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.

Drug Addiction in Ireland

Drug addiction became popular in the 1970s with many Irish using heroin. According to the Medico-Social Research Board, 14% from ages 14-24 in the north side of Dublin were using heroin all year in 1983. Many in Ireland use opiates, sedatives, stimulants, solvents, hallucinations, and drugs from headshops. Ireland needs to increase efforts to prevent […]

How to Love Your Body

Many people tend to take advantage of their bodies. People tend to self-harm themselves in order to look the way they want to such as over-exercising, plastic surgery, doing abusive substances, or undereating. According to the National Eating Disorders, 70% of women ages 18-30 years-old are dissatisfied with their bodies as well as 43% of […]

Klonopin Addiction

There are plenty of drugs prescribed by doctors that can be addicting and habit-forming. One of them is a benzodiazepine called Klonopin which can cause someone to be addicted within a few weeks. According to Addiction Center, 75,000 people went to the emergency room due to complications from Klonopin in 2011. Stevie Nicks was addicted […]

Foods to Improve Your Mood

Eating foods like candy, fried foods, ice cream, and baked goods might be foods that make us feel good when we eat them because of how they taste, they can actually make you bloated and tired. The foods we eat can affect our moods and it is important that we keep certain nutrients in […]

Blogging in Recovery

Blogging is a great way to express yourself and build up an audience. Think of blogging as journal writing for the whole world to see. There are many different types of blogs like personal ones where you write about your day to day experiences, genre blogs where you write about a single topic, and photo […]

How Alcohol Affects Nutrition

It is important for people to have a certain amount of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and water in order to be energized and have the right chemicals to keep the body going. All key components play a role in keeping the body health. Alcohol can ruin the progress the body is making to be […]

man getting blood pressure taken manually

Diabetes and Substance Misuse

Diabetes is when there is too much sugar in your blood and not enough insulin in the body to regulate it. It can be a very stressful disease in making sure you eat right and get enough activity. According to the Substance Misuse and Rehabilitation journal, 50%-60% of those with diabetes are alcoholics and have […]

Addiction Treatment Programs Can Be Fun

For many people, the idea of entering rehab comes with a sense of dread. They imagine cold clinical environments, emotionally intense sessions, and endless self-examination. While structured therapy and personal reflection are essential parts of recovery, they’re only one side of the story. At Smarmore Castle, we believe that rehab can also be a place […]

Why Abstinence is the Best Choice for Recovery Compared to Moderation

Abstinence is the traditional method of recovery where you completely avoid abuse substances like alcohol or drugs. If seeking treatment, long-term abstinence is possible to do compared to without. According to the World Health Organization, 18.9% of the European population abstain. Moderation Management is a treatment program that teaches you how to regulate your drinking […]

Heroin Addiction Continues to be a Problem

Heroin is a very addictive and illegal opioid drug that tends to appear in the form of a white powder. This drug acts quickly in the body and may be smoked, snorted, or injected. Heroin causes you to feel pleasure by binding to opioid receptors in the body. Then, dopamine is released which can fuel […]

The 12 Steps for Gamblers

During the last forty years, thousands go to Gamblers Anonymous for those who gamble (GA) and for families of gamblers (Gam-Anon). It is important for gamblers to remember that they are not alone and that there is a sense of hope in their recovery. In order to be on the path of recovery, gamblers must […]

Benefits of Recovering in a Green Space

Forests, meadows, fields, flowers, and wide-open spaces serve a great purpose to our mental health compared to being cooped up inside. According to the Bureau of Labor, Americans spend 2.8 hours watching television which can increase insomnia, depression, fatigue, and isolation. The World Health Organization says the 3.3% of deaths is from lack of walking […]