Taking Action on Addiction is a national campaign that aims to reframe existing perceptions of addiction and build awareness of it that improves understanding and empathy, reduces prejudice and enables more people to get the help they need. It calls for addiction to be treated as a serious mental health condition and for increased access to treatment, support and care so that recovery can be possible for everyone.

Perceptions of addiction need to change. Our aim is to build compassion and understanding around addiction and support people to ask for help without judgement, discrimination or stigma. Anyone can be affected by addiction and everyone deserves the help they need to overcome it. Anyone ready to ask for help should be listened to with empathy and understanding and have the opportunity to access the specialist support they need.

Addiction is a serious mental illness that has a devastating impact on peoples lives. This must be recognised at all levels of government and society, through healthcare and mental health policy and provision and through support services across the UK. This recognition must be matched with support that works with people to overcome addiction and bring about positive change in their lives.