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, The Times, New York Post, The Guardian.

FAQ on Drug Addiction

Q. What is drug misuse and how is it developed? Drug misuse is a complex, serious brain disease where you find yourself craving drugs as well as seeking and using them despite the negative consequences they can bring to your life. It can develop when the continued use of drugs causes health problems, lacking responsibility […]

What to Expect in Early Recovery

Early recovery is very new. So what can I expect in my first year of recovery after leaving rehab? One of the most important things I wish I’d known when leaving rehab. “I have gone through a life-changing five-week experience where I spent time examining my feelings, my drinking, my relationships etc. but the rest […]

How to Mend Romantic Relationships Broken by Alcohol

Alcohol can ruin a person’s mind, finances, career, and even relationships. An alcoholic can say or do things to someone they love without meaning to. It can be hard to mend a broken relationship but with hard work and effort from both people in the relationship, relationships can start anew. Sometimes, the damage is too […]

The Benefits of Group Therapy

Group therapy involves meeting with a group of people who have all dealt with similar issues. This can range from people who have depression, PTSD, body image issues, anxiety, addiction, and trauma. Group therapy is beneficial in making you feel you are not alone and getting all of the support you need as you are […]

What it Feels Like to Have PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder of not being able to recover after experiencing or seeing something terrifying. According to PTSDUK, one in ten people have PTSD along with one in five firefighters, 70% of rape victims, one in three teens who have been in a car crash, and 40% who have dealt with […]

5 Common Addictions You Did Not Know About

Addictive substances can come in many forms and in unexpected ways. It is important that people are aware of other addictions out there so that you can be aware of the dangerous symptoms. Here are five addictions that hide in the shadows. Pagophagia is where you chew ice for long periods of time to destress. […]

New Romantic Relationships in Recovery

Romance should be the last thing on your mind when you are newly sober as relationships take effort whenever you are with that person. The number one priority should be recovering from the effects that drugs and alcohol

Tedx Talks on Addiction

Ted Talks are a useful way to educate an audience about something that they did not know about before. It takes experts in the field of addiction or mental health to truly reach out to an audience and explain to them what addiction really means. Here are a couple of TedX talks about the true […]

Types of Alcoholics: Functional Alcoholics

Alcoholism is still a problem in Ireland. According to Alcohol Action Ireland, from 1960-2001, 4.9 litres to 14.3 litres of alcohol have been drunk per person for those aged fifteen and over. There are different types of alcoholics such as functional alcoholics who appear sober in public but alcoholics in secret. Psychology Today says 20%-90% […]

Laxative Addiction

Bulimia Nervosa is when someone with an eating disorder makes themselves vomit in order to lose weight, or turns to other methods of purging following a bingeing episode. The DSM-V looks at the full picture of bulimia nervosa as many purging behaviors like medications, excessive exercise,

Substance Misuse and the Retirement Community

Many people over the age of 65 feel that once they reach the retirement stage of their lives, there is no more meaning left and that they have nothing to lose. According to the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Misuse Services, 17% of seniors over 65 have abusive prescription medicine and the National Council on […]

Positive Thoughts For The Festive Season

For many, those words mean parties, self-indulgence, excessive eating and drinking, followed by a good sporting event on the TV (with perhaps a bet or two on the outcome). Happy days. It all sounds attractive to addicts – some of us were doing that sort of thing all the year round. Yet recovery is about […]