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.

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 […]

Cough Medicine Addiction

Every substance out there, legal or illegal, can be abused. Just because something can be sold over the counter without a prescription or asking for ID does not mean that it is safe. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 3.1 million people from ages 12-25 have used cough medication in order […]

What Makes Someone Start Smoking

When you see people smoking cigarettes, you wonder what it is that causes people to want to take their first smoke and what is the appeal. According to the Center for Disease Control, 16.8% of adults smoke and there are 480,000 deaths a year in the U.S. from smoking cigarettes. It is important to avoid […]

Alcoholism and Pregnancy

Alcohol Use in Pregnancy Anything that a pregnant mother consumes also gets consumed by her unborn child. According to the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 10 pregnant women drink and 1 in 50 women binge drink which is more than five drinks a day. – Alcoholism rates in Ireland. It is important for pregnant […]

Cycling in Recovery

When you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you filled up your free time by getting drunk or high. Being in recovery involves finding a better use of your free time as boredom can lead to a relapse. Riding a bicycle can is a great activity to do when you are in recovery […]

Prison is Not a Solution to Addiction

People who are arrested for crimes related to drugs or alcohol may help them get sober during their sentence but they will not recover when their sentence is over. According to the National Council and Drug Dependence Inc., 80% of crimes are committed that are related to drugs and alcohol. The National Association of Drug […]

Morphine Addiction

Pain reliever drugs have the potential to be abused too when people find out about the underlying effects they can give. Morphine drugs, named after the Greek G-d of dreams Morpheus, is a powerful narcotic drug from the opium poppy plant that can produce deadly effects to those who abuse it. Morphine is manufactured in […]

Diet Pills Addiction

Losing weight involves a lot of strenuous hours of dedication, exercise, lifestyle changes and hard work. Not everyone is willing to go through these lengths to lose weight so they are looking for a quick fix. According to the University of Minnesota, 20% of girls from ages 19-20 have abused diet pills. It is important […]