ACT Middlesbrough - Recovery Solutions

Today, Rich and Drew met with the Public Health South Tees, Young People’s Marketing Group to hear their thoughts on how we can better reach, connect with and support young people across Middlesbrough. 🗣️

We talked about how information around alcohol, drugs, wellbeing and safety can feel more relevant, approachable and easier to understand. 💬

The group also shared ideas on how we can make it easier for young people to know what support is available and feel able to access it. 🤝

A big thank you to the group for sharing their ideas, honesty and insight. 🙌

Young people’s voices matter, and they should help shape the way we communicate and offer support. 🌟

Support is here — before, during and after the final whistle.⚽

While big sporting moments like the World Cup bring excitement for many, they can also be a difficult and unsafe time for others. You are not alone—support is available.

📞 We’re here 24/7: 03000 20 25 25 🌐 Visit: https://www.myharbour.org.uk/

If you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police.

🧡 Sometimes loneliness is not about having nobody around.

It can be sitting with people, laughing, joking, smiling, and still feeling like nobody really sees you.

For some people, alcohol or drugs can become a way to soften that feeling. Conversations may feel easier. The room may feel less heavy. The real you may feel less anxious, less quiet, less exposed.

But when the moment passes, the loneliness can still be there, sometimes with shame, worry or regret added on top.

Not everyone who feels lonely will use alcohol or drugs, but for those who do, support is available.

This Loneliness Awareness Week, we want to say this clearly:

You deserve connection without having to numb yourself first.

📞 Recovery Solutions: 01642 726800

No judgement. Just support.

⚽🏆 The World Cup is full of substitutions.

Some happen because something isn't working. Some change the game completely.

A player comes off. A player comes on.The game changes.

🔄 Sometimes life is the same.

💭 What if the thing helping you cope is also holding you back?

For some people, it's alcohol. For others, it's drugs.
At first, it can feel like it's helping. Over time though, it can start taking more than it gives back.

The good news is that support looks different for everyone and we are here to help you change the game.

💬 Talking therapies
🤝 One-to-one support
👥 Recovery groups and peer support
💊 Medication to help reduce cravings where suitable
🏠 Home detox options where safe and appropriate
🌱 Support to access rehab and build long-term recovery

You don't have to keep relying on the same thing if it isn't working anymore.

⚽ Sometimes the strongest move is making a substitution.

📞 01642 726800

💚 No judgement. Simply support.

⚠️ 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬.

What many don't realise is that today's co***ne can be often stronger than it was a decade ago.

The amount someone used in the past may not carry the same level of risk today.

𝐀 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟:
🫀 Chest pain and heart problems
😰 Panic and anxiety
⚡ Seizures
🚨 Overdose and medical emergencies

It's not just the time spent using that can have an impact.

🧠 Co***ne can affect your mental health too. As the effects wear off, some people experience a difficult comedown, including:

😟 Anxiety and panic
😔 Low mood or depression
😴 Difficulty sleeping
😠 Irritability or agitation
💭 Paranoia or distressing thoughts

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞:

🔹 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰 – take less than you normally would and wait before taking more.

🍺❌ 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐱𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥 – combining co***ne and alcohol creates a toxic substance called cocaethylene, which places additional strain on the heart and liver.

💊❌ 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐱𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐬 – mixing substances can increase the risk of overdose, unpredictable effects and serious medical emergencies.

👥 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 – make sure someone can check on you or call for help if needed.

💧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 – especially in hot environments or when dancing for long periods.

🤝 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 – if someone becomes unresponsive, has difficulty breathing, experiences chest pain, or has a seizure, call 999 immediately.

𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬.

💚 Worried about your own co***ne use, or someone else's?

We offer free, confidential support without judgement.

📞 Recovery Solutions: 𝟎𝟏𝟔𝟒𝟐 𝟕𝟐𝟔𝟖𝟎𝟎

📞 Evening & Weekend Helpline: 𝟎𝟕𝟕𝟏𝟔 𝟏𝟐𝟗𝟑𝟗𝟓

📧 [email protected]

🚶 Drop-in and speak to us at 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭
📍 Crossfell Road, Berwick Hills
🕘 Monday: 9:30am - 4pm
🕘 Tuesday: 9:30am - 4pm
🕘 Wednesday: 1pm - 5pm
🕘 Thursday: 9:30am - 4pm
🕘 Friday: 9:30am - 3:30pm

💚 No judgement. Just support.

***neAwareness

For many people who work away, life can look very different depending on which side of the front door they're standing.

Away from home, there's work to focus on.
Back home, there's family, friends, responsibilities and everything that happened while you were gone.

Working away can bring its own pressures.

So can coming home. Sometimes it's trying to balance the two that feels hardest.

For some people, alcohol or other drugs can become part of how they unwind, switch off or cope with that pressure.

If that's something you've noticed in yourself, why not get in touch?

Whether you're working away or back home, we can work around you. Support is available through phone, WhatsApp, Teams and face-to-face appointments, including evening and weekend options.

📞 01642 726800
📱 Evening & Weekend Helpline: 07716 129395
📩 [email protected]
🎯 DM us on Messenger

💚 No judgement. Just support

🧡As part of Carers Week, we're sharing Kate's story.🧡

Following the sudden loss of her mum, Kate found herself becoming her dad's main carer almost overnight while also navigating her own grief.

Kate says: "I lost Mum and then felt like I became a parent myself overnight to Dad."*

Kate also speaks openly about the impact caring can have on everyday life:

"It's restricted what we can do. We can't really go away – we definitely couldn't leave him and go abroad. Everything we do has to take into consideration how it might impact Dad."*

📖Read Kate's story to learn more about the realities of caring and the importance of finding support when you need it.
👉https://wecareyoucare.info/carers-stories/kates-story-coping-with-grief-and-caring



Middlesbrough Council Carers Together Teesside Mind

👋 We're here at the Adult Social Care Jobs Fair today at Middlesbrough Town Hall!

If you've ever thought about a career where you can make a real difference to people's lives, why not come along and have a chat with us?

There are opportunities to meet teams from across Adult Social Care, learn about different career paths, explore training and development opportunities, and find out what it's really like to work in care.

Whether you're looking for a new challenge, starting your career journey, or considering a return to work, we'd love to see you.

📍 The Crypt, Middlesbrough Town Hall
⏰ Until 3.30pm today

Pop in and say hello, there's still plenty of time to come along and explore what's on offer.

💙 Everyone is welcome.