help

Navigating the Website

There are a number of ways you can search for the service that will suit you. To enter the search fields from the home page, you can go straight to search in the left hand side of the home page.

Another way to enter the search is to click on treatment directory in the left hand side of the home page. A drop-down box will appear that allows you to limit your search by the following areas: alcohol and other drug services, gambling services and support services.  Select the category of service you wish to search for.  This will now take you to the search page of the Addictions Treatment Directory.

Regionalised Search

Services are listed by District Health Board Region. If you know the DHB region you live in, you can search via the drop-down box under the District Health Board region.

Alternatively, click on the map area that is close to where you live and the DHB area will appear in the District Health Board field.

Town/City

Enter the first letter of the town of city that you wish to find services in or scroll through the alphabetical list provided to find Addiction Treatment Services in the town or city closest to you.

Service Name

If you know the name of the service, enter the name in the empty box alongside this field name. Alternatively, you can scroll through the complete alphabetical list of services in the drop-down box displayed in the second line of this field.

Service Category

A service category describes the type of population that the service is focused on e.g. generic youth services. There are six types of categories that can help you to limit your search. Choose the one that best suits you. If this seems difficult leave this field empty and all category or services will e viewed for your selected area.

Service Type

The Service Type filed describes the type of intervention offered by services. There is a range of service interventions such as one-to-one counseling, assessment or residential services. Choose the type of intervention that you think is closest to your situation or if you are unsure leave this field blank.

The Key

The key, through use of colored squares, helps you to work out what steps to take to access a service.

Self (green)
You can go to this service directly for help.

GP (light blue)
Your GP (General Practitioner) can make a referral to the service for you. This also means that you GP may receive information back form the service you are referred to.

Assessment agency (periwinkle blue)
To access these services, you must first go to an assessment agency where you will talk to a counselor and the information gathered will be compiled into a written assessment.

Other Agency (red)
You can be referred to the service by another agency such as a social service, relationship, CYFS, probation, police or violence service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Help?

The very first step is to identify whether you believe you or a family member has a problem. This can be done through checking information about drugs, alcohol or gambling on information websites (see links).

Who can I talk to now?

For other people the first step will be to call a Helpline (Alcohol Drug Helpline Gambling Helpline) It’s your call and when you are ready you can call us and we will listen and support you to think about what will help you.

I think I need Help – where do I go?

Assessment services

The first step is often to access an assessment service. These services are staffed by trained counselors and health clinicians who will ask you questions in order to discover the range of problems that you experience due to your substance use or gambling. For some people, talking to one of these services will help them to make choices about reducing the harms that are associated with their use. Education and strategies for change may then be implemented and reviewed over a short period of counseling sessions.

Day Programmes

Some people will benefit from a structured intervention such as a day programme. Day Programmes have set structured programmes that occur over 6-12 weeks. Programmes are offered in a group setting. This means that you will be with other people who are also seeking hope and ways to change their substance use. People who attend these programmes are often asked to also attend support groups in the evenings as a way to establish new ways of acting to support their wish to make changes. 

Residential Programmes

Some people will benefit from a residential structured intervention. Residential programmes vary in length from six weeks to one year. The average length of a programme is 6-12 weeks. Residential treatment is suited to people who experience severe physical, emotional and social problems due to alcohol or other drug use. These programmes are mainly abstinence based, that means that people who go to these services are asked to cease alcohol and drug use for the duration of their treatment programme with the aim that they will continue to live this way after the programme is completed.

Support Groups

Many people have found the fellowship meetings offered by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Al-Anon (for whanau/family members) to be great places to seek and receive support.  Search under Support Groups for contact numbers.

Does attending a treatment services make a difference?

All of these services work, it is a matter of matching a person and their unique situation with the right service. Most importantly services offer people hope. You are no longer alone trying to make sense of why something that was enjoyable is now causing you a huge headache.

For some people the fact that they are with other people who are experiencing similar challenges, allows the sense of loneliness and desperation to lift. Often people learn new skills that apply to living life well, not just to addressing alcohol, drugs or gambling.

What about help with “P”?

‘P’ or methamphetamine or speed is the latest drug to cause serious harm to people of all ages and all walks of life. Treatment services can and do support people to recover from suing “P” and will help with detoxification, treatment and ongoing support.

Gambling Services

Search services using the gambling navigation button
Gambling services are community based. This means that they offer a range of services to people living in the community. There are very few residential programmes for people with only a gambling problem. However if gambling is part of a wider addiction problem such as alcohol or other drug misuse, the individual may be able to access Alcohol and other drug residential treatment.

If you are unsure or you have any questions you can call the:  

alcohol drug helpline 0800 787 797
gambling helpline 0800 654 655

We welcome your feedback as to how you find this new Directory. If you have any compliments, complaints of suggestions please contact us at

ADANZ (Alcohol Drug Association New Zealand) 
PO Box 13-496
Christchurch
03 379 8626
Email: ada@adanz.org.nz
Web:   www.adanz.org.nz
 www.addictionshelp.org.nz
 www.alcoholdrughelp.org.nz