Professionals who provide alcohol and drug addiction counselling in English can be accessed through Barcelona NEST (see Counselling & Therapy).

Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau is noted for its research and treatment of addiction. This is carried out at the Addictive Behaviours Unit in the department of Psychiatry, headed by Dr. J. Carlos Pérez de los Cobos.

Barcelona Alcoholics Anonymous is an English-speaking support group with no dues or fees. There are no rules for joining, except the ‘desire to stop drinking’. It meets three times a week in the churches of San Miquel (Barceloneta), Santa María Del Pi (Gotic) Sant Josep (Placa de Lesseps), and also in Placa de Espanya, but is not linked to any religious movement.

Narcóticos Anónimos is a Spanish nationwide support group comprising ‘recovering addicts who meet regularly to offer one another the support to stay off drugs’. An English-speaking group (grupo habla Ingles) is affiliated to the organisation, and has twice-weekly meetings in the Church of Santa María del Pi (Gotico) and in the Sant Pere district of La Ribera.

The regional Catalan government run an anonymous telephone helpline (93 412 04 12) known as linea verd, ‘the green line’. It’s a useful first port of call for those who wish to talk anonymously about drug addiction, although counsellors who speak English might not always be available.

There is, as yet, no English-speaking service or support group for those worried about compulsive gambling. The Barcelona based FACAJOC provides support groups and services for compulsive gamblers or their relatives, but good Spanish would be essential. Making direct contact with the UK organisation GamCare is another option (www.gamcare.org.uk). GamCare is often recommended to Spanish gamblers anyway.