Alcohol, substance use and gambling

I’m looking for support with:

Alcohol

Alcohol is a part of many people’s lives, often enjoyed safely and sensibly. However, drinking is not without risk. Most alcohol-related health problems occur when people regularly drink more than the recommended levels over time, often without realising the harm caused by social drinking.

Lots of people struggle with alcohol at some point in their lives and need support – there is nothing to be ashamed of. If you are concerned about how drinking alcohol impacts upon your life, or if you want to talk to someone about your drinking habits, we are here to help.

If you are dependent on alcohol, it can be dangerous to stop drinking suddenly. Instead, you should try to reduce the amount you drink slowly, over a few weeks.

This takes a bit of preparation, but it’s much safer than stopping suddenly. And after cutting down slowly, you’ll find it much easier to stop drinking when you are ready.

For information to help you to safely detox from alcohol at home go to With You – How to safely detox from alcohol at home.

You should get medical/professional help to stop drinking if you:

drink over 15 units of alcohol a day (equal to half a bottle of spirits, 1.5 bottles of wine, 3 cans of super lager or 2 litres of strong cider)
drink alcohol soon after waking up to relieve shakes or sweats
have symptoms of alcohol dependence (getting physically sick and/or having the shakes when you are not drinking)(4)
experienced withdrawal symptoms in the past when you reduced or stopped drinking alcohol (such as sweating, shaking, anxiety and nausea)
have epilepsy
have had seizures (fits)
have seen and heard things that were not there when you have previously reduced or stopped drinking

If you have stopped drinking and are experiencing serious complications, you should call 999 immediately or get help from A&E.

Serious complications include things like:

having a seizure (fit)
becoming confused (for example about where you are, the time, or who you are with)
developing double vision
experiencing hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)
experience poor coordination or unsteadiness on your feet

There are different benefits for reducing alcohol intake, including:

Better sleep
Brighter mood
More money
Better skin
Slimmer waistline
More time

If you are concerned about how much alcohol you are drinking, it’s a good idea to see your GP. You can also contact one of the following local services directly.

WithYou – Call the service to make an appointment at 01472 806890 or visit their Cleethorpes office at 13-15 Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7AQ, drop-in available Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9.30am to 12.30pm and Tuesday and Thursday, 1pm to 4.30pm
Creative Start – Lived Experience Addiction Recovery In Grimsby
Wellbeing Service – The Wellbeing Service are here for you to talk to about how and why you drink, you can contact us on 01472 325500 to have an informal chat about any concerns or questions that you may have.
Alcoholics Anonymous – a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. Call 01472 362068 for support and to be directed to a local meeting group.

Substance use

Report an overdose

This form is for the reporting of overdoses and contaminated drugs in North East Lincolnshire. By identifying patterns, trends, or new contaminated drugs we can help prevent incidents that might threaten people’s health or lives.

Complete the form

Report Local Drug information

This form is used for gathering timely information about new, stronger, poor quality, or contaminated drugs available in North East Lincolnshire. This enables us to assess risk and work closely with local partners to reduce harm and fatality caused by drug use.

Complete the form

If you are concerned about how much alcohol you are drinking, it’s a good idea to see your GP. You can also contact one of the following local services directly.

WithYou – Call the service to make an appointment at 01472 806890 or visit their Grimsby office at 76B Cleethorpes Road, Grimsby, DN31 3EF drop in available Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:30pm.
Creative Start – Lived Experience Addiction Recovery In Grimsby
Wellbeing Service – The Wellbeing Service are here for you to talk to about how and why you drink, you can contact us on 01472 325500 to have an informal chat about any concerns or questions that you may have.

Gambling

Understanding the role gambling plays in yours and your families lives can be the first step in making changes to tackle harm. It is unlikely that there will be a single answer, and a combination of strategies may be needed to make lasting changes.

Harms can come in a number of forms, including financial, and relationship harms, mental and physical health, employment and education, criminal and anti-social behaviour, or cultural and harms within gaming. You or someone you know may be experiencing a number of these harms.

There are local and national services available to offer advice and guidance to anyone impacted by gambling harms.

The NHS Northern Gambling Service – provides specialist addiction therapy and recovery to people affected by gambling addiction, as well as those with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and suicidal feelings. The service also provides support to people close to those with gambling addiction, such as family, partners, and carers.
NECA Yorkshire and Humber* – provides free, confidential and specialist support in Grimsby and the surrounding areas for anyone adversely affected by gambling-related harms, either their own or a loved ones.

GamCare* – Offers free one-to-one counselling, couples counselling and group counselling for problem gamblers and their families and runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 802 0133)
GAMSTOP* – a free, online self-exclusion tool that helps you control your online gambling. Once registered you will be prevented from using gambling websites and apps run by companies licensed in Great Britain, for a period of your choosing.
GamCare* – The GamCare recovery toolkit offers a range of practical tools and resources to help people experiencing gambling-related harms.
NHS – Offers information and further advice on where to get help, links to treatment centres and support groups, and self-help tips
Gambling Therapy – Offers online support to problem gamblers and their friends and family.
Parent Zone – Offers free resources and information to help professionals and families learn about the gambling-like risks children may face when playing online games and simple practical things parents and carers can do, to keep gaming fun and safer.
BigDeal* – BigDeal is part of GamCare’s Youth Outreach Programme and provides a place for young people to find information and support related to gambling, either for themselves or someone they care about and also offers workshops and professionals’ training, free of charge

For full transparency, organisations that receive funding from the gambling industry have been highlighted with an asterisk (*). For further information, please contact them directly.

Gambling understood graphic — For more information and support, visit Gambling Understood.

If you need support with:

Low mood
Anxiety
Stress management
Weight management
Daily routines or finding focus in life
Confidence & self-esteem
Healthy eating & physical activity
Stopping smoking

To arrange a meeting or speak to someone about your options, please complete the form or call 01472 325500 or text ‘Wellbeing’ to 60060 and they will call you back.

Wellbeing service referral