Drug Aware
Want to change your relationship with drugs?
Drug Aware
We get it - reaching out when you’re struggling with substance use is not easy in a small Island community like ours.
It’s especially tough when the substance is illegal. Whether you want to stop using drugs, reduce your drug usage or help someone close to you who is struggling.
Our counsellors are trained and can offer you the free and confidential support you need to reach your goal, all without judgment. If you are unsure and want to talk this through with someone in confidence we are here to help. We also provide leaflets on many areas of drug use so please contact us if you would like to get copies.
Ready to take the first step?
Drug Aware
Are drugs becoming a problem for you?
If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions, it may be a good idea to discuss your drug usage with one of our counsellors:
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- Have you used drugs other than those required for medical reasons?
- Have you ever abused prescription drugs?
- Do you use more than one drug at a time?
- Can you get through a week without using drugs?
- Are you always able to stop using drugs when you want to?
- Do you ever feel bad or guilty about your drug use?
- Does your spouse (or parents) ever complain about your involvement with drugs?
- Has drug use created problems between you and your spouse or your parents?
- Have you lost friends because of your use of drugs?
- Have you neglected your family because of your use of drugs?
- Have you been in trouble at work because of drug abuse?
- Have you lost a job because of drug use?
- Have you engaged in illegal activities in order to obtain drugs?
- Have you been arrested for possession of illegal drugs?
- Have you ever experienced withdrawal symptoms (felt ill) when you stopped taking drugs?
- Have you ever had any medical problems as a result of your drug use?
Answering “yes” to any of these questions means you may be developing a problem. Arrange a confidential appointment to talk about your drug use with an experienced counsellor.
Criminal justice projects
The Islands Drug Arrest Referral Scheme and the Alcohol Intervention Referral Scheme run in partnership with the Isle of Man Constabulary.
The Drug Arrest Referral Scheme (DARS) offers preventative education, harm reduction, and a route to support without unnecessary criminalisation. This may happen when a person is caught in possession of a small personal amount of an illicit substance. They are offered the opportunity to attend Motiv8 and have support from a trained worker by experience.
Alcohol Intervention Referral Scheme (AIRS) is a group work programme run in conjunction with the Police Alcohol Unit. A person arrested for the first time for a low-level alcohol-related offence is offered the opportunity to attend an education session run by Motiv8.
Take-Home Naloxone Programme
Get a Kit, Carry a Kit, Save a Life!
The Take-Home Naloxone programme has been running for 2 years, Motiv8 is working with Public Health and DAT to ensure that Naloxone kits are available for any Isle of Man resident over the age of 18 that may come into contact with someone that has had an opioid overdose to have a kit.
Presently we are issuing the Nyxoid nasal spray, these are FREE and you can call Motiv8 Monday to Friday 9am-5pm on Freephone 0808 1624 627; WhatsApp on 07624 388750 or email contact@motiv8.im to arrange for an appointment to come and collect a kit from us on Woodbourne Road in Douglas.
In the last 4 years the use of Naloxone has been recorded as saving the lives of 35 known island residents. This is why we say…
Get a Kit, Carry a Kit, Save a Life!
Criminal justice projects
What to know about the projects we run...
I have been referred to DARS what happens now?
The DARS session itself is a one-off session, whereby the participant has 72 hours after arrest to contact Motiv8. Sessions are booked as soon as the paperwork is received from the Isle of Man Constabulary. It is rare for anyone to wait longer than a week after the documentation is received for the session to take place.
The session is therapeutic, understanding the substance use of the participant, the nature of the arrest, a health screen and drug use screen. Education on the substance and harm reduction literature is also made available. The opportunity to engage in services if desired with an opportunity to take advantage of all of Motiv8’s services is possible.
The participants overwhelmingly value talking to someone who has a lived experience of drug use. The comments from participants over the years in the evaluations speak highly of the opportunity to be offered support, rather than be penalised through the criminal justice systems and particularly the courts. This scheme stops wrecking lives and gives people a chance to divert them away from drugs and the criminal justice system.
If you have any questions about the DARS call us today.
I have been referred to AIRS what happens now?
The AIRS session itself is a group education session ran by motiv8 in conjunction with the IOM Constabulary. Participants are referred to the scheme by the police. The session is offered as an initial alternative to the criminal justice system for first time low-level alcohol offences. Comments from pervious participants has said that they appreciate the offer of education rather than being penalised through the criminal justice system. If you have any questions about the AIRS scheme, please call us today on freephone 0808 1624 627.
Isle of Man Take-Home Naloxone Programme
Isle of Man Take-Home Naloxone Programme
What are Opioids?
Opioids are a drug group that are available both legally on prescription and illegally. As legal drugs they are often prescribed and used over short periods to relieve moderate to severe pain. Examples of legal Opioid prescribed drugs include Codeine (including Co-Codemol), Tramadol, Fentanyl and Morphine.
In its illegal form Heroin is the most commonly known which is often found to have been mixed with synthetic opioids such as Fentanyl and Nitazines.
What is Naloxone?
Naloxone is a potentially lifesaving drug for anyone in an Opioid overdose situation.
Naloxone can be in the form of an intramuscular injection or through a nasal spray.
How does Naloxone Work?
Naloxone works to remove the Opioid from the brains receptors (Opioids attach themselves to the brain receptors to slow or stop breathing which happens in an overdose situation).
Using Naloxone helps a patient to breath and SAVES LIVES.
Spotting an Overdose - Know the Signs
An opioid overdose can be identified by a combination of symptoms including but not limited to:
- pinpoint pupils
- unconsciousness
- difficulties with breathing
- purple lips
You may see drug paraphernalia such as a discarded needle/medicine bottle or box which may be a sign of an overdose has occurred.
Opioid overdoses happen by accident, having a Naloxone kit available can be life saving!
Who should have a kit?
Anyone over 18 can have a kit, it could be that you or someone you know us using Opioids or that you work in an industry where you might come across someone in an overdose situation.
It is best to have a kit if you or someone you know is using and to let people know about the kit, how to use it and leave it in a place that is clearly visible to others.
You don’t need medical training to be part of saving a persons life.
How do I Get a Kit? Is there a Cost and is it Confidential?
You can get a kit from Motiv8 by calling us Monday to Friday 9am-5pm on Freephone 0808 1624 627, WhatsApp us on 07624 388750, email contact@motiv8.im and we will arrange for you to come into our office on Woodbourne Road in Douglas to collect the kit.
Kits are Free and are provided confidentially under the Isle of Man Take-Home Naloxone Programme.
It only takes about 15 minutes to have a member of Motiv8 run through the kit, how to administer and to answer any questions that you might have.
We only take minimal details, we don’t need to record your name or address.
Get a Kit, Carry a Kit, Save a Life!
If I use Naloxone on a patient does that mean I don't need to get medical help?
No, you should always call an ambulance on 999 in an overdose situation. The ambulance service are here to preserve life, the reason for the overdose is not important, a patients life is.
Always tell the ambulance crew what has happened, if you have used Naloxone on the patient then give the kits to them.
What happens if I give Naloxone and the patient is not in an Opioid overdose?
This is a great question and the answer is that in the case of administering Naloxone and a person not being in an Opioid overdose the medication will not have any effect and will not be to the detriment to the patient.
It is better to administer the Naloxone, just in case if you think there is the potential that it is an Opioid overdose.
Why is Motiv8 Involved in the programme?
Motiv8 is proud to have an agreement with Public Health to be a distribution point for Naloxone kits as part of the islands Take-Home Naloxone Programme.
Motiv8 supports anyone on the Isle of Man who is impacted by drug use, and offer a wide range of services to any resident. The Take-Home Naloxone Programme forms part of that work.
I am under 18, can I get a Naloxone kit?
As part of the Take-Home Naloxone Programme anyone under 18 would have to be referred to the young people’s substance misuse specialist.
Is there a video on how to administer the Nyxoid Nasal Spray and what else to do in an overdose situation?
Yes there is, this is the link – https://youtu.be/t8tFwjmDc38?si=V_8P6onXPoeW9us1
When a kit is issued we provide a QR code to this link also.
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