If you’re a young person, or the parent or carer of a young person, a range of help and support is available to you around the challenges you could be facing – whether that’s drugs, alcohol, your mental health, or relationships.
The Change Grow Live (CGL) team in Knowsley is available for you to talk to – it’s confidential and you won’t be judged.
If you’re a young person, start an online chat with a trained practitioner here. You can discuss your use of drugs and alcohol, how it’s effecting your mental health and what support is available to reduce your drug or alcohol intake.
If you’re the parent or carer of a young person, start an online chat with a trained practitioner here. They’ll then ask you some questions to understand your concerns and needs.
They can explain your options for getting more help or finding the right professional support in a confidential way.
Change Grow Live has also provided advice on how to talk to a young person who you may care for about drugs and alcohol which may include:-
- Trying not to panic. Taking a calm approach will make it easier to communicate and for them to feel like they can open up to you.
- Don’t force it. Don’t force them to have a discussion; being willing to back off shows respect and understanding.
- Being open and honest. If you’re open and honest, it’s more likely that they’ll be the same. Ask open questions. Listen more than you talk. Focus on the facts rather than your emotions. Don’t use scare tactics.
- Ask what’s going on with them. Teenagers often use alcohol and drugs because they have other, less clear issues affecting their lives. For example physical and mental health problems, relationship issues, and in more extreme cases, exploitation. Trying to find out what else is going on in their lives and being patient and understanding will make it easier for them to open up.
- Find out about their habits. If the talk is going well, you can try to find out what they’re drinking or using, how often and who with. This will help you gain perspective on what you are dealing with and plan what to do next.
Remember you are not alone and help and support is available – call CGL today on 0151 482 6291 or email knowsley.info@cgl.org.uk to discuss your concerns and the support available to you.