From 30 November to 7 December, Addiction Awareness Week 2024 brought together individuals, communities, and organizations across the UK under the theme ‘Addiction Affects Everyone BUT Recovery Is Possible.’ This powerful campaign emphasized that addiction impacts not just those struggling directly but also their families, friends, and communities. Through bold storytelling, new research, and engaging events, the campaign aimed to break the stigma surrounding addiction and inspire hope by highlighting that recovery is not just possible—it’s happening.
A cornerstone of the campaign was the unveiling of research conducted by Ipsos, which revealed the scale of addiction in the UK. The findings were sobering: 47% of UK adults, equating to 23 million people, have either experienced or know someone who has lived with addiction to alcohol, drugs, medication, or gambling. Alcohol dependency remains the most prevalent (49%), followed by drugs or prescription medication (38%) and gambling (32%). The impacts extend beyond the individual, affecting physical health, mental well-being, finances, and relationships for both those in addiction and those around them.
Despite the widespread nature of addiction, stigma continues to prevent people from seeking help. The Ipsos poll found that up to 43% of those with experience of addiction would hesitate to seek support due to shame, underscoring the urgent need for compassion and understanding. This year’s campaign challenged these barriers by sharing emotional stories of recovery and celebrating the resilience of those who have moved forward in their journeys. The Taking Action on Addiction (TAOA) initiative amplified these voices, proving that recovery is attainable, though every path is unique.
Everybody Knows Somebody. This awareness is a call to action for all of us to foster an environment where addiction is recognized as a mental health condition and recovery is celebrated without judgment. With continued advocacy, education, and support, we can build a society that truly believes in and supports recovery for everyone affected by addiction.
Find more from Taking Action on Addiction (UK, December 2024)
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js‘The Addiction Conversation’ (02/12) was a powerful reminder of the strength we find in community.
— Taking Action on Addiction (@ActionAddiction) December 21, 2024
By coming together in London for Addiction Awareness Week, we witnessed the incredible impact of shared stories, open conversations, and mutual support.🤝
Addiction affects so… pic.twitter.com/42Tm1th3aX
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#AAW24 might officially be over, but we’re not done sharing the inspiring stories from our 2024 campaign video, ‘Recovery Is Possible’.💙
— Taking Action on Addiction (@ActionAddiction) December 11, 2024
In this latest video, Tom discusses the impact of growing up with a parent who was battling addiction. Tom’s dad, who is now in recovery,… pic.twitter.com/Mzs6suftGN
Alcohol Awareness 