Connexions Tameside

The fact is all of these are things that you can get addicted to, and they can affect your health and life-style.

Alcohol

Alcohol includes beer, lager, wines and spirits. A lot of people have a drink and enjoy it and in moderation that’s OK. Too much though can mean risking your health and your safety; you could damage your liver, have an accident or get involved in a fight, and potentially end up being arrested. If you are old enough to have a driving licence and are ‘over the limit’ then you could be convicted for drink driving and lose your licence for 12 months.

Here are some websites that give you more information and help:

• Addaction – help with drugs and alcohol
• Alcoholics Anonymous - national helpline 0845 769 7555
• Truth about Booze
• The site
• Down Your Drink

Drugs

Drugs includes a wide range of substances from medicines that you can buy over the counter or that are prescribed by your doctor which are legal to illegal drugs like cannabis and heroin.

There are four groups of drugs:

• Stimulants
• Depressants
• Hallucinogens
• Analgesics

All drugs are potentially dangerous so prescription drugs have precise instructions on how and when to take them, including finishing the course of treatment. If you mis-use drugs you could risk damaging your health, and possibly die if you ‘overdose’.

If the drug is not a ‘prescription’ drug it’s illegal! These drugs are classified as Class A (the most dangerous) Class B or Class C.

If you’re found in possession of illegal drugs you’ll risk getting fined or a prison sentence.

These websites all have help and advice for you and your friends.

• Talk to Frank
• Addaction
• The site

Branching Out

Branching Out is Tameside and Glossop’s specialist substance misuse service. It offers confidential support to under 19’s and to family members/carers who are affected by someone else’s drug use; it also offers training and advice to professionals working with children and young people.

Branching Out works holistically to offer information, harm reduction and relapse prevention, stabilisation, substitute prescribing and family support.

 

Pre & post 16 link PA: Jenny Dawes

You may prefer to call the National Drugs helpline on 0800 77 66 00.

Gambling

Gambling is not illegal, though you need to be a certain age for some forms of gambling. Playing the Lottery, going to bingo, doing the football pools playing on arcade machines are all forms of gambling, most of the time it’s harmless fun but it can become a problem if you don't understand what you’re doing. You could get into money problems if you spend more money than you win and you could become ‘addicted’ to it.

• Gamcare can offer help and advice.

Smoking

Smoking is not illegal (unless you’re under 16) but it can damage your health, and that of the people you come into contact with including any unborn child. Smoking is addictive, so once you’ve started it could be hard to give it up.

Smoking is becoming less and less acceptable, and it is now not permitted to smoke on planes or trains. It is now illegal to smoke in enclosed public spaces like pubs, restaurants and work premises in England. If you want to know more about the health problems caused by smoking or want to find out how to give up these websites could help:

• ASH
• QUIT
• Mind, Body, Soul

If you feel that you, or someone you know has got a problem with alcohol, drugs, gambling or smoking you can talk to your Personal Adviser about it, or you could visit one or more of the above links for further information and help.

You can use the library in your Connexions Centre too as it has information for you to read or take away. You could also go to Health Web Linx for more useful websites.