Alcohol, drugs and gambling

You can use different kinds of tests and gauges to assess your own situation. Health care and social welfare professionals and volunteers from organisations can also discuss your situation with you.

People tend to underestimate their alcohol consumption. To monitor your alcohol consumption, note how many doses you have had or estimate your typical doses. Compare them with the risk limits.

Write up the doses on your phone or in a notebook. For instance, the Ottomitta application (in Finnish), downloadable on your phoneOpens in a new window. is also available for monitoring your consumption.

If you cannot remember the number of drinks you have had on a single occasion, this is likely to indicate that the risk thresholds have been exceeded. If the risk thresholds are exceeded, you should consider your alcohol consumption and, where necessary, seek help in a manner suitable for you.

Pay attention to whether occasional use has become a continuous habit. Also consider whether the situation has developed so that you will no longer be able to cope mentally without drugs.

Use the following questions:

• Are the number of times used increasing, or are the doses increasing? This can happen quietly when the tolerance increases or the substance has a different effect from the initial one.
• Do you leave things undone due to the use of drugs? 
• Have you noticed that you can't do without drugs?
• Do you feel guilty about your use?

A particularly alarming sign is if the use needs to be continued due to withdrawal symptoms.

If you suspect that you are gambling too much, consider the following questions:

• Does the idea of reducing or stopping gambling cause anxiety or irritation?
• Are you trying to break even after a losing game by gambling again?
• Are there disputes with loved ones about gambling?
• Do you feel guilty or ashamed?
• Do you compromise on necessary purchases, other entertainment or hobbies because of gambling?
• Do work or study suffer because of gambling?
• Do you hide bills, or do you leave them unpaid?

Sometimes a gambling problem is identified when loved ones point out the time or money spent on gambling.

Identifying high-risk and harmful gambling on the Addictionlink websiteOpens in a new window.

You can get advice and personal help from a professional in the field or a trained volunteer to identify your situation. You can call different helplines or chat anonymously if you wish.

Take the matter up at the health centre of your wellbeing services counties or in occupational health care. You can book a separate appointment or bring up the matter at another visit. There is an obligation of secrecy in health care, so you can discuss the matter without, for example, your employer being informed.

Expert advice and guidance on the right services can be obtained from mental health, substance abuse and addiction services in your wellbeing services county.

Contacting an expert to determine your situation does not yet mean that you have a problem. In any case, it is good that you reflect on your behaviour and lifestyle. You can also receive further help if you feel you need it.

If you are worried about your alcohol consumption, you can talk to a substance abuse work or healthcare professional. Counselling is always confidential.

You can call different helpline numbers anonymously. 

You can receive substance abuse counselling anonymously online. You can either ask a substance abuse expert or speak with an expert by experience, or a person who has had problems with substance abuse.

Substance abuse counselling:

• Addictionlink counselling (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• 24-hour substance abuse counselling provided by Ehyt ry (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) helplines (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.

If you need help to think about your drug use, you can talk to a substance abuse work or healthcare professional. 

You can call different helplines or get advice online either from a substance abuse professional or an expert by experience, i.e. a person who has had problems with substance abuse.

Counselling is always confidential, and discussions can often be conducted anonymously.

Substance abuse counselling:

• Addictionlink counselling in FinnishOpens in a new window.
• 24-hour substance abuse counselling provided by EHYT ry in FinnishOpens in a new window.
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Helpline in FinnishOpens in a new window.
• Help line provided by Irti Huumeista ry in FinnishOpens in a new window.

You can find in Vinkki.info (in Finnish) health counseling service pointsOpens in a new window. operating in different localities. Health counselling service points provide advice particularly for people who use drugs intravenously.

You can discuss your gambling with a substance abuse or health care professional. 

On the Peluuri helplineOpens in a new window., you can talk to a professional specialising in gambling problems. You can call anonymously if you prefer.  

From the Pelirajaton service, you can request a peer call from a trained peer instructor (in Finnish).Opens in a new window. 

The Addictionlink counselling provides relaxed counselling online (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.. provides non-urgent help online. There, you receive advice from a professional or an expert by experience, i.e. a person who has suffered from problem gambling.

Counselling is always confidential, and discussions can often be conducted anonymously.

If you need urgent help because of a mental health or substance abuse problem, please contact the closest health centre or hospital on call. Get to the emergency clinic quickly if, for example, you feel that you need to harm yourself or another person. In an emergency, call the emergency number 112.

You can also go to the emergency clinic if you want to get immediate access to rehabilitation. Healthcare professionals will assess your situation and steer you forward. 

In a sudden mentally stressful situation, you can call a national crisis helpline or contact your regional crisis centre. You can anonymously seek crisis assistance if you feel that you cannot cope alone with your concerns or have self-destructive ideas. Crisis assistance is also available, for instance, when a relationship ends, or a loved one becomes ill or has passed away. 

Mieli Mental Health Finland is in charge of the crisis helpline and the crisis centres. You don't need a referral to the crisis centre.

• Mieli Mental Health Finland’s national helplineOpens in a new window.
• Regional crisis centres on Mieli Mental Health Finland’s websiteOpens in a new window. 

Social welfare emergency services help in urgent matters related to child welfare, domestic violence, mental health or intoxicants. You may contact the social emergency services if you need or your family member needs urgent professional assistance from a social worker outside office hours, i.e. in the evenings and at weekends.