Alcohol, vaping, smoking and drug support

There are crisis helplines and support available all day everyday: 

• DirectLine on 1800 888 236 for confidential alcohol and drug counselling in Victoria 

• Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 for emotional distress including depression and anxiety 

• Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 for counselling for young people aged five–25 years 

• SuicideLine Victoria on 1300 651 251 for people affected by suicide in Victoria 

• Lifeline on 13 11 14 for suicide prevention and mental health support 

• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are going through a tough time and feel like having a yarn 

• Safe Steps on 1800 015 188 for people experiencing family and domestic violence in Victoria 

• 1800Respect on 1800 737 732 for people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence 

• MensLine on 1300 78 99 78 for men with concerns about mental health, relationships, anger management, family violence (using and experiencing), stress, and suicidal thoughts 

• Launch Housing on 1800 825 955 for people experiencing a housing crisis in Victoria 

Learn more about alcohol consumption, the impacts on health, and ways to reduce harm and improve wellbeing: 

• Better Health Channel – alcohol facts 

• VicHealth - alcohol harm prevention 

• Alcohol and Drug Foundation - reducing the risk of alcohol-related harm 

• Youth Drug and Alcohol Advice (YoDAA) - different support options for young people 

For support or to find a local treatment service visit: 

• Bayside Alcohol & Other Drug Services – central intake provider for services covering Port Phillp, Stonnington, Glen Eira, Kingston and Bayside 

• DirectLine – alcohol and drug counselling, assessment and referral in Victoria available all day every day 

• AOD Pathways – supports individuals, families and friends who have had difficulty accessing alcohol and other drugs treatment in Victoria 

• Family Drug Support – resources and support for families and friends affected by someone’s alcohol or drug use 

• Family Drug and Gambling Helpline – support for families and friends affected by someone’s alcohol, drug use or gambling 

• Department of Health – information on the pathways into alcohol and other drug treatment in Victoria 

For young people and those supporting young people, visit:  

• Youth Drug and Alcohol Advice (YoDAA) - telephone and online support  

• Headspace – telephone, online and in-person support 

Learn more about vaping, the impacts on health, and ways to reduce harm and improve wellbeing: 

• Alcohol and Drug Foundation – vaping facts 

• Better Health Channel – health impacts of vaping 

• Headspace – young people and vaping 

• Quit ‘Get the facts on vaping’ - information to talk about risks of vaping with young people 

• VicHealth – vaping conversation guide for parents 

For support quitting smoking or vaping visit: 

• Quit – information and tools for all stages of quitting smoking or vaping 

• Quit Stories – read and share stories of quitting journeys and get tips to succeed 

• Quitline – free counselling support throughout your quitting journey – including support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and LGBTIQA+ communities  

• Quitline Interpreter Service and National Relay Service are also available 

• Or ask your doctor or health service to refer you to Quitline 

Learn more about the effects of smoking, how to quit, and reduce smoking-related harm: 

• Better Health Channel – smoking effects on your body 

• Better Health Channel – what to expect when you quit smoking 

• Cancer Council Victoria – ways to stop smoking and reduce smoking-related harm 

For support quitting smoking or vaping visit: 

• Quit – information and tools for all stages of quitting smoking or vaping 

• Quit Stories – read and share stories of quitting journeys and get tips to succeed 

• Quitline – free counselling support throughout your quitting journey – including support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and LGBTIQA+ communities  

• Quitline Interpreter Service and National Relay Service are also available 

• Or ask your doctor or health service to refer you to Quitline 

Learn more about drug use, the impacts, and ways to reduce harm and improve wellbeing: 

• Better Health Channel – drug types and effects 

• Alcohol and Drug Foundation – drug use, withdrawal and the recovery process 

• Youth Drug and Alcohol Advice (YoDAA) - different support options for young people 

• Harm Reduction Victoria – resources, services and programs focused on harm reduction and the health and human rights of people who use drugs 

For support or to find a local treatment service visit: 

• Bayside Alcohol & Other Drug Services – central intake provider for services covering Port Phillp, Stonnington, Glen Eira, Kingston and Bayside 

• DirectLine – alcohol & drug counselling, assessment and referral in Victoria are available all day every day. 

• AOD Pathways – supports individuals, families and friends who have had difficulty accessing alcohol and other drugs treatment in Victoria 

• Family Drug Support – resources and support for families and friends affected by someone’s alcohol or drug use 

• Family Drug and Gambling Helpline – support for families and friends affected by someone’s alcohol, drug use or gambling 

• Department of Health – information on the pathways into alcohol and other drug treatment in Victoria 

For young people and those supporting young people, visit:  

• Youth Drug and Alcohol Advice (YoDAA) - telephone and online support  

• Headspace – telephone, online and in-person support 

The Victorian alcohol and other drug client charter outlines the rights and responsibilities of people who use public alcohol and other drug services in Victoria. For information on what you can expect, visit the Department of Health website. 

To understand what to expect from general health service providers (which may include both public and private alcohol and other drugs services) in Victoria, the Code of Conduct for General Health Services outlines the standards required. 

If you are not satisfied with any health service (public or private) in Victoria, it’s OK to raise your concerns and share feedback with them directly. If you would like support to resolve or investigate a complaint, visit the Health Complaints Commissioner website or contact them on 1300 582 113.  

Find and explore more resources and support services near you: 

• Hello, Sunday Morning - information and tools to review your relationship with alcohol 

• Positive Choices – alcohol, other drug and vaping resources for students and families (including culturally and linguistically diverse peoples and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)  

• Lung Foundation Australia – vaping information and resources for young people, parents, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 

• Department of Health – smoke-free and vape-free areas in Victoria 

• ReachOut – free online wellbeing support options for young people and their parents and carers 

• Counselling Online – free service to communicate with a professional counsellor about alcohol and drug use in Australia, available all day every day 

• SHARC – programs, services and support for people impacted by alcohol, other drugs and gambling 

• Queerspace – counselling, case management, individual advocacy and other support services for LQBTIQA+ communities and their families 

• SECADA – single point of contact for a large network of specialist alcohol and drug services in Victoria  

• Path2Help – get tailored recommendations for local alcohol and other drug services  

• Alcohol and drug information directory – search directory for alcohol and drug services in Australia 

• South East Public Health Unit – explore local health promotion activities and services across Melbourne’s south-east catchment (including Glen Eira) 

• South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network – resources and referral to services for people in south east Melbourne areas (including Glen Eira) 

• Better Health Network – find local community health and wellbeing services in south east Melbourne areas (including Glen Eira) 

• Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals – free local support for mental health and wellbeing in Victoria 

Learn more about recent research and data on alcohol, vaping, smoking and other drugs: 

• AODstats by Turning Point – Victorian alcohol and drug statistics 

• Victorian Population Health Survey – annual survey by the Department of Health on the health and wellbeing of Victorian adults 

• Victorian Women’s Health Atlas – health and social wellbeing indicators by sex for every local government area in Victoria, produced by Women’s Health Victoria 

• Tobacco in Australia – review of Australian and international research on tobacco use and policy, compiled by Cancer Council Victoria 

• Australian Bureau of Statistics – population survey findings on health conditions and risks 

• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – reports and data on health behaviours and risk factors 

• Mindframe – supporting safe media reporting, portrayal and communication about suicide, mental health concerns and alcohol and other drugs