ACT Middlesbrough - Recovery Solutions

Today is National Grief Awareness Day 💜

At some point in our lives, we will all be impacted by grief. And yet, grief is still something that many people find difficult to talk about, and there are many misconceptions about what it means to grieve.

This National Grief Awareness Day, we wanted to share some reminders ⬇️
https://ow.ly/ZkBG50ZFc4O

Please remember, you're not alone 💜

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 🕯💜

When a person is lost,
the world does not grow smaller
in any way a map can show.

But somewhere, a chair holds its silence.
A phone keeps a message that will never be replaced.
A familiar song becomes harder to hear.
And an ordinary day is divided into before and after.

An overdose can happen in a moment. But a whole life came before it.

A life filled with ordinary mornings, private hopes,
shared laughter and people who loved them.

Someone’s child.
Someone’s parent.
Someone’s friend.
Someone’s everything.

Their life was not the way they died.
Their story is everything they lived.

So let us remember them whole,
their voice,
their humour,
their kindness,
the love they gave
and the love that remains.

And may remembering those we have lost
change how we treat those who are still here.

With less judgement. More understanding.
And the belief that every life is worth protecting 💜

This Bank Holiday Monday is International Overdose Awareness Day, a day to remember without judgement, acknowledge the people who carry the loss, and remind ourselves that every life has value. 💜

⚠️ OVERDOSE DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN UNCONSCIOUS

Stimulants include co***ne, crack, speed and M**A. An overdose can happen while someone is still awake and talking.

Warning signs can include:

• Feeling very hot or sweating heavily
• Chest pain or a very fast heartbeat
• Confusion, panic or severe agitation
• Seeing or hearing things that are not there
• A sudden, severe headache
• Shaking or having a seizure
• Collapsing or becoming unconscious
• Fast, difficult or unusual breathing

If your mate looks seriously unwell:

📞 Call 999 straight away. Say you think it may be a stimulant overdose and follow the call handler’s instructions.

• Help them stop moving. If it is safe, move them somewhere quieter and cooler and loosen tight clothing.

• Stay calm, reassure them and do not leave them alone.

• Do not give them more drugs or alcohol. Do not give them food or drink if they are confused, drowsy, having a seizure or unconscious.

• If they have a seizure, move nearby objects away and protect their head. Do not hold them down or put anything in their mouth.

• If they become unconscious or their breathing changes, tell the 999 call handler immediately and follow their instructions.

Tell the ambulance crew what they may have taken. This could help save their life.

Never leave someone to “sleep it off”. If you are unsure, call 999.

💜 Mates take care of mates.

💜 MATES LOOK AFTER MATES 💜

On 31 August, International Overdose Awareness Day gives us time to remember every person whose life has been lost or changed by overdose.

It is also a reminder that overdose can be prevented.

Naloxone is a medicine that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose and give someone vital time until emergency help arrives.

You do not need to be using drugs yourself to carry it. You could be a friend, family member or simply the person who is there when it is needed.

✅ Free naloxone kits
✅ Free overdose prevention training
✅ No judgement

Never had a kit or need another? Send us a direct message, speak to a member of staff or call our helpline on 07716 129395.

Because mates look after mates. 💜

⚠️ Cleveland Police have shared the below information after two people became seriously ill following the use diazepam (wobbly eggs) believed to be contamimated.

The safest option is not to take street bought tablets, tablets bought online or tablets not prescribed to you. However, if you do,

🔸 Go low and slow, take a smaller amount and allow plenty of time for the effects.

🔸 Avoid taking more while waiting for the effects to start.

🔸 Avoid mixing with alcohol or other drugs.

🔸 Avoid using alone. If possible, stay with someone you trust.

🔸 If you are with other people, avoid everyone taking tablets at the same time.

🔸 Let someone know what you have taken and when.

🔸 Carry naloxone and make sure others know where it is and how to use it.

🔸 Keep your phone charged and nearby.

📞 If someone looks unwell, cannot be woken, has a seizure or is struggling to breathe, call 999 and stay with them until help arrives.

Officers are warning the public of a batch of diazepam (wobbly eggs) believed to be contaminated, after two men were taken seriously ill after taking it.

The men, aged 21 and 30 were taken to hospital having taken the drug at an address in Stockton and both are in a serious condition.

🗣️ Detective Sergeant Jonathan Christie, of Stockton CID said: “While we would not advocate the use of illegal drugs, we would warn drug users that this particular batch could be dangerous. If you are a drug user, or know someone who is struggling with addiction, please make sure you’re aware of the heightened risk this batch poses.

“We are working closely with public health colleagues and other partner agencies as we investigate these incidents and identify the source of these drugs.

“Anyone who experiences unexpected or severe side effects from any drug use should seek immediate medical attention.”

Two men aged 44 and 30, along with a 38-year-old woman, have been arrested on suspicion of administering a noxious substance.

If you have any information which could assist our enquiries, please contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number.

If you don’t want to speak to police, you can pass information anonymously to https://orlo.uk/sYQbt or phone them on 0800 555 111.

💛 Do You Have Naloxone? 💛

Naloxone is a life-saving medicine that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and give someone more time until emergency help arrives. 🚑

It's safe, easy to use, and simple to carry. Having a naloxone kit means you could help save a life in an emergency. ❤️

✅ Saves lives
✅ Free kit
✅ Free training
✅ Quick and easy to carry

📦 Never had a naloxone kit?
🔄 Used yours or need a replacement?

📞 Get in touch with us today.
📧 [email protected]
📩 Direct message us on Facebook Messenger

As International Overdose Awareness Day (31 August) approaches, now is a great time to learn more about naloxone and make sure you have a kit. A small action today could help save a life tomorrow. 💜

Together, we can raise awareness, reduce stigma, and help keep our community safe. 🤝

💜🕊️

📚 GCSE RESULTS DAY | MIDDLESBROUGH 🎓

Today, lots of young people across Middlesbrough will be opening their GCSE results.

For some, it will be a day of celebrating. 🎉
For others, the results might not be what they hoped for.

You might feel proud, relieved, disappointed, worried or a bit of everything. 💭

Whatever is written on that piece of paper, it does not decide your future. 💛

There is more than one route forward, and one set of results does not define what you are capable of.

Today is about recognising the work, effort and pressure that has brought you this far.

So whether you're celebrating, making a new plan or still working out what comes next, well done for getting here. 🌱

Good luck to everyone getting their GCSE results today across Middlesbrough. 💙

💜 International Overdose Awareness Day – 31 August

Lots of us know what it feels like to miss someone.

A parent. A partner. A friend. A brother or sister. Someone who was part of everyday life and suddenly isn’t there anymore.

When someone dies from a drug-related overdose, that grief can sometimes come with extra questions, stigma and a lot of “what ifs?”

International Overdose Awareness Day is a time to remember those lives with compassion and to recognise that many overdoses can be prevented.

That is not about blame. It is about making sure people have the information, support and tools that could help keep them safer.

Overdose can happen to people who use drugs regularly and to people who use only now and again. Risk can change because of things like mixing substances, changes in tolerance or not knowing exactly what is in something.

If you use drugs, you can talk to us about ways to reduce risks. You do not have to be ready to stop.

We can talk about safer use, overdose prevention, naloxone, cutting down, stopping or simply what is happening for you right now.

This day also about remembering that behind every statistic was a person who mattered. 💜

Time to remember. Time to act.

🌐 Find out more about International Overdose Awareness Day: www.overdoseday.com