Most people have an idea of what addiction is and the type of individuals affected by it. Many believe that those who suffer from a drug addiction are from deprived areas and have left school early. They may also think that these people are connected to the criminal underworld or are known to the police. This stereotyping of addiction can be very damaging as it often prevents those in most need of help from actually getting it. The reality is that most addicts are just like everyone else; in fac...

Those who find themselves struggling with addictions to drugs often fear the detox process so much that they will delay reaching out for treatment. These individuals are afraid of what detox will mean for them and worry that they will be unable to make it through. It is understandable to have these feelings, especially if you have seen negative portrayals of people detoxing from drugs in movies or TV shows. However, a detox does not have to be a painful experience. There are many excellent detox...

The question of what starts alcohol addiction is one that is often asked, but in truth, most people just do not understand much about this illness and why it affects some individuals and not others. Alcohol addiction affects many people throughout the UK, although the majority of drinkers consume alcohol in moderation. Nevertheless, according to statistics from charity Alcohol Concern, around seven per cent of UK adults regularly drink more than the Government’s recommended guideline amounts f...

Most people will have periods where they feel anxious or worried. These individuals may be able to pinpoint the reason for this; alternatively, it could be that they have no idea why they are feeling this way. There are certain situations in life that can cause anxiety, such as prior to a medical examination, before a school exam, or in advance of a job interview. In these situations, it is quite normal to have feelings of anxiety. However, some people find that anxiety is a constant problem. Th...

Addiction is an illness that is often referred to as a family illness; the reason for this is that it is an illness that affects far more than the individual. In fact, families are often torn apart when one member has an addiction to substances such as drugs or alcohol. It may be difficult for those closest to the addict to carry on with normal life because they become consumed with helping their addicted loved one or have become so resentful of them that they cannot stop thinking about them. Fa...

With NHS hospital admissions for drug-related mental health and behavioural disorders at 8,621 for the period 2015/16, it is no surprise that help is needed urgently for this devastating illness. In England and Wales, there were 2,479 drug-related deaths in 2015. This showed a forty-eight per cent increase on the figure for 2005 and highlights the fact that drug misuse is an ever-increasing problem that needs to be tackled. But one of the obstacles facing those with addiction is that there conti...

It is easy to assume that alcohol addiction is something that would never affect the rich and famous. After all, from the outside looking in, these individuals would appear to have everything. However, addiction can affect absolutely anyone, regardless of how much money he or she has. In fact, those in the public eye often find themselves struggling to cope with the pressures of fame, with many turning to chemical substances to help them cope. Famous Alcoholics Living in the spotlight can be t...

Ian McCall, the boss of Scottish football team Ayr United, has come clean about his reason for leaving Partick Thistle in 2011: he wanted to overcome a gambling addiction. He explains, "I didn't leave Thistle when they were on the verge of having a very good team again because I wanted to leave football. I left because I had to sort myself out. I was standing places thinking I was invisible as the manager of Partick Thistle. Looking back, it was just a horrendously bad period in my life. I felt ...

A recent report has highlighted that Northern Ireland has more problem gamblers than the rest of Britain. Mark Baillie, Policy Officer at CARE for Northern Ireland expressed concern over the prevalence of gambling: "This report shows an urgent need for the government authorities, whatever form it may take in the future, to take policy action to alleviate problem gambling. Problem gambling impacts not just the gambler, but also their family and friends. Crippling debt, divorce, mental health issu...

The alcohol-related cases that medics had to attend in 2016 means that these have risen by 20% over a decade. That makes the total number of cases attended in 2016 a staggering 339,000. Overall, over 1.1 million people were hospitalised in this country due to alcohol-related causes. The statistics are an eye opener. Of those who were polled, 64% of people aged 45-64 drank alcohol each week. Only 46% of under 25s and 56% of under 45s drank alcohol every week. That makes the baby boomers the ha...