Altered High Youth Service

Altered High Youth Service is for young people aged from 13 to 20 and their whānau with concerns about their own, or someone else’s alcohol or drug use.

On this page

Contact us

You can contact Altered High by:

We are available to talk to between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

One of our youth clinicians will take your call, explain our service and answer questions, discuss your needs and take a referral if appropriate.

Feedback, complaints and booking messages

Send feedback about Altered High using our feedback form. Follow the link or scan the QR code.

Altered High feedback

You can also call us or complete our online form if you have feedback, complaints about any of our CADS services, or need to message us about an appointment.

Community alcohol and drug service contact form

Where to find us

Altered High is located at:

Level 2
409 New North Road
Kingsland
Auckland 1021

We are also available:

  • through our mobile service — we travel to see rangatahi in an environment most suitable for them, such as at school or at work
  • by video and phone call.

Online hospital appointments (Telehealth)

Appointment hours

9am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday.

Services we provide

We see rangatahi who have concerns about their use of alcohol, drugs, or both. We also support rangatahi affected by a parent's or other whānau member's use of substances — the young person may or may not use substances themselves. We hold a whānau inclusive approach with the rangatahi who engage with us whenever possible.

We engage with rangatahi with information and support to help them make a change or a decision about what to do, to stop or cut down, and if they are continuing to use to reduce the harms associated with using substances. Some also experience mood or mental health challenges alongside their use of substances.

We are a mobile community service covering the wider Auckland region so travel to meet with rangatahi where they are, in an environment most suitable for them such as their education setting, rooms in community settings, home. We also engage with rangatahi by video-call and phone sessions.

We have a Rainbow-focused clinician available and we liaise with other agencies who are supporting rangatahi.

We also offer an evening whānau group (on Zoom) for whānau and caregivers concerned about or affected by their rangatahi use of substances, whether the rangatahi is engaged with us or not, with individual support where appropriate.

Resources

We have downloadable information about our services and drug facts on the Health NZ website.

Community alcohol and drug service (CADS) resources — Health NZ

Group information

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'Taking a break' group is our Alcohol and drug brief intervention group. It is for rangatahi aged 15 to 19 who are using drugs and alcohol and who:

  • are concerned about or want to change their use
  • need to access support after business hours
  • have legal issues such as diversion, probation or police involvement.

During the group we will:

  • explore beliefs about using substances
  • help motivate you to make change
  • look at ways to reduce the harms associated with using alcohol and other drugs.

If you would like to attend, book with your counsellor or call duty to discuss a referral.

Group details

  • Please do not use alcohol or other drugs on the day of the group.
  • Runs for 4 weeks on Wednesdays from 12:30pm to 1:30pm.
  • The group is on online forum using Zoom videoconferencing. The last session is one to one with your clinician.
  • Call us on 027 462 4580 to find out when the next group starts and to meet with one of our clinicians before attending the group.
  • All participants will get a certificate of attendance which is often helpful for those with court related matters.

  • The whānau group is for people who are concerned about the alcohol or other drug use of a rangatahi and would like information, advice or support. The group provides:
  • space for parents and caregivers to talk about their concerns related to the substance use of their rangatahi and how this is impacting on their whānau and them personally
  • information on alcohol and other drugs (AOD), and youth AOD dynamics and issues — an opportunity to ask questions and explore answers
  • discussion about teenage developmental stages and behaviours, and how the addition of AOD use and behaviours adds to parenting dynamics
  • information about setting boundaries and consequences — core parenting skills
  • an opportunity to identify existing strategies and solutions that have been tried or working well — strength-based approach
  • exploration of potential new strategies to implement and take away
  • strategies for talking to rangatahi about their AOD use
  • a focus on self-care — identifying existing strategies and new ones to try
  • support and assistance with stress management
  • information on Altered High youth service referral pathway and model of treatment, for those who have rangatahi engaged with, are starting to engage with, or potentially will be referred to service
  • a take home parent resource package.

Whānau group resources are available on HealthEd

Hyperlink to come

Group details

  • Runs on Thursday evenings from 6pm to 8pm.
  • We ask that people call our Dutyline on 027 462 4580 to talk with one of our staff before attending the group.
  • The group is currently run on Zoom videoconferencing.

The Managing mood group is for rangatahi aged between 16 and 19 who would like to learn more about emotions and strategies to help manage them.

At the group you will:

  • increase awareness of your emotions
  • learn and practice skills for how to manage strong emotions more effectively
  • learn strategies for managing tricky situations.

Feedback from rangatahi includes that they learnt:

  • “A lot. That moods are ok and normal”
  • “Skills to help me when I’m angry”
  • “How to stop and think before acting”

Group details

  • Please do not use alcohol or other drugs on the day of the group.
  • All participants receive a certificate of attendance
  • We run the group over ZOOM, usually on Tuesday afternoons.
  • If you would like to know more, call or text us on 027 462 4580
  • We will look at starting a new group when we have enough interest.
  • If you would like to attend please book with your counsellor or the duty counsellor.

Referral information

Anyone can refer to Altered High but it is preferable that rangatahi refer themselves.

The rangatahi must consent to and be involved in the referral process.

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Phone

Call us between 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday on either:

An Altered High worker will take your call, explain more about the service and answer any questions you have.

Text

If you have not got any credit on your phone you can text us on 027 462 4580, and we will call or text you back.

Online

Complete our online referral form.

Youth referral to CADS

Online

Complete our online referral form.

Youth referral to CADS

Email

Complete an Altered High referral form and email it back to us at alteredhigh@waitematadhb.govt.nz

Altered High referral forms are found on our Auckland Mental health and addictions page.

Mental health and addiction services — Auckland

E-referral

For primary care services with practice management systems use 'E-referrals – Addiction Services'. Mark your referral clearly for the attention of Altered High youth service and include the following information.

  • Whether or not the rangatahi has agreed to the referral.
  • Whether or not the whānau of the rangatahi is aware of the referral.
  • Contact numbers and email addresses for the rangatahi and whānau if possible.

If you are contacting us on behalf of a rangatahi, make sure that you have discussed this with them and they agree. Complete as much contact information as possible.

Phone

Call us between 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday on either:

Altered High is not able to provide after hours crisis services. If you need emergency mental health assistance call 0800 800 717

Request contact

You can contact us using our contact form.

CADS contact form

What happens after a referral is made

Based on the information from the referral you will be allocated an Altered High clinician.

Your clinician will ring you or your whānau, to introduce themselves and organise a time to meet.

Your clinician will then meet with you in a place convenient for you. They will answer any questions you might have about Altered High and then ask you some questions — an assessment. This is to find out about you, work out what your strengths and current difficulties are, and begin to work out a plan about how to help you.

Some of the ways they might help include:

  • sharing some factual information with you about drugs and alcohol
  • supporting you to think about how you use alcohol and other drugs and what changes you might want to make
  • sharing some strategies on how to minimise harms from using drugs and alcohol and how to cut down or stop using
  • working with your family to support you in making safer choices.