00:00So Changing Lives is a national charity. It was set up over 50 years ago and it started off as a
00:06soup kitchen in Newcastle. We work across the country now, support over 17,000 people every
00:12year and we work with individuals who are facing a lot of challenge. So some of the services we run
00:17range from housing, homelessness services to domestic abuse refuge, sexual exploitation
00:23and recovery, supporting people who are struggling with drug or alcohol use as well as trying to get
00:29people back into employment. So there are undoubtedly so many benefits to either giving
00:35up alcohol or even reducing. There are long-term and short-term benefits. So I think some of the
00:40long-term benefits people don't always see but alcohol use is linked to numerous types of cancer,
00:46high blood pressure, diabetes, it kind of makes some of your health problems worse. But some of
00:52the shorter-term benefits people will see are it can help you lose weight quite rapidly, reduce
00:57blood pressure, particularly with anxiety, lower level anxieties and depression, alcohol is a
01:04present so it exacerbates that. So taking alcohol away can you see people feeling much more positive
01:12in their life. We also get a lot of feedback from people saying that their relationships with
01:17loved ones, like family, even work-related matters can often improve after they've stopped using
01:24alcohol and stopped using that as a coping strategy in their life. It can be really risky for people
01:29who are using alcohol at high levels. If you do find yourself dependent or drinking at higher
01:34rates and taking that alcohol away sees physical reactions in your body then we would never ever
01:41recommend just stopping and I would always seek professional advice. I think every single
01:45local authority is commissioned to deliver drug and alcohol treatment and you can absolutely get
01:50support with that. So I'd say find out your local provider and reach out for support and
01:55they can help you reduce or take the alcohol away in a safe way.
