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Cocaine users get help via a website
8:34pm Tuesday 29th April 2008
COCAINE users can get help to kick the habit - through a self-help website.
Bolton is the first town in the country to go live with such a site.
The website - bolton.knowcocaine.co.uk - was launched at a cost of £4,000 after health bosses became concerned about the number of people in the town dying as a result of abusing the drug.
It is aimed at people seeking treatment for the first time and explains ways of controlling, cutting down or stopping cocaine use.
Jan Hutchinson, director of public health at Bolton Primary Care Trust, said: "Cocaine ruins lives, it ruins families and we would urge users, or anyone who knows a user, to access the help that is available."
Cocaine use is increasing nationally and a number of young people in Bolton have died as a result of cocaine use linked with alcohol use.
Sandie Saunders, drug and alcohol strategy manager for Bolton Council's Drug Action Team, said: "We have noticed in the last year that coroners' reports have cited alcohol and cocaine as a factor in deaths.
"When they are mixed in the body they form a lethal combination.
"We know from experience people won't necessarily want to go to the drugs service so we've got to reach people in another way and thought this was the way to do it.
"A lot of people will try to help themselves before going to someone else."
Anyone who is or knows a cocaine user, can access the site, funded by the Department of Health, for information and advice.
Self-help sections help people to assess their cocaine use, see how it impacts on their lives, then aim to make changes.
Christina Ball, operations director at counselling service Drugsline, said: "Every individual suffering from drug or alcohol abuse requires a different approach to tackling their addiction.
"If just one individual is helped by the creation of an online self-help facility, it can be considered a worthwhile undertaking "However, others may prefer confidential telephone or face-to-face counselling."
Face-to-face help, counselling and drug treatment programmes are provided by Bolton's drug services.
Your Say Yourtheboltonnews
tax payer, Bolton says...
8:50pm Tue 29 Apr 08
Lord Lucan, Somewhere says...
8:56pm Tue 29 Apr 08
Of even greater concern is how effective Bolton Council's Drug Action Team is if "cocaine use is increasing nationally"? In fact, the answer will be wholly ineffective like so many misguided publc sector initiatives (eg CSA, proceeds of crime enforcement etc). Very good at wasting tax payers money though, with little or no accountability for their value for money or real success measures.
Lord Lucan, Somewhere says...
8:58pm Tue 29 Apr 08
chas, suffolk says...
10:00pm Tue 29 Apr 08
I prefer one liners.
VM User, Bolton says...
4:03am Wed 30 Apr 08
Has to be something for health bosses to be concerned!
BoltonDave, Tonge Moor says...
5:40am Wed 30 Apr 08
tax payer, Bolton says...
7:17am Wed 30 Apr 08
I'd have written it for a couple of £10 rocks.
gazz_ball - Supera Moras!, bolton says...
9:45am Wed 30 Apr 08
The teacher gave me a hundred lines :)
gazz_ball - Supera Moras!, bolton says...
9:47am Wed 30 Apr 08
BoltonDave wrote:There is a difference you know between recreational and addiction, do not get the 2 mixed up.
No sympathy with druggies, they choose to take the stuff in the first place and the rest of society has to suffer for it.
BoltonDave, Tonge Moor says...
10:01am Wed 30 Apr 08
chas, suffolk says...
10:14am Wed 30 Apr 08
gazz_ball - Supera Moras! wrote:Did you finished them or did you get caned?
I once got caught doing cocaine in school. The teacher gave me a hundred lines :)
Sun Tzu, says...
10:27am Wed 30 Apr 08
Our ineffective penal system is no deterent to those involved in the supply of illegal drugs.
So called celebrities are popularising drug use and need to be stamped on.
Out of the EU, strict immigration controls and longer, harsher prison sentences are what we need.
chas, suffolk says...
10:45am Wed 30 Apr 08
No need for longer sentences, but back to 'Victorian' style prisons.
emma, bolton says...
10:51am Wed 30 Apr 08
Sun Tzu wrote:Boltons problems with class A drugs stems from the white men who controlled the supply for years. The Asians and Yardies are just taking over from where the white men left off.
Open border policy is making it easy for drugs to come in. Our ineffective penal system is no deterent to those involved in the supply of illegal drugs. So called celebrities are popularising drug use and need to be stamped on. Out of the EU, strict immigration controls and longer, harsher prison sentences are what we need.
http://news.bbc.co.u
k/1/hi/england/manch
ester/3110795.stm
emma, bolton says...
10:53am Wed 30 Apr 08
chas wrote:I thought they had sniffer dogs in all prisons?
We need sniffer dogs at all prisons to stop drugs being taken in. No need for longer sentences, but back to 'Victorian' style prisons.
chas, suffolk says...
11:07am Wed 30 Apr 08
If they do, why is it said that visitors bring drugs in?
Maybe it's true, that officers allow drugs in to keep prisoners happy?
gazz_ball - Supera Moras!, bolton says...
11:56am Wed 30 Apr 08
BoltonDave wrote:No
Is it not the case that in many instances, so-called recreational drugs lead to addiction?
gazz_ball - Supera Moras!, bolton says...
11:57am Wed 30 Apr 08
chas, suffolk says...
12:24pm Wed 30 Apr 08
They are sent to an old doggies home with other retired dogs and are allowed to sniff to their heart's content.
BoltonDave, Tonge Moor says...
12:29pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Druggies and their dealers are the scum of the earth who bring misery to many people. It's a fact that drugs are the main reason for the high amount of crime in this country. Round 'em all up and shoot the bloody lot I say!
Sun Tzu, says...
12:36pm Wed 30 Apr 08
emma wrote:I don't know what point you are trying to make here.
Sun Tzu wrote:Boltons problems with class A drugs stems from the white men who controlled the supply for years. The Asians and Yardies are just taking over from where the white men left off.
Open border policy is making it easy for drugs to come in. Our ineffective penal system is no deterent to those involved in the supply of illegal drugs. So called celebrities are popularising drug use and need to be stamped on. Out of the EU, strict immigration controls and longer, harsher prison sentences are what we need.
http://news.bbc.co.u
k/1/hi/england/manch
ester/3110795.stm
Heroin and cocain cannot be produced in this country. These drugs are coming in from outside, regardless of the colour of the skin of the pushers.
emma, bolton says...
12:53pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Sun Tzu wrote:Maybe I shouldn't of quoted that particular post of yours but I was just going off the thread yesterday in which you and others were making out we never had problems with drugs in Bolton until blacks and asians started selling them.
emma wrote:I don't know what point you are trying to make here. Heroin and cocain cannot be produced in this country. These drugs are coming in from outside, regardless of the colour of the skin of the pushers.Sun Tzu wrote: Open border policy is making it easy for drugs to come in. Our ineffective penal system is no deterent to those involved in the supply of illegal drugs. So called celebrities are popularising drug use and need to be stamped on. Out of the EU, strict immigration controls and longer, harsher prison sentences are what we need.Boltons problems with class A drugs stems from the white men who controlled the supply for years. The Asians and Yardies are just taking over from where the white men left off. http://news.bbc.co.u k/1/hi/england/manch ester/3110795.stm
I understand that drugs come from other countries, heroin mainly Afganistan. Why cant our govt by the opium off the afgans and give it to registered addicts in this country,
under supervision of course like the shooting gallery programme they have in Switzerland, which will then put most dealers out of buisness, cut the crime rate and reduce the prison population.
You say tougher sentences are needed, Ive worked with people who have got 17 years jail for selling heroin, it doesnt put others off though. People still keep trying their luck selling drugs.
Every few months this paper reports another 'drugs ring smashed'. and you can guarantee that why one gang are being interviewed in the police station the next new gang are passing their phone number about.
Sun Tzu, says...
1:15pm Wed 30 Apr 08
The government buying drugs and giving it out free is never going to happen and rightly so. It's complete and utter madness. If resources are available they should be used to halt the supply rather than legitimising it.
If 17 years meant 17 years instead of 8 and those years were spent breaking rocks, then it would have an effect.
I understand you are keen to try out the social work ideas you have learned but it's been tried for long enough, it's not working and now it's time to get back to the real world.
emma, bolton says...
2:01pm Wed 30 Apr 08
The government buying drugs and giving it out free is never going to happen and rightly so. It's complete and utter madness. If resources are available they should be used to halt the supply rather than legitimising it.
I think youl find your wrong there Sun have a read of this from the Independant
http://www.independe
nt.co.uk/life-style/
health-and-wellbeing
/health-news/britain
s-first-drug-shootin
g-galleries-hailed-a
-success-758729.html
You also say,
I understand you are keen to try out the social work ideas you have learned but it's been tried for long enough, it's not working and now it's time to get back to the real world.
Whats been tried for long enough Sun?
BTW, I havent learned anything about drugs on a social work course I have learned it through life experience, my own research and working at Community Drugs Teams throughout the North West.
gazz_ball - Supera Moras!, bolton says...
2:03pm Wed 30 Apr 08
BoltonDave, Tonge Moor says...
2:23pm Wed 30 Apr 08
I have done my best to keep my kids off the drug scene, I saw a lot of bad stuff while in the forces and abroad, and it sickens me to see these young kids doing drugs at such an influential age.
There is too much of it about and the government don't seem to be doing anything about it other than keeping the floodgates open to every scumbag in the world.
Sun Tzu, says...
3:12pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Any political party which advocates giving heroin addicts free drugs, whilst decent people are losing their homes and jobs won't be winning any elections.
We are entering a period of hard economics, where the only free drugs will be those you encounter on your fantastic journeys to happyland.
Please don't post anymore links to newspaper articles because it's a proper pain in the arse having to debunk them.
As to "Whats been tried for long enough"
Softly, softly, rehabilitation type treatment. 40 years we have been at it and things are worse now than ever. Just how long do you need?
emma, bolton says...
4:28pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Whilst people are losing their homes Sun they will still be paying taxes to house addicts in prison, inefective treatments and paying for constant drugs busts by the police.
The part you wrote about 'The softly softly rehabilitation type treatment that we've been trying for 40 year's?' If you are refering to the part of my post about people getting 17 years for selling heroin I agree as I said, it is no detterant to others, it doesnt work.
And the How long do I need bit?
How long do I need for what Sun?
Sun Tzu, says...
4:36pm Wed 30 Apr 08
House addicts? I'm not sure whether thats a typo or not but if it's not it's very good and I may pinch it for other subjects.
chas, suffolk says...
4:47pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Sun Tzu, says...
4:52pm Wed 30 Apr 08
chas wrote:I don't know you'll have to ask him.
What happened to ask FRANK?
emma, bolton says...
4:54pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Who knows give it a few years I might find myself working in a Shooting Gallery.
BTW Its been nice having a grown up debate without the usual name calling etc, but if we are now correcting typo's then 'cocain' has an e on the end mate.
Sun Tzu, says...
5:02pm Wed 30 Apr 08
emma wrote:Emma - If I have my way that shooting gallery will be something entirely different from the one you have in mind.
Yeah Sun I'l agree to disagree and maybe, if you do a bit of work in the drug treatment and recovery field you'd understand where I am coming from. More years under my belt will only make my view stronger unless things have changed with regards to treating addicts.
Who knows give it a few years I might find myself working in a Shooting Gallery.
BTW Its been nice having a grown up debate without the usual name calling etc, but if we are now correcting typo's then 'cocain' has an e on the end mate.
I wasn't picking you up on the typo in a pedantic way. I thought the idea of "house addicts" is very appropriate for todays buy at all cost society. I think it's a great euphamism for the people who have been obsessed with buying property over recent years.
emma, bolton says...
5:23pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Sun Tzu wrote:Lol I did think myself that the Shooting Galleries could have been given a better name.
emma wrote: Yeah Sun I'l agree to disagree and maybe, if you do a bit of work in the drug treatment and recovery field you'd understand where I am coming from. More years under my belt will only make my view stronger unless things have changed with regards to treating addicts. Who knows give it a few years I might find myself working in a Shooting Gallery. BTW Its been nice having a grown up debate without the usual name calling etc, but if we are now correcting typo's then 'cocain' has an e on the end mate.Emma - If I have my way that shooting gallery will be something entirely different from the one you have in mind. I wasn't picking you up on the typo in a pedantic way. I thought the idea of "house addicts" is very appropriate for todays buy at all cost society. I think it's a great euphamism for the people who have been obsessed with buying property over recent years.
No worries about the typo's you are quite welcome to use my 'house addict' euphamism whenever you like lol
John Gov, Bolton says...
5:31pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Your sayYourtheboltonnews
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chas, suffolk says...
8:43pm Tue 29 Apr 08