Drug and alcohol use

Children, young people and their families 

The Matthew Project is a service that is helping under 19s in Norfolk who are using drugs and alcohol or affected by a family member's use. Visit the Matthew Project Unity website for information, or phone the free helpline on 0800 970 4866 (open 8am-8pm) to talk to someone in confidence.

Over 18s

Visit the Change Grow Live website for more information or to make a referral or call 01603 514096.

Parents who misuse drugs or alcohol

Substance misuse can affect someone's ability to parent effectively.  If you are worried about a parent who may be in this situation, please help by contacting Norfolk County Council on 0344 800 8020 or via our general enquiry form.

National drug strategy

• Drug strategy

National alcohol strategy

• Alcohol strategy 

Norwich Alcohol Strategy and Action Plan

• Norwich Alcohol Needs Assessment Executive Summary (PDF, 99 KB)

Information and updates

• Norfolk's Living Well brochure
• Behind Closed Doors (Powerpoint, 2 MB)
• Improving Practice Presentation (Powerpoint, 1 MB) 

Norfolk County Council Public Health gave the contract for an integrated alcohol and drug behaviour change service to Change, Grow, Live (CGL) (opens new window). 

It provides treatment and aids recovery for Norfolk adults who are affected by substance misuse, as well as helping to build community resilience. 

The service demonstrates innovation and implements evidence-based good practice to deliver the best possible outcomes for individuals and their families.  There's a sharp focus on reducing harm caused to children.  

Norfolk County Council also commission DrinkCoach to help Norfolk residents manage their drinking.

DrinkCoach is a professional, convenient and confidential way to discuss your drinking. DrinkCoach offer expert guidance from an alcohol treatment specialist in the form of up to six coaching sessions.  

Drug use at festivals can be common and, at times, normalised. With increasing risks from substances such as synthetic opioids, it is more important than ever for festival organisers to take steps to keep attendees safe. 
This webpage provides an overview of good practice to reduce drug-and-alcohol‑related harm at festivals and events. 

Local Planning and Responsibilities

Festival organisers must follow UK legislation and established safety standards. 
Key responsibilities include: 

Safety Advisory Groups (SAGs)

• Large events should consult their District or Unitary Local Authority and participate in a Safety Advisory Group (SAG). 
• SAGs typically include representatives from:  
• Emergency services 
• Local authority teams (including Public Health and Emergency Planning) 
• Event organisers 
• Other relevant partners 
• Public Health (NCC PH) and NDAP attend event‑specific SAGs to advise on safety measures, including reducing drug and alcohol harms. 

Organiser Responsibilities

• Festival organisers are responsible for ensuring the safety of attendees. 
• Organisers must take steps to minimise harm from drugs and alcohol on‑site. 

Water Provision and Preventing Overheating 

Adequate hydration and cooling are essential to prevent drug‑ and alcohol‑related medical emergencies. 

Organisers should provide: 

• Free, plentiful drinking water with minimal queuing and no exposure to direct sunlight. 
• Shade and shelter in key areas. 
• Cooling facilities, such as misting tents and industrial fans. 
• Calm, cool "chill‑out areas" away from crowds and alcohol sales points, monitored by security and visited by welfare staff. 

Harm Reduction and Staff Training 

Harm Reduction Messaging 

Harm reduction helps create safer environments and encourages safer behaviours. Messages should be shared before and during the festival. 

Harm reduction messages may include: 

• Alerts about substances of concern found on site. 
• Warnings about variable drug strength and purity. 
• Advice to:  
  • Start with a low dose and wait at least an hour before taking more. 
  • Avoid mixing drugs. 
  • Stay hydrated and take breaks to avoid overheating. 
  • Avoid using alone; look out for friends. 
  • Seek immediate help in an emergency. 

Alcohol‑Specific Advice

Information should cover: 

• The risks of mixing alcohol with drugs. 
• Staying hydrated and alternating alcoholic drinks with soft drinks. 
• Avoiding drink spiking—don't leave drinks unattended. 
• Understanding how long alcohol stays in the body before driving. 

Communication Methods

• Festival app notifications 
• Posters and digital screens 
• Welfare staff engaging with attendees around the site 
• Printed messaging on festival merchandise 

Staff Training 

All staff should be trained to: 

• Recognise signs of drug or alcohol distress 
• Respond appropriately 
• Work with welfare and medical teams 
• Security teams should receive additional training in managing drug‑ or alcohol‑related emergencies. 

Drug Testing at Festivals

Drug testing can help identify harmful or adulterated substances. 

Types of Testing 

• Back‑of‑house: Testing substances seized or placed in amnesty bins. 
• Front‑of‑house: Festival‑goers voluntarily submit substances for testing and receive advice. 

Both require a Home Office licence. 

Benefits

Evidence from The Loop's 2016 UK pilot found: 

• Almost 1 in 5 participants chose to dispose of their drugs after testing. 
• 1 in 6 moderated their behaviour. 

Testing supports harm reduction and can help prevent serious incidents. 

Drug Alerts

Festival organisers can collaborate with The Loop to share rapid alerts about dangerous substances. 

Norfolk has a local drug information system (LDIS) where alerts are sent out if there is a substance of concern identified locally. Festival organisers will be notified by their local SAGs if any alerts are issued.  

Welfare Provision

Welfare services provide a safe, supervised space for attendees needing support with: 

• Drug or alcohol issues 
• Mental wellbeing 
• Sexual health 
• Rest and recovery 

Welfare should: 

• Be delivered by an experienced specialist provider. 
• Work closely with event control, medical teams, stewards, and security. 
• Include trained volunteers who can offer support, gather information, and provide harm reduction advice. 

Local services for support

Adults

Change, Grow, Live (CGL) - Norfolk Drug and Alcohol Treatment, 01603 514096 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)  

Change, Grow, Live website    

Children and Young People 

The Matthew Project, 01603 626123 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)  

The Matthew Project website 

Managing Individuals Under the Influence 

• Safety must be the top priority when deciding whether someone should be removed from the site. 
• In many cases, it is safer to take them to welfare or medical services instead. 
• Anyone showing signs of serious drug‑related illness—including agitation or concerning behaviour—should be transferred quickly to the onsite medical area. 
• Clear protocols must exist between welfare and medical teams for handover when a person's condition changes. 
• Multi‑day festivals may see increased mental health issues due to sleep deprivation or prolonged substance use. 

Emerging Drug Threats 

Festival organisers should stay aware of changing drug trends, including: 

Synthetic Opioids 

• Nitazenes, a group of highly potent synthetic opioids, are increasingly found in the UK drug market. 
• Although usually mixed with heroin, they have been detected in other recreational drugs. 

Naloxone

• Naloxone is effective in reversing opioid overdoses, including synthetic opioids. 
• Event organisers should ensure naloxone is accessible on site. 
• Change, Grow, Live can provide naloxone and training. 

Resources 

For Organisers

• Purple Guide to health - Safety and welfare at music and other events  (subscription required) 

For Festival‑Goers 

• FRANK   
• Ketamine | Know the Signs
• Staying safe at festivals | Change Grow Live

References

Drugs, alcohol and festival planning in 2026, Joint letter from Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and National Police Chief's Council.