'Charity support was life changing for our adopted daughter'
"At the start, we didn't know whether her behaviour was trauma, birth or neuro related," Luke said. He said Bibic staff were "very available from our first phone call to them". "Then when we got to assessment they spent two whole days with us which is unheard of," he said.The couple, who also have another adopted daughter, said the charity gave them all the information they and her school needed.This was done without Octavia "being labelled or put on medication", Luke said.
Fight or flight
She was given a sound therapy programme involving bespoke music, called Johansen Individualised Auditory Stimulation.It helps children who may have had problems processing speech and sounds.Luke said Octavia had been living in fight or flight mode due to early trauma but 10 months after the start of her treatment, she was no longer in a constant state of hypervigilance and anxiety.He said she went from being unable to fit into a school environment to going into Year 2 "like nothing had happened".
Bibic has just launched a campaign to raise £25,000 in a month to fill a funding gap, following unsuccessful grant applications.Gemma Pack, senior fundraising officer, said: "We receive no government or statutory funding at all so everything we need to run the charity we have to find ourselves and that's really difficult in a post-Covid world."She said following the pandemic, the charity's waiting list soared to 68 weeks and after expanding their team to meet demand, it is now down to 10 weeks.However, the waiting list is now threatened again by the funding shortfall, she said.
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The Guardian
a minute ago
- The Guardian
Experts warn against DIY Botox-like injections available illegally online
People seeking cheap Botox-like injections have been warned by experts against doing it themselves due to the risk of 'eyelid droops', infection and even botulism. There are growing concerns over the availability of medication called Innotox that is being sold illegally online in the UK. Unlike Botox, which comes as a powder that must be reconstituted for use in an injection, Innotox is a ready-to-use liquid – making it easier to self-administer. Wes Streeting, the health secretary, announced plans this week to introduce legislation cracking down on England's cosmetic 'wild west', where there is scant regulation of who can deliver treatments such as dermatological filler and Botox. Experts say Innotox is not licensed for use in the UK, unlike some other liquid Botox-like injections, meaning its quality and safety has not been assessed. Aenone Harper-Machin, a consultant plastic surgeon and spokesperson for the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), said the online availability of Innotox was frightening and appalling, and she cautioned against DIY jabs. 'People could be giving themselves eyelid droops and all sorts of weird asymmetries by injecting it in the wrong place, too deeply, too superficially. You can inject it into your blood vessel and give yourself botulism,' she said. Products such as Botox and Innotox contain type A botulinum toxin, which blocks nerve signals and prevents muscles from contracting. While botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine in the UK, Innotox can be readily bought online without one, amid longstanding concerns about untrained and unregulated providers, as well as unlicensed or counterfeit products. Health officials have said 41 recent cases of botulism poisoning in England have been linked to unlicensed jabs. Harper-Machin has had Botox-like injections but said she would not self-administer them. 'I wouldn't have it done by anybody other than a consultant plastic surgeon who has intimate knowledge of facial anatomy,' she said. Botox jabs have become a routine procedure for many people. The government estimates that about 900,000 such injections are carried out in the UK each year. Despite now being available in high street clinics, their high cost and the regular need for top-up treatment has fuelled a desire for cheaper alternatives. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) says it is unlawful to sell unauthorised medicines, although in certain circumstances unauthorised medicines may be supplied under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Nora Nugent, the president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), said: 'While rare, BAAPS has become aware of isolated but concerning cases of individuals experiencing serious complications following self-injection of botulinum toxin and dermal filler products. 'These include infections, tissue damage and, in extreme cases, the need for multiple surgical interventions. We are aware of cases that have resulted in significant tissue damage and tissue loss needing multiple surgical interventions and resulting in permanent scarring.' Sophie Cooper, the managing director of the Harley Street Skin Clinic, said: 'Content creators on TikTok have been sharing their results from self-injecting Innotox, which has been encouraging viewers to jump on the bandwagon. 'Innotox has been reported to have a simpler injection process, be faster working, longer lasting and be lower in price. In reality, self-injecting Innotox as a Botox alternative comes with many dangers.' Tom Albright, the chief executive of Luvantas, a subsidiary of Medytox, which produces Innotox, said the company became aware in June of the unauthorised importation of Innotox to the US, UK and other countries and alerted Medytox management to the situation. 'Medytox has opened an investigation into this matter and have engaged experts to assist in shutting down the sources of importation,' he said. 'Patient safety is our highest priority. We strongly caution healthcare providers and consumers against purchasing unapproved or misrepresented botulinum toxins through unauthorised channels. Products distributed outside authorised supply chains may not meet safety, efficacy or storage standards.' He added: 'Botulinum toxins should be administered only by qualified healthcare professionals in a medically appropriate setting. Administration requires a deep understanding of facial anatomy and aesthetic principles, which cannot be replicated in consumer-administered or unregulated environments.'
The Sun
a minute ago
- The Sun
Inside deadly ‘Whippets' epidemic which leaves victims brain damaged and incontinent… as dangerous craze spreads to UK
LURED in with child-like fruity flavours, a dangerous party drug has left a trail of destruction in the US - with fears it could spread to the UK. Known as whippets, canisters of nitrous oxide can legally be bought in shops - and in many states, children are able to buy the poisonous gas. 17 17 17 17 Nitrous oxide - also known as NOS - is most commonly inhaled via a balloon, but youngsters are now buying flavoured whipped cream canisters and inhaling them directly from the nozzle. Rather than 8g metal canisters littering the streets, whopping cans contain as much of 2kg of gas - meaning users can inhale massive quantities. The most notorious brand in the US is Galaxy Gas - which comes in child-friendly flavours such as mango smoothie, blueberry, strawberry cream and vanilla cupcake - similar to the marketing of disposable vapes. It became wildly popular among American teens, peaking last year when it was widely glorified in rap videos and social media clips. Footage of a user inhaling Galaxy Gas racked up 40million views - and inspired countless copycats. A viral song titled "Whippets" is available to watch on YouTube - showing youngsters bragging about their use of Galaxy Gas and repeatedly inhaling from the huge canisters. Although the canisters are intended for food use, guests have also tried it on the Joe Rogan podcast and Kanye West has spoken about his addiction to the substance. After furious backlash, the brand has withdrawn its products from the market and is now only available from a very limited selection of stores - but others are replacing it. In 2023, the UK government made nitrous oxide a Class C drug - but it's mostly failed to rid the streets of discarded metallic canisters. Balloon-huffing revellers still openly inhale at festivals, parties and in the streets. Laughing gas 'epidemic' sweeping party island with tourists left foaming at mouth, having seizures & permanently scarred In serious cases, users have become heavily addicted to the high and left needing rehab or hospital treatment after racing through as many as 15 canisters per day. But in the US, possession of nitrous oxide is legal - and authorities are struggling to crack down on the deadly craze. Between 2023 and 2024, there was a 58 per cent surge in reports of exposure to nitrous oxide in America according to official data. The number of deaths from nitrous oxide also rose by a staggering 110 per cent from 2019 to 2023. Rachel Kelly, from Chicago, inhaled so much nitrous oxide straight out of the canister every day that parts of her brain died and she was left in a wheelchair. 17 17 17 17 She first tried the substance aged 21 and by 2023 the 29-year-old was paying $220 a day to inhale eight two-litre tanks. Rachel said "everyone" was using the drug and it was easy to buy at a local convenience store. But her habit left her in hospital unable to go to the toilet or walk on her own - forcing her to spend a month in a rehabilitation centre. Jordan Micu, 30, from North Carolina, was also left suffering seizures after getting hooked on the canisters as a 21-year-old college student. In the US, shops often offer deals and colourful canisters can easily be found in smoke shops - despite their intended use for food production. Imyouski, 22, told GQ: "It's like an epidemic, all the young folks are on them. "It's too obtainable, I could literally drive down the street right now and go grab me how many I want." And in the UK, canisters are also widely available to purchase online. A range of brands have emerged with similar whacky flavours and bright marketing available online in the UK. 17 "Baking Bad" and "Miami Magic", both cream charger brands available online in the UK, have recently released new flavoured ranges. Baking Bad offers candy, strawberry, blueberry mango and watermelon lemon flavoured gas. Miami Magic, meanwhile, boasts rainbow, watermelon, blue raspberry and strawberry guava editions. The fruit combo flavours in particular are similar to many vapes that have hit the market in recent years. Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE, founder and director of drugs education charity the DSM foundation, told The Sun: "I googled nitrous oxide in the UK and it came up with a whole load of places you can buy it. "These social media trends or videos that go viral and are seen by loads of people. "It's a concern, it's always a concern. They're being marketed with cartoon characters, GTA imaging on the outside of canisters. "They're obviously being marketed to appeal for young people and not for its intended use." I think young people just see it as a bit of fun at first but then use it for self-medication for depression and anxiety Dan Gibbons Fiona, a member of the government's advisory council on the misuse of drugs, added: "Things that come from the states and social media, there can be so many influences in terms of the decisions young people make. "The exposure that young people have to drugs on social media is something I am concerned about." Dan Gibbons, from UK-based solvent abuse charity Re-Solv, told The Sun: "Galaxy Gas has not come across our radar as much in the UK but you can get it here. "I think young people just see it as a bit of fun at first but then use it for self-medication for depression and anxiety." 17 17 17 17 He said he wouldn't be surprised if the huge canisters start to make an appearance at British festivals after being heavily promoted online in the US. Dan says Re-Solve has even seen an increase in referrals for laughing gas addiction since the government ban was imposed. Dr Gail Saltz told us: "There are teens who have suffered permanent neurological loss as a result of this behaviour. "And it certainly can kill you." The doctor explained that inhaling the gas can lead to a range of very serious medical problems - and even death in the most severe cases. She explained: "When you inhale high pressure nitrous oxide, you are not getting any oxygen to the brain - so that's oxygen depravation. "And that can cause a heart attack, a stroke, injury to the brain. "More persistent use can lead to other issues such as B12 deficiency, anaemia, and other neurological problems." Meg Caldwell, a horse rider from Florida, started using nitrous oxide recreationally while at university. But her usage got heavier to the point it "started ruining her life". After an overdose, Meg, 29, temporarily lost use of her legs and was left incontinent, but carried on spending hundreds of dollars a day on the gas. She died in November last year in a car park outside a vape shop. Her sister Leigh Caldwell told Boston 25: "She would spend $300, $400 at a smoke shop in a day. "Her whole life had become derailed due to her addiction to this drug." Another sister, Kathleen Dial, told the BBC: "She didn't think that it would hurt her because she was buying it in the smoke shop, so she thought she was using this substance legally." Meg's family has now filed a lawsuit against the manufacturers of nitrous oxide and seven Florida smoke shops to stop retail sales of the drug. Galaxy Gas is named in the lawsuit. Drug addiction counsellor Kim Castro said that she's had four clients who have died from nitrous oxide poisoning. She told Boston 25: "You really don't know when you'll stop breathing, when you'll lose consciousness, when your body will stop functioning. It's pretty scary." In March, the FDA released a warning advising consumers not to inhale nitrous oxide products, including Galaxy Gas and other brands. 17 17 17 Dr Saltz said that sucking laughing gas to get high is not a new phenomenon, but there's been a surge in the past three to five years thanks to a "new twist" in the market. She said: "The new addition in recent years is flavours, which has made it more appealing to younger and younger people. "It seems like it's being literally marketed to this group of people. It makes it seem not dangerous and more innocuous." The doc agrees that social media has supercharged the spread of the drug amongst youngsters - allowing it to be glorified, but also popularising "challenges" involving the gas. She also warned of the danger of "copycat companies" who have "caught onto the fact that young people will buy this and use it for abuse". The doctor insisted there are some obvious ways to fight back against the gas falling into teens' hands. She said: "Selling to underage individuals is something that is frequently abused - and that of course shouldn't be happening. "We should be putting more warnings on the packaging so that the adult who is buying it is warned - because they may not realise what their teen is actually asking for. "And I wish that the companies would not be able to market to young people. "Once you've identified something as used for abuse, governments should have the ability to say to a company: 'This is what you can do, this is what you can't do.' For the greater societal good." Dr Saltz also explained that laughing gas is "easier to hide than abuse of many other things". She said: "It has no smell, it seems innocuous because it can be used for food preparation. It's not expensive, and the high is short." Ibiza laughing gas 'epidemic' By Patrick Harrington, foreign news reporter BRIT tourists have been suffering seizures, foaming at the mouth and left permanently scarred after inhaling toxic drugs on the streets of Ibiza. Armed with industrial-sized canisters of nitrous oxide, determined dealers roam the infamous San Antonio party strip - targeting Brits as "easy prey". But the Class C drug can cause a range of health issues - and in some cases can even be fatal. In the UK, the gas is most commonly sold in small canisters which deliver a single dose - enough to fill one balloon. But dealers in San Antonio are armed with huge canisters that pump out up to 80 hits - and come in boxes of six. At the going rate of five euros a balloon, the street value of a six-pack of canisters is around £2,000 - and they're strewn across the town. When The Sun visited the notorious strip, our reporter was hounded and followed down the street by dealers. Katie Mae, a bartender at Irish pub Shenanigans on the town's main strip, said laughing gas is 'the worst of them all'. The 21-year-old told The Sun: "I'll lecture anyone I see taking it - I've seen the worst things from laughing gas. 'I've seen young lads having seizures on the street and foaming at the mouths, but their friends are high so do nothing to help." One British bar worker living in San Antonio told us she used to sell laughing gas here, but stopped after one of her customers 'nearly died'. The Brit said she got 'freaked out' when a young lad fell backwards and smashed his head on the road in the midst of a balloon high.
BBC News
31 minutes ago
- BBC News
Friends launch group to support new dads in Frome
Isolation, exhaustion and working out exactly how to navigate the first months of a baby's life are topics all new parents are faced with. But while maternal mental health has become more widely spoken about in recent years, some fathers say they feel left out of the picture. Four dads from Frome in Somerset who were experiencing these feelings decided to band together to do something about it and offer support to others. Their group, For Dads Sake (FDS) may only be a few months old, but dozens of men in the town who had been searching for a place to talk all things fatherhood have already joined. Ben Price, 31, is one of the group's founders. "Dad chat just seeps into conversations constantly," he said."You're unloading about the colour of your child's poo, or what they ate, what they didn't eat, and not everyone really wants to chat about that."We thought it'd be really good to get a few people together and just go deep into the dad conversation, and then the next time we're down the pub we can chat about the latest thing we've watched on Netflix or something." The idea for FDS was sparked when the four founding members, Mr Price, Max Morton, 41, Wayne Collins, 36, and Alex Thomas, 31, started meeting regularly to watch Frome Town FC at the start of the year. With all of them having young children, they soon found that many of their conversations began to revolve around fatherhood - not just sleep schedules or toothbrushing tactics - but mental health and some of parenting's bigger questions. "The more we've been speaking to dads, the more we've realised that actually, there isn't that much support for dads to ask the questions that we might have," said Mr Morton. "It's always the dads asking the mums 'what do we do here?, and then it feels like we're not doing a very good job because we're not finding the answers out [ourselves]," he added. "But this group [means] we can get advice from different people with kids of different ages... and we can bring information ourselves, which I think is quite powerful." "Having that support network of other dads who are going through the same thing [is great] because men are our own little islands and sometimes it's nice to build a little bridge and connect those islands up together," Mr Thomas said. While none of the founders are trained in mental health care, they were clear that one of the main reasons for regularly getting together a group of dads to chat about parenting was to signpost people who might be struggling to the right services. 'In the background' Mr Collins said he "really struggled" when his son was born because "there was no one really to talk to". "We'd go to all the check-ups and, rightly so, it's all about the mums - which it should be because they've had massive changes - but I found you'd be sat there sort of in the background. "There almost needs to be like a check-up for dads a month or two in to make sure you're okay as well." But while that support isn't readily available, the four dads hope FDS can ease some of the pressure. There have only been two meet-ups so far, but already there are already 40 members and more men joining all the time. While recent plans have revolved around the pub, the group hopes to expand to coffee mornings, park runs and even family fun days. "It's been life changing, really, because I'm able to be Max and dad simultaneously," said Mr Morton. "I think that's really, really important."
