdrawal care with further treatment and support.
And medical care does not always mean leaving home. For suitable people, supported home withdrawal is a recognised treatment option.
Based on the Australian Guidelines for the Treatment of Alcohol Problems, 4th edition: chapters 8 and 23. The guidelines do not endorse any provider.
WHERE CLEAN SLATE FITS
Medical support.
The work of change.
Care that continues.
Our 12-month program brings the parts together: assessment with a doctor and nurse, medically supervised home detox if appropriate, therapy-based group work and eleven months of aftercare.
- Your own nurse across the program
- Daily nurse video calls during detox
- Ongoing check-ins and group support
About 3 minutes · Confidential · No obligation
THE RIGHT CARE FOR YOUR SITUATION
Who home detox may suit — and when you may need more support.
Home care may fit if you…
- Have a safe, stable place to stay during detox.
- Have a trusted person who can support you.
- Want medical support without a residential stay, where clinically appropriate.
- Want ongoing help after withdrawal, especially if keeping change going has been difficult.
Closer supervision may be needed if you…
- Have had withdrawal seizures, hallucinations or delirium.
- Have serious medical, mental health or other substance-use needs.
- Don’t have a safe home environment or reliable support.
These are starting points, not a diagnosis. A clinician assesses your individual needs and recommends the appropriate setting.
YOU CAN START WITH UNCERTAINTY
You don’t have to sign up to quitting forever.
Some people want to stop. Others want to cut down, understand their drinking or get support after they’ve already made a change.
You can be honest about where you are. The first step is understanding what support could fit — with goals and care discussed together.
Before you try to stop on your own
If your body has become dependent on alcohol, suddenly stopping can be dangerous. Feeling shaky, sweaty or unwell until you drink can be a warning sign.
Get medical advice before stopping or sharply reducing your drinking if you may be dependent. Severe symptoms such as seizures or confusion need urgent medical help.
CHARLOTTE’S STORY
“If what you’re doing makes you uncomfortable, that’s enough.”
Charlotte drank almost daily while holding family life together. She had questioned her drinking for years before finding a program she could do from home.
She booked a call, then cancelled because she was scared. Later, she booked again. Her story is a reminder that asking for help can start with uncertainty.
Read Charlotte’s full storyCharlotte, Clean Slate client. Individual experiences and outcomes vary.
IS THIS RIGHT FOR ME?
You don’t have to figure that out yourself.
Home detox may be an option if you have a stable place to stay and a trusted person to support you. Your health and previous withdrawal experiences also matter.
The suitability test is a starting point. A clinician will assess whether home detox is appropriate before you begin.
CLINICALLY LED CARE
Your safety comes first.
Led by Dr Chris Davis and a team of trained Australian clinicians, Clean Slate helps you understand what care is appropriate for you.
If home detox isn’t suitable, the team can recommend other options.
WHAT SUPPORT WITH US LOOKS LIKE
A plan for the first week.
And the months after it.
The suitability test comes first. If the program may fit, an onboarding conversation covers your situation, costs and next steps before you decide.
Know the cost before you commit.
$4,200 upfront, or $410 a month for 12 months ($4,920 total). Eligible clients may qualify for insurer or government funding. Medication and pharmacy fees are additional.
- 1
2–3 weeks · Preparation
Get ready, with your team
Meet your nurse and doctor, complete health checks and prepare your support person. Your goals and clinical needs shape your plan.
- 2
1 week · Detox
Medical support, at home
If home detox is suitable, your nurse checks in by video each day. Medication is managed by your doctor and dispensed through your pharmacy.
- 3
11 months · Aftercare
Keep the change going
Continue with your dedicated nurse, group sessions and practical support. Craving medication may also be considered as part of your care.
ONE SMALL STEP AT A TIME
Start with a little clarity.
No big decision today. First, find out whether this could fit.
Check your suitability
Answer a few questions about your drinking, health and situation.
Find out if we can helpTalk it through
After the test, a free onboarding call helps you understand the program, costs and your next steps.
A conversation, without judgement.Make a plan, together
Your clinical team assesses your needs and prepares a personalised plan before any detox begins.
Your goals. The right support.BEFORE YOU TAKE THE FIRST STEP
A few things you might be wondering.
What happens after I complete the test?
Do I need to be ready to stop drinking?
How much does the program cost?
Who needs to know?
Is detoxing at home safe for everyone?
WHEN YOU’RE READY, WE’RE HERE
If this sounds like the help you’ve been looking for…
Take the short suitability test to find out whether our program could fit. If it may, the next step is a conversation. If it doesn’t, the team can guide you towards other care.
