Substance dependence

You can contact the nearest health and social services centre (sosiaali- ja terveyskeskus) if you have issues with alcohol or drug use. Different wellbeing services counties may use different names for health and social services centre, such as terveysasema, terveyskeskus or hyvinvointiasema.

A-Clinics can help with intoxicant abuse and other addiction problems. A-Clinics offer, among other things, outpatient clinic services, substitution treatment and detoxification. There are A-Clinics all over Finland. Treatment at an A-Clinic is confidential.

Seek treatment at an A-Clinic through the intoxicant abuse services (päihdepalvelut) of your area of residence.

If a young person has problems with alcohol, drugs or gaming, they can seek help from a youth station (nuorisoasema). There are youth stations in many cities. The young person can come to a youth station alone or together with the parents.

The Päihdelinkki online service maintained by the A-Clinic Foundation contains information on intoxicant abuse and addictions. Some of the AddictionLink services are also available in Swedish, English and Russian.

Alcoholics Anonymous (Anonyymit Alkoholistit), or AA, is a peer association for the participants to share their experiences about alcoholism and to help each other recover. AA groups meet in many different municipalities, and the largest cities also have English-speaking groups.

Al-Anon offers support to friends and families of alcoholics. There is an English-speaking Al-Anon group that meets in Helsinki.

Narcotics Anonymous (Nimettömät narkomaanit), or NA, offers support, information and group meetings. You can become a member if you have a desire to stop using drugs. Information on the meetings is available on the website in Finnish, English and Swedish.