Introduction  Across the UK, councils are being courted by a fast‑growing industry selling "turnkey" workplace drug and alcohol testing: kits, single‑day trainings, templated policies, and polished claims of convenience. It looks clean on a pro...

Alcohol Prohibition Worldwide: Temperance, Crime and the Disease Model   Alcohol prohibition shaped economies, empowered criminal networks and bequeathed a medicalised view of addiction that still informs policy. What began in the early ...

Societal Enforcement, Economic Interests, and the Path Toward Compassionate RecoveryThe way society constructs and responds to addiction is deeply intertwined with power dynamics and economic interests. For decades, punitive approaches—rooted in legi...

The Anti-psychiatry Movement and Stanton Peele: Critiquing MedicalisationThe anti psychiatry movement of the 1960s and 70s, spearheaded by influential thinkers like Thomas Szasz and R.D. Laing, launched a significant critique of the psychiatric estab...

"Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace for Managers" A Personal Reflection from a Mental Health NurseBy James Storrar, BSc, Dip HE Mental Health Nursing, Pg Dip Alcohol and Drug Studies (TQFE) As a professional mental health nurse and practitioner...

Challenging Biological Determinism: The Rat Park ExperimentsFor decades, addiction was predominantly viewed through a biological lens, emphasizing the role of substances in hijacking the brain's reward system. This reductionist perspective suggested ...

Welcome to the first installment of a thought-provoking series examining how society and cultural influences shape our understanding of addiction. This series will delve into various facets of addiction, exploring how societal norms and cultural cont...

The Cultural Tapestry of Drug Use: From Ancient Rituals to Modern Behaviours   Drug use has been an enduring thread in the fabric of human history, woven into rituals, medicine, and social interactions. From the wine-filled symposia of...

Falls, while often considered in light of their physical repercussions, especially in older adults, also carry a profound psychological burden. The emotional aftermath of a fall can be as debilitating as the physical injuries sustained. This blog aim...