Blog posts

Who are you?

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:16:52 GMT

Anonymity is closely linked with the idea of recovery from addiction. Why is this?

In honour of Children of Alcoholic's Week: 10-16 February 2013

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:44:27 GMT

There is help for children who currently live with the daily reality of parents who either binge drink or worse

Supporting Recovery from Addiction

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:38:10 GMT

Nick Barton considers the degree of support required by those providing addiction treatment

The Long and Winding Road

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:58:16 GMT

Kirby Gregory contemplates the intricacies of funding addictions treatments

Whole Lotta Love

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:36:55 GMT

Kirby Gregory likens addictions treatment to the art of making a good meal: the right ingredients, people and environment - served with love

Come Together

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:57:48 GMT

Inclusive approach is needed in the running of addiction treatment programmes, explores Kirby Gregory, Director of Resources

Across the great divide

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 11:57:44 GMT

Potential for clash between delivering treatment programmes and managing staff and resources is considered by Kirby Gregory, Director of Client Services

Action on Addiction launches ‘A Moment of Opportunity’

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 16:25:06 GMT

Nick Barton, Chief Executive of Action on Addiction launches 'A Moment of Opportunity', an online exhibition challenging misconceptions to show the true face of recovery.

Alcohol Awareness Week: an Action on Addiction supporter writes about his relationship with alcohol

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 09:45:45 GMT

Action on Addiction supporter, Scott Bailey (30), writes about his relationship with alcohol for Alcohol Awareness Week

What produces a good quality of care?

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:54:05 GMT

Nick Barton considers the elements that go towards making a good quality of care.

Further on up the road

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:50:33 GMT

Kirby Gregory, Action on Addiction's Director of Client Services, considers the involvement of those in recovery in the design, management and review of service provision.

Substance misuse and domestic abuse ... a partnership-led training

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:00:29 GMT

by Cat Payne, Therapeutic Practitioner/Tutor, Families Plus Team at Action on Addiction

Our Roll of Achievements

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:04:49 GMT

Recovery from addiction is hard work and we encourage our beneficiaries to celebrate their achievements. Nick Barton, has compiled a list of the Charity's achievements.

Addiction to Tobacco Smoking

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 09:50:38 GMT

Nick Barton, CEO of Action on Addiction, considers the addictive and harmful drug, nicotine, smoking and the challenge it poses to the addiction field.

Our response to Government adviser Louise Casey's new approach to 'troubled families'

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:07:26 GMT

Action on Addiction's statement in response to Government adviser Louise Casey's new approach to 'troubled families'.

Ready for treatment or not; who's to say?

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 13:54:24 GMT

A position taken in some parts of the country that concerns me is, “We don’t send people to abstinence based treatment (for addiction) because clients are not ready.”

M-PACT Seminar held on Wednesday 16 May 2012

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:23:05 GMT

M-PACT stands for "Moving Parents and Children Together". The M-PACT programme helps children who are living with substance misusing parents.

Former addicts tell Charity visitors about their journey from addiction to recovery

Tue, 01 May 2012 10:07:42 GMT

As part welcoming visitors – I was going to say “important” visitors but they are all important – to our services, we invite some current users of the service to talk to our guest(s) about their experience of addiction and recovery and to provide some insight into how the service is helping in advancing their journey into a new way of life.

Should we de-criminalise drug use?

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:34:31 GMT

Nick Barton, CEO, contemplates de-criminalisation of drug use following the Parliamentary Select Committee's session on 24 April 2012.

More Support is Needed for the Families of Addicts

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:26:17 GMT

In Guardian Society today Roger Howard the chief Executive of the UK Drug Policy Commission highlights the vital role of supporting family members affected by their relative’s serious drug use. Nick Barton, CEO of Action on Addiction, was on the panel consulted by the Commission when writing their report which was published on Wednesday and only last week wrote on his blog about the importance of family involvement in treatment. This newly published research focuses on family members who need support in their own right and the need for more assertive promotion of services to become accessible to all who need them.

Addiction Treatment and the role of Family Support

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:27:12 GMT

Clouds House has always engaged to some degree with the families of its clients undergoing treatment for their addiction. Over the years the approach has changed from one that colluded with the focus on the client to a systemic approach offering support to the parts of the family in their own right and to the family as a whole.

On 14 February 2012, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge visited The Brink in Liverpool, Action on Addiction's recovery café

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:48:54 GMT

Nick Barton, Chief Executive of Action on Addiction, shares the speech he gave to our visitors on the occasion of HRH The Duchess of Cambridge's visit to The Brink in Liverpool, Action on Addiction's recovery café

Our Addictions Counselling Foundation Degree

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:34:01 GMT

On 13 December 2011 the Centre for Addiction Treatment Studies (CATS), the training arm of Action on Addiction, were delighted to attend the University of Bath Winter Graduation Ceremony held in the magnificent Bath Assembly Rooms where 21 Addictions Counselling Foundation Degree students and 7 BSc (Honours) students, 5 of whom were awarded first class degrees, graduated.

The royal patronage and what it will mean to our beneficiaries

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

What a way to start the New Year. I suspect most people are aware that Action on Addiction has the great honour and privilege of having had royal patronage bestowed on it in the person of the Duchess of Cambridge

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT – The harmful and the hopeful

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Christmas is a dangerous time for many people. Their vulnerability to the life-threatening condition addiction becomes more exposed. The Christmas spirit all too often has an alcoholic flavour to it.

Raising standards in therapeutic relationships in order to disarm addiction

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:16:13 GMT

Action on Addiction CEO, Nick Barton discusses how therapeutic relationships need to develop in order to improve addiction treatment.

On Personality and Addiction

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:47:40 GMT

Nick Barton discusses addiction and personality

Thinking Beyond the Individual

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:05:19 GMT

Cinzia Altobelli, Action on Addiction’s Leader of Therapeutic Services, on training provided by the Charity’s Families Plus team.

A Message on Addiction Treatment to our Political Leaders

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:19:42 GMT

I was recently asked what I consider to be the critical issues that, given the opportunity, I would raise with our political masters. My list would be: