Alcohol, drugs and gambling support

Alcohol consumption is often measure in units. One unit of alcohol is 8 mg (10ml) of pure alcohol. The number of units in an alcoholic drink depends on the type of drink, how strong it is and the size of the measure.

Unit calculator

Higher-risk drinking can be described as drinking at levels that:

• bring significant harm to your physical and mental health
• may be causing substantial harm to others

Examples include liver damage, cirrhosis, dependence on alcohol and substantial stress or aggression in the family.

Binge drinking is drinking too much alcohol over a short period of time. Typically, this type of drinking leads to drunkenness. Alcohol tolerance can vary from person to person and the speed of drinking in a session can also alter alcohol's effects. Drinking too much, too quickly, on a single occasion, can increase your risk of:

• alcohol poisoning
• accidents resulting in injury, serious injury or death
• altercations, assault, or criminal damage
• misjudging risky situations or engaging in risk taking behaviour
• lowering of inhibitions or losing self-control
• unprotected sex, contracting a sexually transmitted infection or an unplanned pregnancy

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk of:

• miscarriage
• premature birth
• low birthweight
• Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Resulting in lifelong intellectual and behavioural problems for the child

The Chief Medical Officers' guidance is that:

• if you are pregnant or think you could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to keep risks to your baby to a minimum
• drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby. The more you drink, the greater the risk

The risk of harm to the baby is likely to be low if you have drunk only small amounts of alcohol before you knew you were pregnant or during pregnancy. It is unlikely in most cases that your baby has been affected.

Talk to your doctor or midwife if you are worried about alcohol use during pregnancy.

Auntie Pam's peer-support service provides a Kirklees-wide support service if you are trying to get pregnant, already pregnant, or are a parent or family.

• Drinking and alcohol
• Drinkaware
• Drink less alcohol
• Local organisations - Alcoholism

• Underage drinking
• Parenting guidelines for adolescent alcohol use
• NHS: Should my child drink alcohol?
• Drinkaware: Underage drinking

Recreational drug use is the use of drugs for pleasure or leisure. The term is often used to denote the use of ecstasy and other "dance drugs" and implies that drug use has become part of someone's lifestyle, even though they may only take drugs occasionally.

Problem or problematic drug use tends to refer to drug use which could either be dependent or recreational. In other words, it is not necessarily the frequency of drug use which is the primary "problem" but the effects that drug taking have on the user's life (i.e., they may experience social, financial, psychological, physical, or legal problems as a result of their drug use).

If you need treatment for drug addiction, you're entitled to NHS care in the same way as anyone else who has a health problem.

Addiction is defined as not having control over doing, taking, or using something to the point where it could be harmful to you.

The term addict can conjure up all sorts of negative images of people and dehumanise those it is applied to. Saying somebody is drug-dependent is better than calling them an addict. Dependency is a strong compulsion to keep taking drugs.

Dependency will often include both physical and psychological factors. While the physical aspect will only be present with certain drugs, a psychological aspect will occur with any form of dependence.

Physical dependency results from the repeated, heavy use of drugs, including alcohol. Heavy and continual use of these drugs can change the body chemistry so that if someone does not get a repeat dose they suffer physical withdrawal symptoms - the shakes or flu-like effects. They must keep taking the drug to stop themselves from feeling ill.

Psychological dependency is more common and can happen with any drug. In this case, people get into the drug experience as a way of coping with the world or as a way of feeling better. They may not understand the reasons why they continue to use drugs, but feel a compulsion to do so, even if it is having negative impacts.

Local organisations - Drug addiction

If you are a young person concerned about your own use of drugs, or your parent's use of drugs, you can talk to Childline .

The Base - Kirklees is a free and confidential drug and alcohol service for young people up to the age of 21 in Kirklees.

Drug and Alcohol Service - Kirklees is a free and confidential drug and alcohol service.

You may find it helpful to join a mutual aid group for your drug or alcohol problem.

These groups can provide support with drug and alcohol use and addiction. They can also help you find a community of people who have experienced drug and alcohol problems.

Kirklees in Recovery is an organisation open to individuals, friends, families and supporters who are interested in all aspects of recovery from drink or drug problems.

National mutual aid groups hold local groups across Kirklees and usually have online groups available too:

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Cocaine Anonymous

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, problem gamblers are more likely than others to suffer from low self-esteem, develop stress-related disorders, become anxious, have poor sleep and appetite, and suffer from depression.

Mental health support - If you are experiencing mental health problems or need urgent help, support is available.

• Gamblers Anonymous
• Gambling with Lives is a community of families bereaved by gambling related suicide that provides support, raises awareness and campaigns for change.
• Gambling Understood shares facts about how we are drawn in and encouraged to gamble, to help us make informed decisions about whether to take part.
• GAMSTOP will block you from online logging into or setting up gambling accounts with businesses licensed in Great Britain if you are a UK resident. It is a free service.
• Krysallis provides free phone and online support and treatment in the Yorkshire and Humberside area.
• GamCare is the leading UK provider of free information, advice and support for anyone harmed by gambling.
• NHS Northern Gambling Service provides specialist addiction therapy in the north of England.
• Gam-Anon UK and Ireland provide support groups for friends and family.