Centre reveals thousands of calls for help with drug and alcohol abuse coming through every month and rising

A local addiction treatment centre has revealed that calls for help from people whose relationship with drugs and alcohol has worsened since the cost of living crisis have risen in the past 3 months. Oasis Recovery in Runcorn is a residential rehabilitation facility operated by the UK Addiction Treatment Group and treats people from across the North West for addictions ranging from drugs and alcohol to gaming, gambling and porn. It has reported that its admissions helpline is receiving thousands of calls each month from people desperately seeking treatment as their dependencies worsen. In August this year, the Group received 4,684 calls for help, rising to 4,797 in September and then rocketing up to 5,219 in October; an 11% increase in just 3 months. The rise in calls is naturally increasing the number of people being admitted into the Cheshire treatment centre.

In 2021, Oasis Recovery admitted 451 people into treatment, a figure that has already been exceeded this year with two difficult months for everyone ahead. The centre, rated as Good by the Government's independent regulatory body the Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides 24/7 addiction treatment, care and support, with clients typically staying at the facility for on average 28 days before embarking on their life in recovery.

Nuno Albuquerque, Head of Treatment at Oasis Recovery in Runcorn, commented:- "The cost of living crisis has been attributed as being the biggest trigger for anxiety, stress and trauma; emotions that addiction loves to thrive off. Unfortunately, people have always turned to drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms in life, a behaviour that now more than ever will be exacerbated as living conditions for a lot of people become extremely difficult to cope with. If you are struggling, please reach out. Our fantastic team will guide you in the right direction and get you the best help for you."

Oasis Recovery has 24/7 confidential online chat available by calling:- 08082748029.

RMT renews national rail strike mandate for another 6 months

THE RMT has announced it had beaten the anti trade union laws yet again with a stunning mandate for more strike action on the railways. Across both Network Rail and 14 train operating companies, the average turnout was 70.2% with a:- "yes" vote of 91.7%. It means RMT members in these areas will be able to take strike action for potentially another 6 month period. RMT General Secretary, Mick Lynch, said that it was a massive endorsement of the union's strategy to win workplace justice through negotiation where possible and industrial action if necessary. It is a requirement of the draconian anti trade union laws for essential transport workers to pass a threshold of 40% voting 'yes' of all those that are eligible to vote. Across Network Rail and 14 train operating companies, the figure was 64.4%. Mick Lynch said:- "The National Executive Committee will now look at these fantastic results and negotiations will continue with Network Rail and the train operating companies. This union is determined to continue with this campaign until the employers understand that they need to respond to our members' aspirations on job security, pay and working conditions."

Pet charity issues warning during deer rutting season

DURING the rutting season this Autumn, pet charity Blue Cross warns pet owners about taking their dogs to areas where there are wild deer. Even if they consider their dog to have perfect recall (returning to owner on command) it is important to keep dogs on a lead if deer might be present and stay as far away as possible. While stags and bucks battle to preserve their:- 'hareems,' female deer are in season for just a few hours over the period and dogs or people coming between a male and female deer in season are in serious danger of being injured. There is also a risk of getting caught in the crossfire when male deer are fighting intensely or chasing each other away.

Claire Stallard, Animal Behaviourist at Blue Cross said:- "It's important to keep control of dogs when near wild animals like deer, especially at this time of year. Also, there will be increased activity during the rutting season and your dog may become excited by the extra noise, smell and movement, so it makes sense to keep your distance. Avoid walking your dog in deer parks altogether during this time, there are very large numbers of deer in those areas and the risk to your dog will be greater. If you usually walk in areas where deer prefer to avoid people and your dog is good at coming back when called, it still makes sense to be extra vigilant and keep them close. Dogs may chase deer if they unexpectedly run out in front of them which puts them at great risk."

Not only are dogs at risk from an attack by a male deer, dogs are in danger of running into a road if they give chase, potentially causing a traffic accident and being injured or possibly run over.

It is the law for all dogs to be micro chipped and owner's details kept up to date. Dogs should also wear a tag with the owner's name and address and the charity recommends to also have the owner's contact number.

The charity conducted a survey earlier this year which revealed that while 42% of dog owners agree dogs should be kept on a lead around livestock, only a quarter (25%) actually do so.1 The charity is urging dog owners to put dogs on the lead at all times around livestock and wildlife. Visit How to keep on lead walks fun for your dog to find out more.

2022 is the 125th Anniversary of Blue Cross, originally:- 'Our Dumb Friends League.' The charity formed to help vulnerable pets and their owners and we continue this work today across our re-homing, clinical, animal behaviour, pet bereavement support and educational work. We are striving to be able to help even more pets in the future live healthy lives in happy homes. Blue Cross relies on the support and donations of pet lovers to continue our vital work, to find out more and make a donation visit:- BlueCross.Org.UK.

GMB:- "All UK shipyards must get the work they need to thrive."

MINISTERS finally concede a 'significant' amount of the FSS work will be done at home following GMB Union campaign GMB, the shipbuilding union, has reacted to the UK Government's announcement of the winning bid for the Solid Fleet Support ships tender. GMB Union has campaigned since 2016 for the Fleet Solid Support ships to be built in the UK using UK steel and shipbuilding supply chain.

Matt Roberts, GMB National Officer said:- "Following the UK Government's announcement, the Defence Secretary must reassure GMB members and the public that all UK shipyards will get the work they need to thrive; no UK region or nation left behind. Let's not forget it's only a few short years since Harland and Wolff, set to benefit from this bid, was occupied by workers to save the yard from closure. Ever since the last RFA order debacle from the Tory Government back in 2012, we have campaigned for all of the build work on FSS to be done in the UK and for each shipyard in every nation and region of the country to get decent packages of work from this big Government order. Through GMB's campaigning, we have come a long way from the Tories sending the MARS tankers build to South Korea. Ministers finally concede a 'significant' amount of the FSS work will be done at home. The problem is that they don't define:- 'significant' by volume or value and they don't tell us what guarantees or enforceability there is. Due diligence must be rigorous. The next stage of our campaign will be to ensure that all promises made by the winning bidders are kept and the Government invests in; and protects; all of our shipyards for our future sovereign defence capability."