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How 2 Bolton Based Businesses are Tackling Addiction in the Aftermath of Lockdown
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Two Bolton based businesses, Acquiesce and WHYSUP, recorded a podcast discussing addiction, and how they are tackling it following the coronavirus lockdown.
Acquiesce is a private rehabilitation centre, offering luxury accommodation and an urban recovery model that integrates recovery into everyday life. Tina, the senior practitioner at Acquiesce, oversees each individual’s entire journey.
WHYSUP was founded by Mark and Liam. They work to deliver presentations, workshops and keynotes to schools and businesses across the UK to educate and raise awareness of mental health and addiction.
Mark’s Story
Mark begins by explaining his battle with a gambling addiction that started with a bet when he was just sixteen. By 21 he realised he needed help and attended Gamblers Anonymous meetings.
“I remember going to a GA meeting, looking around and thinking ‘Well I’ve not lost my house, not lost my wife, not lost my family. I’m not as bad as these so I don’t need help.”
By 25 he had a girlfriend and a professional job. Everyone around him thought he had left his old life behind and was on the road to recovery. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case.
At 29, he was kidnapped and held hostage by a group with machetes who were demanding ransom from his mother. Luckily, the police tracked his phone and rescued him.
Mark finally hit rock bottom when his family turned their backs on him. Without his family, he felt that suicide was the only way out of his mess but knew the impact this would have on everyone around him, including his children.
With help from his mum, Mark went to rehab in Birmingham. He took part in the fourteen week programme but stayed there for another five and a half months.
In rehab, Mark wrote down all of his debts. He initially thought he owed a total of £100,000 but now says it was closer to £306,000.
“It’s like I’m talking about a different person now when I look back. Thankfully that’s where it turned around for me. Rehab saved my life.”
Liam’s Story
Around the age of 13, Liam started to experiment with alcohol and drugs like many teenagers at the time.
“There was no prevention or awareness, no knowledge of addiction. My decisions were based on ‘Am I going to get caught?’”
“By 15 I was taking Class A drugs several times a week. I thought drinking and drugs were a normal part of life. I also thought I was good at it because I could do it and still do what I was supposed to be doing.”
Liam got his GCSEs, enjoyed Thai boxing, got his A levels and had a long term girlfriend, all whilst taking drugs.
“I was living a double life. No one knew. From the outside I was seen as popular and successful, the things that you don’t associate with addiction. That’s why I never thought I had a problem.”
He also started struggling with his mental health, dealing with feelings of shame, guilt and paranoia. Liam finally acknowledged his problem after crashing four cars in one week and his family started to ask questions.
“From the minute rehab was mentioned I booked myself in. I pretty much destroyed everyone I loved because I had to tell them what had been going on. When I came out, I went back to normal life, the life where I’d taken drugs for 19 years.”
Following rehab, Liam continued to take drugs after he relapsed at a funeral. His wife became frustrated with the chaos and arranged for him to stay with Mark.
“It wasn’t easy but I was given a safe place. I was able to build a recovery in the real world, which is very important because you can’t just live in a bubble.”
Mark encouraged Liam to make weekly plans, give up his cash card and attend the gym in the same way that he did when he was in recovery at the halfway house.
“I didn’t need to change my location, I needed to change my mindset. People, places, routine, structure- I had to relearn it all to get where I am today. This is why we got in touch with Acquiesce. It integrates the real world into your recovery.
Acquiesce
Acquiesce provides a discreet, highly supported and safe environment within the community to recover in. Without being hidden from the real world, the urban recovery model allows individuals to gain all the tools and experience necessary whilst maintaining a carefully monitored level of responsibility over their own recovery.
This makes the transitional period from treatment a much smoother process, resulting in a more sustainable recovery journey.
WHYSUP
Mark and Liam started WHYSUP after discussing how their addictions started and the mental challenges they had faced. They wondered if anything would have changed had they been given a talk in school.
Three years later, their service is well established and works in three different sectors; education, business and sport.
They have spoken to over 30,000 people nationwide. Over the last 18 months, people with some form of experience have joined the team. Initially their key focus was addiction but they now focus more on mental health and wellbeing.
Support During Lockdown
The team were managing the number of calls well, especially once they hired a professional who helped with more severe cases. Unfortunately, when lockdown started, calls quadrupled and they could no longer meet the demand.
“We underestimated how many and how severely people were declining. They were threatening suicide and we had to drop off flowers at funerals of people who would likely still be here if it wasn’t for lockdown.”
Acquiesce also had an increase in calls, with people experiencing anxiety and fear from a loss of jobs and uncertainty about the future. Tina explained that the number of individuals at high risk from drinking has doubled according to Public Health England.
“We found that some clients have relapsed after being clean for many years and have had to come back into treatment.” Tina added.
When defining addiction from a professional point of view, Tina says they look at withdrawals, tolerance, loss of control, broken promises and consequences, but that in reality it’s a much wider perspective.
“I define addiction as a compulsive behaviour that is impossible to stop without professional help and support. As much as you try to convince yourself you can do it alone, I know from experience that you just can’t.” Added Mark
Liam’s definition of addiction has changed over time. He said, “Two and a half years ago, I’d have talked about drugs. For me now it’s more than a substance or behaviour, it centres around thinking and feeling.”
Tina explained that the Acquiesce programme is very much about positivity, positive self talk, self esteem, gaining confidence.
“When clients come in, their addiction has robbed their self esteem and we work to get it back.”
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction or mental health issues, please book a callback with Acquiesce at acquiesce.org.uk/contact or 01204 771940, or get in touch with WHYSUP at whysup.co.uk/contact
To listen to the whole podcast, please visit acquiesce.org.uk/how-2-bolton-based-businesses-are-tackling-addiction-in-the-aftermath-of-lockdown/
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: How 2 Bolton Based Businesses are Tackling Addiction in the Aftermath of Lockdown
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GGPoker Unveils $24M End Of Year Giveaway – Celebrate December with Over $24 Million in Prizes!
December 1 through 31 – GGPoker to say #Thanks2024 with ticket drops, daily rewards and more
GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, is excited to announce its $24M End of Year Giveaway, an extraordinary month-long festival running from December 1 to December 31, 2024. Packed with giveaways, tournaments, and rewards, the promotion is designed to delight players of all levels and close out the year in style.
The $24M prize pool includes the following highlights:
- $1M Paradise Online Ticket Drops: Randomly distributed tournament tickets during the upcoming WSOP Paradise Online series
- $12M 12 Days of Christmas Gift Boxes: Daily rewards for players logging in from December 15 to December 26
- $1M End of Year #Thanks2024 Flipout Tournament: A fast-paced, unique event running December 27 to December 31
- $10M December Cash Game Giveaway: Monthly leaderboards and promotions across GGPoker’s popular poker variants, plus $2.5M in GGCare & GGCheers rewards and $1M in bonuses for new players joining GGPoker in December
$1M Paradise Online Ticket Drops
Players participating in WSOP Paradise Online tournaments – running December 1 through December 15 – will automatically get a shot at winning one of $1M worth of tournament tickets, which will be dropped randomly as each event plays out. These tickets can be used to access some of the most exciting tournaments in the WSOP Paradise Online series, offering a shot at major prize pools.
$12M 12 Days of Christmas Gift Boxes
From December 15 to December 26, every player who logs in will receive a daily Christmas Gift Box. These festive surprises include:
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Unwrapping a new surprise every day ensures that the holiday season is both fun and rewarding for GGPoker players.
$1M End of Year #Thanks2024 Flipout Tournament
To wrap up the year, GGPoker will host its #Thanks2024 Flipout Tournament, running from December 27 to December 31 and open to all GGCheers and GGCares qualifiers during this time. This fast-paced, unique format automatically pushes every player all-in each hand, creating an adrenaline-fueled path to big prizes. Qualifying is simple, and the players that make it through to Stage 3 will share in a $1M prize pool.
$10M December Cash Game Giveaway and more!
GGPoker’s popular monthly leaderboards will distribute $6.5M in prizes across multiple game variants, including:
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Another $2.5M will be awarded through the long-running GGCare & GGCheers promotions, which reward players for bad beats, coolers, and lucky moments alike. Additionally, new players joining in December can claim up to $1M in bonuses, including welcome packages and daily freerolls.
“2024 has been an incredible year, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than by giving back to our players,” said Sarne Lightman, Managing Director of GGPoker. “With over $24M in prizes, including tournament tickets, cash giveaways, and festive rewards, the End of Year Giveaway ensures that every player, whether they’re seasoned grinders or just starting out, has the chance to finish the year on a high note. It’s our way of saying thank you and welcoming even more players to the GGPoker family!”
For full details about the $24M End of Year Giveaway, including terms and conditions, please visit: ggpoker.com/promotions/2024-end-of-year-giveaway/
The post GGPoker Unveils $24M End Of Year Giveaway – Celebrate December with Over $24 Million in Prizes! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Westside, Runner, and Tomaszy join Purp0 and Cloud to aim for a return to the top of one of the most prestigious international esports competitions
The global esports organization GIANTX has unveiled its new Valorant team for the 2025 Valorant Champions Tour (VCT). The primary goal is to qualify for the Valorant Champions, the world championship that will take place in Paris, after an uneven 2024 season.
The roster includes Cloud, Purp0, Westside, Runner, and Tomaszy. Cloud and Purp0 remain with the organization, while Westside, Runner, and Tomaszy are new additions.
- Cloud will take on the role of in-game leader (IGL).
- Purp0 will continue to bring his ability to perform in key situations.
- Westside joins from Diamant Esports and makes his debut at the highest level.
- Runner, previously with Team Vitality, played in the 2024 world championship.
- Tomaszy, formerly of Rebels Gaming and Karmine Corp, also joins the project.
The coaching staff will be led by Pipson, with Waylander as assistant coach. Both bring extensive experience from the competitive scenes of Valorant and Counter-Strike.
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- Fnatic,
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- Karmine Corp,
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This weekend, GIANTX will participate in the preseason tournament Intel Monsters Reloaded 2024 in Istanbul.
Their first opponent will be Team Liquid on Saturday at 6:00 PM. If they win, they will face the winner of the match between BBL Esports and SuperMassive in the final.
The post GIANTX announces its Valorant team for 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Sportradar announced the launch of generative AI (gen AI) audio, a new feature within its ad:s multi-channel marketing service. The tool leverages the power of gen AI integrated with Sportradar’s live data, to automate the creation of personalized, real-time audio adverts for sportsbook and casino operators across one of the fastest growing digital marketing channels globally.
Ad:s gen AI audio provides operators with a ready-to-use audio marketing solution, allowing them to generate creative content during key sporting and gaming moments to efficiently scale advertising efforts into podcast streaming services and internet radio networks. Sportradar’s industry-leading technology automatically creates customised and dynamic adverts – featuring live-data to update odds, jackpots, and upcoming events— to increase brand awareness, uplift purchase intent and increase the likelihood of customer acquisition.
AI-generated audio adverts are the latest addition to Sportradar’s comprehensive, industry-leading, end-to-end marketing services, driving brand awareness, acquisition and retention across channels including programmatic display, video, audio, digital-out-of-home (DOOH), paid social media, paid search, sponsorships and affiliate marketing.
Niki Beier, SVP Marketing Services, said: “Sports fans and bettors are increasingly consuming audio content, with listenership increasing by over 1000% in the past seven years1. To deliver maximum marketing efficiency, we’re providing a sophisticated yet simple-to-use solution to sportsbook and casino operators. Through our gen AI technology, we’re making it easy for clients to integrate audio adverts into their acquisition and branding campaigns, to reach more customers with real-time relevant audio messages, without the need for creative teams or a high production budget.”
The post Sportradar Launches Gen AI Audio Advertising for Sportsbook and Casino Operators appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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