07 Jul 2026
Today, a new landmark report is released that reveals the extent of drug and alcohol addiction across the UK – the first time it has been done across the four nations.
The report finds that addiction rates remain stubbornly high compared to the global average, and that services are struggling to keep up with rapidly changing drug types and distribution methods.
The report authors, The Forward Trust and Crest Advisory urge the next government to “reboot” drug policy with a genuine commitment to a public-health, preventative approach that saves lives and helps people to find recovery.
Read the report Foreword by Tony Adams, Chair of The Forward Trust
It is my pleasure and privilege to present this first edition of ‘Addiction in the UK’. As Chair of The Forward Trust, I am immensely proud of all that the charity does to help some of the most marginalised people in our society who are struggling with addiction.
We also see it as our duty to raise public and policy awareness of addiction, the impact it has on individuals and communities, and people’s capacity for recovery. We do that through our ‘Taking Action on Addiction’ campaign.
I speak from experience. For most of my career as a professional footballer, I was addicted to alcohol. In 1996, following an almighty binge that started with England’s elimination from our home European Championships, I somehow found the determination, inspiration and support to get and stay sober. I haven’t touched alcohol in the last 30 years. I have lost many good people to alcohol and drugs, and I have had the privilege to witness and help thousands more to find recovery.
This report aims to inform the national conversation on addiction – it collates data and analysis of the levels of addiction in our society, the associated harms, and our experience so far with policies and programmes introduced in response.
This first edition focuses on addiction to alcohol and illegal drugs, but we are aware that there are other ways that addiction affects individuals and communities: addiction to prescription drugs, or behavioural addictions - to sex, shopping or gambling. Gambling addiction in particular is widespread and increasing in the UK, so we plan to cover this subject in more detail in the second report in this series.
Please use the material in this report to support your own conversations – with friends and family, in the workplace, and in local and national policy discussions. As our Patron HRH Princess of Wales said in support of our ‘Taking Action on Addiction’ campaign.
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.
Addiction in the UK - read the full report
Taking Action on Addiction - campaign website
Drug and alcohol support at The Forward Trust
