To close Addiction Awareness Week 2023, (28th October - 4th November), The Princess of Wales, as Patron of the Forward Trust has shared a message of support:
“This Addiction Awareness Week, I am delighted to again voice my support for the campaign and thank all of the charities involved in shining a light on the effects of this terrible illness.
In September, I visited HMP High Down in my role as Patron of The Forward Trust, where they are helping people overcome their addictions. It is conversations like the ones I had with prisoners that day that also fuel my passion for the importance of early childhood. During the earliest years of our lives, we lay the foundations for the sorts of social and emotional skills that help us to navigate life, develop coping strategies to deal with adversity and learn how to establish stable, caring relationships which are such a vital source of support when facing life’s complex challenges.
This year, we are reflecting on how ‘Everyone Knows Someone’ affected by addiction. I hope, by talking more openly, we can consider the people in our own lives and communities who have been impacted. Addiction affects people in so many ways beyond that one person who is experiencing it themselves - be they parents, children, siblings, friends or neighbours. By understanding their experiences, and starting from a position of compassion and empathy, we can help to break the cycle.
Please join me by taking the time to listen to those affected by addiction, and support them as best you can.
Addiction is not a choice. It is a serious mental health condition.
And with the right support delivered by wonderful charities like The Forward Trust, recovery is possible.”
Supporting Letter by The Princess of Wales - Addiction Awareness Week 2023
About Addiction Awareness Week
This week, The Forward Trust released new research as part of the Taking Action on Addiction multi partner campaign, which aims to bring addiction into the light in an attempt to break down the stigma and provide stories of hope to encourage those suffering from addiction to seek help.
The research reveals that 45% of UK adults aged 18-75 have either experienced addiction or dependency to alcohol, drugs, medication, gambling or sex, themselves, or know someone close to them that has. Despite this being equivalent to 22 million UK adults aged 18-75, the stigma that surrounds the condition is stopping or making it difficult for half of those experiencing their own or other people’s addictions from speaking out, with negative judgement (46%) and shame (39%) ruled as top concerns.
This week has also seen the launch of a new film ‘Everybody Knows Somebody’ during a national Let’s Talk About Addiction event on the evening of the 2nd November. The importance of talking, and it being the first step to recovery, is highlighted in this powerful film in which people who have been impacted by addiction, either themselves or in their families, explore the stigma that still surrounds it.
Let’s Talk About Addiction event
"Let’s Talk About Addiction" Live from The Brink, Liverpool (2nd Nov, 7:00 - 8:45pm) - YouTube
The live broadcast from The Brink in Liverpool included a panel discussion with journalist Bryony Gordon and guests, with a special live performance from Dave McCabe, ending the evening with an acoustic version of Valerie.
Additional data
The poll found that over half (53%) of those experiencing addiction or dependency, either directly or through someone close they know, feel unable to talk freely about it
Of those with a family member currently experiencing or who have experienced addiction, almost half (49%) of those surveyed felt it was difficult or found themselves unable to talk about the issue. By comparison, when it comes to speaking about their own addiction, 38% find it difficult or cannot talk to other people. This points to a deep-rooted sense of shame when in the throes of addiction, at a time when talking is the first important step in the road to recovery.
About half of adults suffering from addiction personally were negatively affected by it - experiencing emotional or psychological distress (51%), health issues (49%) and financial problems (46%).
The data also highlights the stark impact on individuals who are close to those suffering with an addiction. About 2 in 5 of those who know someone close to them with an addiction report a negative impact on their relationship with that individual (45%), emotional or psychological distress (40%) and even financial impact (38%) as a result of someone else's addiction.
About the research
Ipsos interviewed a representative quota sample of 2,250 adults aged 16-75 in the UK using its online i:omnibus between 3rd and 5th October 2023. Data has been weighted to the known offline population proportions for age, social grade and working status within gender as well as region.