# Finding Addiction and Mental Health Care in South London

Canonical: https://rehablondon.uk/treatment-south-london/

Publication: Rehab London

Updated: 2026-10-17

Finding treatment in South London requires a closer look at borough boundaries and the type of care needed. A Lambeth resident may use a different drug and alcohol service from someone in Southwark or Croydon, while private hospital care has its own assessment and funding process. A familiar hospital name does not establish which referral route applies.

This guide focuses on practical examples in Lambeth, Southwark, Croydon, and Wandsworth, with links to the relevant NHS pathways. It distinguishes community appointments from hospital or residential care. Confirm the exact service, age criteria, and appointment location before traveling or changing an existing treatment arrangement.

## Decide what needs assessment first

Start by describing the concern rather than selecting a building. Explain alcohol or drug use, mental health symptoms, current medication, and previous care. A GP or an appropriate local service can help assess what should happen next. If another team is already involved, make sure the new service knows about it.

The [first assessment guide](https://rehablondon.uk/first-assessment-london/) explains how to prepare a concise account. Ask whether the appointment is an initial discussion, a specialist assessment, a therapy session, or a medical review. These serve different purposes, even if the booking system uses the same general word “consultation.”

## Lambeth: a local drug and alcohol pathway in Brixton

The [NHS listing for Lambeth Drug and Alcohol Service](https://www.nhs.uk/services/service-directory/lambeth-drug-and-alcohol-service/N10870951) identifies Lorraine Hewitt House at 12–14 Brighton Terrace, Brixton SW9 8DG. It describes support for adults over 18 living in Lambeth and includes a self-referral route. Check the current arrangements before attending an assessment.

The listing describes clinical and psychological support, prescribing, sexual health and blood-borne virus services, and help for families. The relevant combination depends on assessment. Do not assume every listed intervention will be needed or that a community appointment is equivalent to an inpatient admission.

If residential treatment or medically assisted withdrawal is being considered, ask where it would happen and which team would arrange it. Explain any existing mental health care so the plan can be coordinated. A local service can be an entry point to a wider pathway without delivering every component at the same address.

## Southwark: check the current age-specific referral route

[Change Grow Live Southwark](https://www.changegrowlive.org/service/southwark-drug-alcohol/info) lists its Camberwell Passage hub at Units 1 and 2, 1–6 Camberwell Green, SE5 7AF. It describes individual and group support, clinical input, recovery support, and onward referrals. It also offers telephone or video support where appropriate.

The provider's [current referral page](https://www.changegrowlive.org/service/southwark-drug-alcohol/referrals) directs people under 25 to the young people's service. Use that route when applicable, even if an older directory describes a general adult service beginning at 18. A young adult's referral form and treatment pathway may differ from those used by an older adult.

The service publishes specific arrangements for some sessions and appointment times. Confirm that the location and session you plan to attend are appropriate for you, rather than relying on general opening hours alone. Ask where clinical appointments, prescription collection, and other activities occur if your plan involves more than one type of contact.

Family members and carers can also ask about support for themselves. That is different from arranging treatment for someone else without their involvement. Agree how the person seeking care will participate and what information can be shared with family or other professionals.

## Croydon: distinguish local support from residential referrals

[Croydon Council describes its integrated recovery service](https://www.croydon.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/drugs-and-alcohol/drug-and-alcohol-treatment-service), delivered by Change Grow Live, as a route for people who live in Croydon or are registered with a Croydon GP. Confirm current eligibility and the appropriate age pathway when making contact.

The [provider's service information](https://www.changegrowlive.org/service/croydon-drug-alcohol/info) lists Lantern Hall, 190 Church Road, CR0 1SH. It describes individual and group support, access to nursing and relevant medication, and referrals to community or residential detox and rehab. It directs people under 25 to its young people's team.

A referral to residential care is different from receiving residential care at Lantern Hall. Ask which assessments, approvals, and receiving-service decisions are required. If a placement outside Croydon is proposed, establish who will continue support while it is arranged and what happens when the person returns.

For people living near the Croydon boundary, give both residence and GP details. A postal address or a nearby train station does not by itself identify the responsible treatment service. If you have moved recently, ask the current team to help coordinate the transition rather than assuming the old arrangements remain in place.

## Talking therapies use their own borough pathways

[Lambeth Talking Therapies](https://slam.nhs.uk/service-detail/service/lambeth-iapt-145/) describes self-referral and GP referral, followed by an initial consultation and discussion of suitable support. It is a mental health therapy pathway. It should not be assumed to arrange every medical, addiction, or inpatient need that might coexist with anxiety or depression.

[Southwark Talking Therapies](https://slam.nhs.uk/service-detail/service/talking-therapies-southwark-48/) states that it supports adults aged 18 and over who live in Southwark or are registered with a Southwark GP. Although the service is based at Maudsley Hospital, that address does not mean every appointment is an inpatient hospital service.

[Croydon Talking Therapies](https://slam.nhs.uk/service-detail/service/talking-therapies-croydon-150/) describes its own local eligibility and treatment route. In Wandsworth, the [South West London and St George's service](https://swlstg.nhs.uk/wandsworth-talking-therapies) provides the relevant borough pathway. Check the specific service page rather than assuming one South London referral form covers all areas.

If substance use and mental health concerns are both present, disclose both and ask how the teams will work together. The [integrated treatment guide](https://rehablondon.uk/integrated-dual-diagnosis-treatment-london/) explains the practical questions: who coordinates the plan, which interventions each service provides, and how changes are communicated.

## Specialist services have additional entry criteria

South London contains major specialist services, but proximity does not establish eligibility. A service may require a referral from a local consultant, previous treatment information, or a particular clinical assessment. Ask what question the specialist referral is intended to resolve and whether the current team must remain involved.

[South London and Maudsley's referral information](https://slam.nhs.uk/referring-to-our-services) explains that services manage referrals individually. This makes the specific service criteria important. A general inquiry to a hospital should not be treated as an accepted referral or a confirmed appointment with the specialist team you have in mind.

Where specialist input supplements local care, agree the division of responsibility. Who handles routine prescriptions, physical monitoring, and urgent questions? The patient should not have to infer those roles from the fact that two services are based in the same part of London.

A useful referral explains what has already been tried, what changed, and what remains difficult. Include the person's own priorities, such as attending college, sleeping reliably, or reducing alcohol-related harm. That gives the receiving team a clinical question to assess rather than only a request for a well-known hospital.

## Private treatment in Roehampton is within London

[Priory Hospital Roehampton](https://www.priorygroup.com/locations/priory-hospital-roehampton-london) gives its address as Priory Lane, Roehampton, London SW15 5JJ and describes mental health and addiction care. It is a London location. Ask which specific pathway and clinical team are being proposed rather than treating the hospital's full service menu as a personal treatment plan.

The [CQC location record](https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-127132286) provides inspection and registration information for that site. Read the relevant service detail as well as the overall record. A provider's reputation or a single headline rating should not replace questions about the current treatment, staffing, and suitability for the individual.

The [hospital and rehab comparison](https://rehablondon.uk/psychiatric-hospital-vs-rehab-london/) helps clarify the setting. If treatment is offered as outpatient, day, or inpatient care, ask what the schedule and clinical support actually involve. Different settings can be appropriate at different points in the same person's care.

## Check the journey and the appointment format

A South London journey can involve rail, bus, tram, or a combination, depending on the starting point and service. Check the actual route and access requirements using [Transport for London's accessible journey tools](https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/plan-an-accessible-journey). Avoid assuming that two nearby boroughs mean a short or simple trip.

Ask about building access, waiting areas, and remote appointments where appropriate. If the service uses several locations, confirm which one appears on the appointment instructions. For repeated treatment, consider whether the route remains practical on days when you are not traveling from work or college.

If a supporter will accompany you, agree their role before the visit. They may help with travel, remembering questions, or part of the discussion if you want that. The clinical team should still have an opportunity to understand the person's own account and preferences.

## Compare costs and the next stage of care

For private treatment, ask for the costs of assessment, therapy, medical review, medication, tests, and any overnight stay. If insurance is involved, confirm the exact services covered and any approval requirements. A consultation quote does not necessarily describe the cost of the full treatment pathway.

If a publicly funded residential placement is being considered, ask how clinical suitability, funding, and admission are decided. The [rehab near London guide](https://rehablondon.uk/rehab-near-london/) helps compare a local pathway with care in surrounding counties. Describe the actual residential location accurately and plan the return to local support.

Before a program ends, confirm the next appointments and who receives the records. The [aftercare guide](https://rehablondon.uk/rehab-aftercare-london/) covers this handover. If an urgent mental health concern arises, NHS 111 in England has a mental health option; for immediate danger or a medical emergency, call 999 or attend A&E instead of waiting for a routine booking.