Tools & Resources
UK support, apps, and where to turn for real help.
You don't have to do this alone, and some of the best help is free and confidential. Here's what's worth knowing about in the UK, from a quick anonymous chat to a proper local service, plus the apps and communities people actually find useful.
UK support
- FRANK: the national drugs information service. Straight, non-judgemental facts, a 24-hour helpline (0300 123 6600), text and live chat, and a tool to find local services by postcode. A good first stop.
- NHS: Drug addiction: getting help: explains how to access free NHS and local drug services. You can go through your GP or, in most areas, refer yourself directly. It's confidential and it won't go on any record that causes you trouble.
- Mind: useful contacts: a well-kept list of drug, alcohol and mental-health support organisations, handy if the cannabis and your mental health are tangled together.
- Marijuana Anonymous UK: a free, peer-led 12-step fellowship specifically for cannabis, with online and in-person meetings. Not for everyone, but many find the shared experience powerful.
- Adfam: support for the families and friends of people who use drugs. If it's you who's worried about someone else, we've written a page for that: Worried about someone else's use?
Apps & communities
- r/leaves: a large, active, genuinely supportive community of people quitting or cutting down cannabis. Day-one posts, milestone posts, and a lot of hard-won practical advice at any hour.
- Quit-tracking apps: tools like Grounded (built specifically for quitting cannabis) and I Am Sober track your streak, your money saved and your milestones. A visible day count is a surprisingly effective motivator in week one.
What professional support actually looks like
People often picture rehab and rule it out, but for most cannabis users, "getting help" is far more ordinary than that. A GP can talk through what you're experiencing, check whether something underneath needs treating (see Your Mental Health), and refer you on. Local drug and alcohol services, free, in most towns, offer one-to-one keyworker sessions and structured support. And talking therapies such as CBT have good evidence for changing habits and handling the triggers and cravings that keep pulling you back.
Reaching for any of this is a sign you're taking it seriously, not a sign it's got out of hand. Use as much or as little as helps, and if one thing doesn't fit, try another.