Council gets £10m boost for drug and alcohol support
Lancashire County Council has been handed more than £10m by the government to prevent drug and alcohol-related deaths and help those with addiction issues.
The authority said the cash, which has been put together by consolidating other grants for services like recovery programs and housing schemes for vulnerable people, was one of the largest amounts allocated across England.
A council spokesperson said it would be used to pay for services like mental health support for those with substance abuse problems and drug education in schools.
County Councillor Daniel Matchett, who works as a mental health nurse, said the funding was welcome as he had seen the "devastation" caused by drugs first-hand.
Councillors have approved the allocation of the £10m grant by the Department of Health and Social Care.
It is aimed at funding improved treatment, cutting crime and preventing drug and alcohol-related deaths.
Matchett said: "It is a significant amount of funding.
"There is a real focus on improving the quality of treatment and making sure more people can access this, which will help prevent drug and alcohol-related deaths in the county."
Among the services that will be supported by the grant are addiction recovery help out-of-hours as well as additional weekend support, and inpatient detox placements.
It also includes funding for training to professionals in schools and improved support for those in the criminal justice system.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Lancashire County Council
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The potential benefits of the ‘Japanese walking' workout which fans claim is better than 10,000 steps a day
There have been numerous walking workout trends that have circled social media in recent years. It's no wonder—walking has numerous benefits, including reducing heart disease risk, strengthening your joints and heart, boosting your mood, and potentially helping you live longer. The latest trend making the rounds across TikTok and Instagram is known as 'Japanese walking,' and one creator claims that in just 30 minutes, you'll get 10 times the benefits of hitting 10,000 steps a day. The workout originates from a 2007 study based in Japan where 246 participants were divided into three groups: no walking, moderate-intensity continuous walking (walking at a moderate effort and taking at least 8,000 steps per day four or more days per week), and high-intensity interval walking. The third group, doing the high-intensity intervals, were instructed to walk slowly for three minutes, then walk quickly at a hard effort for three minutes, and repeat five or more times for four or more days per week. The researchers discovered that this group experienced noticeable improvements in strength, endurance, and decreased blood pressure, more so than the moderate-intensity continuous walking group. This workout is what's now become known as 'Japanese walking.' Another study from 2018 observed participants who did this exact walking workout over the course of 10 years. They found that those who kept up with the workout for the duration of the study experienced a 20% improvement in their leg strength, and a 40% improvement in their peak exercise capacity. The researchers concluded that those participants had protected against age-associated declines in physical fitness. Even those who weren't able to maintain the workout for the full 10 years had those improvements partially preserved. Since you're getting your heart rate up during the harder walking intervals, your body gets the benefit of more moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week for most adults, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity—and pushing the walking pace every so often could help you reach that target. Additionally, research shows that moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity is associated with lower risk of early mortality and improved cardiorespiratory fitness. For the higher-intensity intervals, your heart rate should be elevated to the point where you're just starting to feel out of breath, but not at your maximum effort. The researchers consider this 70% of your max effort capability. Meanwhile, the lower-intensity walking should be an easy effort, where talking is still comfortable. Alternate walking at each intensity for three minutes until you reach 30 minutes. Incorporate this workout in your routine four times per week. For more on walking: Walking is a super exercise. The truth about the number of steps you really need, and maximizing the benefits Walking faster may help you live longer. Experts say to aim for this pace Walking more could add as much as 11 years to your life, study says. Here's how This story was originally featured on
Buzz Feed
4 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
18 Wild Crunchy Parent Posts That Went Too Far
I'm sorry, but online parenting groups are out of control, and we need to talk about it. Instead of providing parents with a positive online forum and community, these groups tend to devolve into toxic echo chambers brimming with misinformation, bad advice, and brain rot. Here are 18 screenshots to prove it: This mom who wants other mom friends, but only if they're upper-middle class: This absolutely shameless weirdo who proves you really can't trust anyone: This person who spouted dangerous nonsense online: This overstepping grandparent who needs to be kept far away from this baby: This grossly judgmental parent who is going to give their child body images issues for life: This parent who harshly called their first child bad simply because they developed at a slower rate than their second child: This parent who is feverishly obsessed with pushing essential oils on their 16-year-old son: This parent who thinks scaring the hell out of their 4-year-old is an acceptable technique: This commenter who must suffer from serious brain rot because they think it's suitable to use a child's pain as an opportunity for a parent to grow: This parent who really, really wants to get their 10-week-old baby's ears pierced: This parent who really doesn't see how leaving their children alone in a car for half an hour is dangerous: This poster who wants to skip an important doctor's appointment for their baby, and a commenter who thinks asking ChatGPT is as good as receiving medical care: This anti-vax parent who wants to protect their kids from whooping not enough to vaccinate them: This stepmother who was upset that their stepchild was sick and "ruined" their Mother's Day: This expecting parent who spoke to a doctor and needs medical care, but rather consult randos on Facebook: This person who seems more concerned with the aesthetic of their homebirth than making sure it's safe: This parent who wants specialized care for their child who keeps getting kicked out of daycare, but refuses to pay fairly for such care: And finally, this parent who is drinking all sorts of internet Kool-Aid: H/T: r/ShitMomGroupsSay
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Wild About Sprouts® Celebrates World Food Safety Day with Breakthrough Cold-Grown® Technology That Redefines Safety and Nutrition
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of World Food Safety Day June 7, Wild About Sprouts® is shining a spotlight on its revolutionary Cold-Grown® process—an all-natural, patented innovation that has redefined food safety standards in the sprouting industry. With over 25 million containers sold pathogen-free and never part of any recall over its 8+ years, Wild About Sprouts is the only national sprout brand in the U.S., now proudly available in over 7,000 grocery stores across the country. Sprouts are among the most powerful, studied, and nutrient-dense superfoods on the planet. Yet for decades, their potential has been limited by persistent food safety concerns. Wild About Sprouts has solved that problem. Its Cold-Grown® process eliminates the risk of dangerous pathogens without the use of pesticides, herbicides, or chemical intervention, and uses 95% less water than traditional growing systems—making it one of the most sustainable solutions in fresh food today. "At Wild About Sprouts, food safety isn't a feature—it's the foundation," said Barry Didato, CEO of Rä Foods, parent company of Wild About Sprouts. "Our patented Cold-Grown® method is changing the way America eats—combining breakthrough safety with unmatched nutrition, delivering sprouts that contain up to 100 times more antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals than fully grown vegetables. Backed by over 2,000 studies, sprouts—especially broccoli sprouts—are rich in sulforaphane, a proven compound that supports the body's natural detox pathways, helps fight cancer, reduces inflammation, and shows promise in managing conditions like autism, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disease." Observed every year on June 7, World Food Safety Day highlights the importance of safe, accessible food for all. Wild About Sprouts is proud to lead this charge—proving that innovation can make clean, nutrient-packed, fresh foods not just possible, but scalable. "Wild About Sprouts has not only innovated with its Cold-Grown® technology—they've demonstrated an uncompromising commitment to public health," said Dr. Darin Detwiler, Food Safety Advocate, Professor and Author of Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions. "In an era when consumers demand both transparency and accountability, this company offers a clear model of how science and responsibility can align to create safer, more sustainable food systems. As we recognize World Food Safety Day, this kind of leadership is precisely what our food system needs to move from reaction to prevention." Whether tossed in a salad, layered on a sandwich, or blended into smoothies, Wild About Sprouts products offer an easy and delicious way to boost everyday nutrition—safely. For more information, visit or follow us on Instagram at @wild_about_sprouts. Wild About Sprouts is available at major retailers including Kroger, Walmart, Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Albertsons, and many more. About Wild About Sprouts®Founded in 2016 and based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Wild About Sprouts is transforming the sprout industry with its science-backed, Cold-Grown® technology. As part of Rä Foods, a family office dedicated to better-for-you innovations, Wild About Sprouts is on a mission to deliver safe, delicious, nutrient-dense foods that Make America Healthy Again—one sprout at a time. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Rä Foods Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
