24 Nov 2025
The Royal Patron of The Forward Trust, HRH The Princess of Wales, has today (24 November) shared a message of support as the nation marks Addiction Awareness Week (23–30 November).
In her letter, The Princess highlights the need for “compassion and love” for people struggling with addiction and urges the public to help bring the issue “out of the shadows”.
She writes:
“Addiction is not a choice, or a personal failing, but a complex mental health condition that should be met with empathy and support. But still, even now in 2025, people’s experience of addiction is shaped by fear, shame and judgement. This needs to change.
“The stigma surrounding those who face addiction allows it to thrive behind closed doors, impacting families and communities, and ultimately ruining lives. Many of us will know someone who is struggling with an addiction. Now is the moment to show our compassion and love to help them, or their friends and family, to reach out to organisations like The Forward Trust for support.
“Recovery is hard, but with the right treatment it is possible. And this begins with a conversation, a listening ear and showing we care.
“So please join the conversation. By talking about it in the open, together we can bring addiction and the harm it causes out of the shadows. We can reframe this issue with kindness and understanding, and we can help individuals and families coping with addiction know they are not alone.”
Alongside our Royal Patron, Tony Adams MBE, Forward’s Chair of Trustees, is calling for a national conversation on addiction, as new data shows that over half of UK adults (53%) have been personally touched by addiction to drugs, alcohol, medication or gambling (including a dependency).
Tony is also supporting our new social media campaign, ‘The Conversation That Changed Everything’, sharing a personal video about his recovery journey and the pivotal moment he sought help.
The former England and Arsenal captain, who lived with addiction for 11 years, encourages anyone struggling to reach out. He reveals that a simple conversation with his mother-in-law changed his life:
Tony says:
“She saw a man that was struggling, a man that was lying on the sofa dying of this illness and she kept it very simple. She gave me a phone number and said ‘go and sort yourself out’ – and I did the greatest thing I’ve ever done, I took her advice.”
He adds: “If you are struggling [with] an addiction or a mental health issue then please reach out and get the appropriate help. The greatest thing I ever did was to say ‘I can’t do this’.”
We also published new independent research conducted by Ipsos to highlight the scale and impact of addiction across the UK.
The October 2025 survey reveals that starting a conversation about addiction remains a major barrier. Among those who said they had personally experienced addiction or dependency:
53% felt uncomfortable talking to their employer
35% to a close family member
30% to a friend
28% to their GP
27% to their partner
Despite this, the findings also show growing public recognition that addiction requires compassion and support, not judgement.
Mike Trace, CEO of The Forward Trust and lead of the Taking Action on Addiction campaign, said:
“Addiction touches every part of our society — our families, our workplaces, and our communities. Yet too often, shame and misunderstanding stop people from getting the help they need. These findings show that while many people recognise addiction as something that deserves compassion, stigma and fear still stand in the way of recovery.
“We urgently need to change the conversation — to see addiction as a health issue, not a moral failing. With almost 18,000 people dying young each year in the UK from the direct effects of drugs, alcohol or gambling, there is an urgent need for a more compassionate response.
“Our Taking Action on Addiction campaign aims to get the nation talking about these hidden tragedies, but also the hope and celebration of those who do survive and thrive. Everyone deserves the chance to recover, and that starts with greater awareness, understanding, and access to support.”
This year’s Addiction Awareness Week has already attracted significant national media interest, with coverage across BBC News, ITV, Sky News and The Scotsman, alongside live interviews with CEO Mike Trace on Channel 5 News, LBC Radio and regional stations.
Find support
If you are looking for help for yourself or someone you care about, visit our ‘Talk To Us’ page or browse our full List of Services.
Get involved on Social Media
Join Tony Adams, Alistair Campbell and many more in sharing your video message of recovery. Visit the Taking Action on Addiction website for details about how to share 'The Conversation That Changed Everything' for you - inspire someone you know or someone you don't - to begin their recovery journey and show recovery is possible.
Tony Adams encourages your participation in 'The Conversation That Changed Everything' - our bold new social media campaign
