Victoria McCann BA, MSc

Communications Director and Editorial Lead

Victoria McCann, BA, MSc, is Communications Director & Editorial Lead at Castle Craig and a member of the clinic’s founding family. Active in addiction treatment communications since 2012, 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, bringing strategic insight and lived sector knowledge to her work. She regularly attends addiction treatment conferences across the UK and Europe, including UKESAD and the Medical Council on Alcohol’s annual conference, helping to advance high standards of care and share best practice in the field. Victoria also works closely with the media to raise awareness and share informed commentary from Castle Craig’s clinical experts, with coverage in The Herald, The Times, BBC, STV, The Times, New York Post, The Guardian.

Does Alcohol Shorten Your Life?

It is well established that alcohol can negatively impact, and even damage, your physical and mental well-being but how does alcohol shorten your life? Excessive drinking can become incredibly toxic, resulting in a range of health issues, the symptoms of which will differ from person to person. However, while it’s common for long-term drinking to […]

How Long After Drugs Can I Drive?

How Will Drugs Affect My Driving? The effects of drugs on driving will differ depending on the type of drug you take and how that drug works on the brain. It is sometimes difficult to determine the impact of certain drugs on driving because people tend to mix various drugs with alcohol. However, it is […]

What Are the Different Types of Drugs?

Drugs are often categorized based on the effects they produce. In this article, we shall understand what are the different types of drugs, each with its own set of characteristics, effects, risks, and dangers. These categories include stimulants, depressants, opioids, psychedelics, inhalants, cannabinoids, dissociatives, and empathogens. One of the most devastating truths about drug misuse […]

Early Stages of Recovery and What Should I Expect?

Early Stages of Recovery Inpatient rehab programmes will help you detox from any substances still in your system. This is the first step towards long-term recovery from addiction. The process can feel extremely overwhelming and emotions will be heightened. Changes in appetite, no desire to participate in activities, little motivation, and distorted sleep patterns are […]

What Is Tolerance?

What is tolerance and how is it developed? Physical vs Psychological Tolerance Put simply, physical tolerance occurs when enzymes in the liver (responsible for metabolising toxins) become more active, therefore the metabolism of drugs and alcohol speeds up. This, in turn, causes a significant reduction in the number of cell receptors that the drug attaches […]

What Is Fentanyl & Why Is It Dangerous?

Fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opioid with similar properties to morphine, though its effects are 100 times stronger. It’s a controlled prescription drug, commonly used to help with severe pain as a result of injury or surgery. Fentanyl can also be used to treat the symptoms of chronic pain and is also regularly given […]

What are the 12 Steps?

The 12 steps are a framework designed to help people who are struggling with addiction. These principles are set out to help provide the support and highlight the importance of accountability in recovery. These steps were formed as part of Alcoholics Anonymous, which became the foundation for recovery in the 1930s. Due to its success, […]

What are legal drugs and why can they be addictive?

The term ‘drugs’ is commonly associated with illicit substances, such as cocaine and heroin. However, some of the most addictive drugs aren’t illegal at all. Some are readily available over the counter while others are obtained on prescription. There is no dispute over the efficacy of these drugs and their benefits, however, while these drugs […]

What Are Illegal Drugs?

What Are Illegal Drugs and How Do They Affect Us? A drug is a mind-altering substance that affects neuropathways in the brain as well as the way in which the body functions. If a drug is classified as ‘illegal’ it means it is forbidden by law. Most illegal drugs are cut with other harmful chemicals, […]

Do Drugs Have an Expiration Date

The Risks of Taking Expired Medication All drugs have unique formulations which include both their active and inactive ingredients. These formulations determine how effective the medication is in treating certain diseases, conditions, and symptoms. Once a drug is developed, manufacturers determine its ‘shelf-life’, this is the length of time it will last without deteriorating. If […]