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.

Benzodiazepines Detox: What To Expect

Benzodiazepines (benzos) are a broad class of anxiolytic, sedative, and sleep-inducing medications. They are also effective anticonvulsants and possess muscle-relaxant properties. Benzodiazepines slow down brain and nervous system activity and are the drugs of choice to relieve psychological and physical symptoms associated with anxiety. Additionally, benzodiazepines detox help to treat insomnia, epilepsy, and seizure-related disorders. […]

Three people sitting in armchairs talking in a group therapy session at Smarmore Castle

Is My Dad an Alcoholic?

Maybe you’ve noticed your dad’s behaviour has changed – he’s become moody and grumpy, or perhaps he’s shouting at you and other family members, and this is scaring you. Perhaps you’ve noticed a change in his lifestyle – he’s not getting to work on time, or he’s lost his job, and this has coincided with […]

Medically Managed Alcohol Detox Centre in Ireland

What Is Alcohol Detoxification? Alcohol detoxification is the process of clearing alcohol from the body after sustained use. During this period, your system begins adjusting to the absence of alcohol, which can lead to a range of withdrawal symptoms, both physical and emotional. These may include anxiety, insomnia, nausea or tremors. Alcohol detox, also known […]

Benzodiazepine Overdose: Side Effects and Dosage

Introduction Are you taking a benzodiazepine but would like to take more than prescribed? Do you think you might be addicted to benzodiazepines? Are you worried about a loved one that may be abusing a benzodiazepine? Are you concerned that you or someone you love is experiencing an overdose? Whatever your current situation may be, […]

Benzodiazepine and Alcohol

About benzodiazepine and alcohol You may have been prescribed benzodiazepines, such as Valium or Xanax, for your anxiety or insomnia and are unsure if you can take them and still enjoy a few drinks at the weekend. Perhaps you’re buying the drugs illicitly to help chill you out, but find you’re blacking out after drinking […]

Ruins of an old castle in County Meath, Ireland

Alcohol Rehab Near County Meath

Introduction This page introduces the services that Smarmore Castle offers to the people of County Meath. We regularly welcome private patients from County Meath to our residential addiction treatment programme and we can arrange sober transport services from County Meath to bring you safely to our rehab. Our treatment programme is covered by VHI and […]

Stress Management in Addiction Recovery

Stress can cause addiction, exacerbate it and increase the chances of relapse, which makes it necessary to incorporate stress management in addiction recovery. Because of the integral role stress plays in addiction, any treatment plan for addiction must include stress management tools. Whether you’re dealing with stress in your current life or are impacted by […]

What Happens After Detox?

In order to beat a serious drug or alcohol addiction, it is often necessary to undergo a detox. This is usually the first step in tackling addiction and it deals with only the physical aspect of addiction. That is to remove the substance from your body, deal with any withdrawal symptoms and end up in […]

The Benefits of Swimming in Drug and Alcohol Rehab

The Smarmore Castle indoor pool is open daily for swimming sessions. Our fitness trainer provides aqua-aerobics sessions to help support recovery. People who arrive at a residential rehab for detox and therapy are usually in a poor physical state due to years of alcohol and drug misuse, and experiencing high levels of anxiety and stress. […]

What to Expect from Treatment

It Helps to Understand the Process Many people enter rehab not knowing what to expect, and quite a few leave without really knowing what has happened. If you’re in a clinic for a surgical procedure, you may not know exactly what the doctors are doing, you simply put your trust in them to mend your […]

Low Self Esteem and Addiction – How Are They Related?

Does it matter what others think of us? Apart from people affected by certain mental illnesses such as psychopathy, almost every one of us is affected to some extent by the opinions of others. Low self-esteem can lead to addiction and it can also reinforce it. Let us understand how low self esteem and addiction […]

Seasonal Affective Disorder and Addiction – Is There a Link?

At this time of year, as the seasons change, people start to talk about the seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and its links to addictive behaviour, particularly substance misuse. The two conditions can be treated concurrently. Symptoms of SAD should never be ignored. What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder and Addiction? SAD is a mental health disorder […]