Alcohol 'still biggest concern' for support group

A free and confidential service offering support for people with substance or gambling issues said alcohol remains its biggest concern.

In-Dependence said 69%, or 75, of its assessments were for people struggling with alcohol last year.

It assessed 10 people with gambling problems last year and had 148 community referrals for help overall last year.

Executive officer Tracey Rear said the "complexity of dual diagnosis" of people with substance or gambling issues and mental health challenges such as a depression, anxiety or trauma was a key theme in 2025.

She said the organisation worked with the wider mental health system to help people.

According to the annual report, nearly half of the 23 high-risk drinkers it saw had reduced their risk to low after a series of weekly sessions designed to help build their motivation, manage urges and regulate their emotions.

Overall, 64 people completed treatment and 40 of them showed a drop in psychological distress, the group said.

One said: "Choosing my own goals made all of the difference."

Another reported that sessions helped them understand what kept people gambling and that they were "better prepared to deal with situations without gambling".

Rear said long-term funding for gambling therapy "remains uncertain" but it secured Social Investment Fund money for the next three years.

In-Dependence said demand for its needle exchange service was at its lowest for a decade, with fewer than 40 people using it.

The organisation said the drop was due to an aging population.

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