MANX LOTTERY TRUST FUNDS ADVANCED TRAINING COURSE FOR MOTIV8
Team members from Motiv8 Addiction Services have attended an advanced drugs training course thanks to grant assistance from Manx Lottery Trust.
Motiv8 offers support and assistance to people who are concerned about someone they care about or their own alcohol or drug misuse or gambling problems.
The course took place on the 10th, 11th October and gave members of the Motiv8 team information about new drug trends and accurate information to support users of new psychoactive substances (NPS) also commonly known as legal highs. The training also covered commonly used other substances such as Cannabis and Cocaine and was opened up to key personnel who work in frontline services, including the Drug and Alcohol Team, Graih, the IOM Prison, vulnerable adult health visitors and Public Health degree students from the UCM.
In addition to supporting clients who opt to use these substances, Motiv8 will be able to use the knowledge gained to raise awareness of the risks associated with the use of legal highs and other drugs in their schools and UCM drug awareness sessions and with the Drug Arrest Referral Scheme attendees.
Thea Ozenturk, Director of Motiv8 Addiction Services, said: ‘It is vital that we keep up-to-date with the latest trends to ensure we can support anyone who comes to us for help. All drugs whether legal or illegal have the potential to cause harm, however, the new wave of NPS are very much a new phenomena and they are seemingly riskier due to the ingredients being unknown. Users can put themselves at risk of severe physical and mental health problems, a criminal record and harming their relationships with loved ones.
‘Attending this course has given us the skills to impart accurate information about the use of legal highs to the individual and the impact it might be having on their lives as well as their family and friends. We are hugely grateful to Manx Lottery Trust for the grant which allowed us to arrange the course which will also benefit other charities and support networks in the Isle of Man which encounter people at risk.’
Lulu Gillow, Chair of Manx Lottery Trust, said: ‘The work Motiv8 do in the community is essential and we were pleased to offer this grant so they can continue help people in need of support to the best of their abilities.’