Victoria McCann BA, MSc

Victoria McCann BA, MSc

Communications Director & Editorial Lead

Victoria McCann, BA, MSc, is Communications Director & Editorial Lead at Castle Craig and a member of the clinic’s founding family. With over a decade of experience in addiction treatment communications, she leads the creation of clear, compassionate content that supports patients, families, and healthcare professionals. Victoria is committed to reducing stigma around addiction and mental health, and brings strategic insight and lived sector knowledge to her work. She regularly attends and organises addiction treatment conferences across the UK and Europe, promoting high standards of care and best practice in the field. Victoria also works with the media to raise awareness and share informed perspectives on addiction and recovery. The Herald, The Times, BBC, STV, New York Post, The Guardian.

How You Can Be an Advocate for Recovery Everyday

Being an advocate for addiction recovery, it is when you develop actions and activities to influence decision makers to grow, establish, or change policies concerning drug laws. Europe has 218 drug law advocacy groups. One of them is the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) which provides overview of drug problems and […]

Why Society Views Addicts and Alcoholics Negatively

Addiction is classified as a medical disease, just as asthma and diabetes are diseases. However, society has long treated addiction in a much more negative light than other diseases. Even when conditions such as cancer and hypertension result from habits like smoking cigarettes or eating a salt-rich diet, we treat the disease without judging the […]

Some Addictions Are Legal

Prescription painkillers can be sourced from two places. One is from drug dealers on the street. Buying prescription pills, making dirty deals with pharmacists, buying imitation drugs from manufacturers- however dealers get their prescription painkiller drugs, they are able to sell them illegally. The other option for getting prescription painkillers is not illegal. In fact, […]

Relapse Prevention for Sex Addiction

After completing a residential treatment programme for sex addiction, it is strongly encouraged to spend as much time in a structured, clinical environment as possible where abstinence is advocated. At least six months of sexual abstinence of all kind is recommended for those in treatment for recovery sex addiction. Abstinence is a way to make […]

Alcohol and Anger: Causes, Dangers, How to Help

Everyone gets angry sometimes. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, when that anger becomes constant or uncontrollable, it can cause a number of issues. One of the things that can make anger even more difficult to control is alcohol. In fact, alcohol is often linked to violence and crime. Alcohol doesn’t cause anger, but it […]

Addiction Counsellors Desperately Needed Throughout Ireland

Ireland has the third highest drug-death rate in the European Union. Ireland’s numbers alone are four times higher than the average rate of drug-death across the EU as a whole. 6,096 people died of drug related deaths between the years of 2004 and 2014 in Ireland. 697 people died in 2014. The National Alcohol Diary […]

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: November 5th 2025 Data Controller: Castle Craig Hospital Ltd (acting as Data Controller for Smarmore Castle Clinic Ltd) Clinic Address: Smarmore Castle Clinic, Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland Contact Email: info@castlehealth.eu 1. Introduction Smarmore Castle Clinic (“Smarmore”, “we”, “our”) is operated under the Castle Health Group and managed by Castle Craig Hospital Ltd, which […]

Terms of Service

Welcome to our website. If you continue to browse and use this website, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of use, which together with our privacy policy govern Smarmore Castle’s relationship with you in relation to this website. If you disagree with any part of these […]

The Taaffe Family

Sir William Taaffe was distinguished for his efforts on the Government side in the O’Neill wars and was knighted for his services at the siege of Kinsale in 1601. The Taaffe Family    The Taaffe Family Crest: “In Hoc Signo, Spes Mea.” – In this sign is my hope.  Smarmore Castle has its origins within […]

Friends of Smarmore Castle

Are you a former patient, family member, or someone who has heard of us and appreciates what we do, and wants to stay in touch? We want you to stay in touch with us and keep you informed about what’s going on at Smarmore Castle. When You Become a Friend You Will Receive: Keep in […]

Meet the Team

Staff at Smarmore Castle, Ireland Rehabilitation begins with people, which is why our most unique resource is our staff of caring and deeply committed individuals. Smarmore Castle has a multidisciplinary team with addiction specialists in our medical and nursing departments, therapists who specialise in addiction, admissions staff, fitness staff and staff who provide hospitality and […]