news and resources

NHS APA Virtual Conference 2025: Programme Now Available!

We are delighted to announce that the programme for the NHS APA Conference 2025; " Breaking Barriers: How stigma undermines support and connection - and what we can do about it ", is now available for download! We're looking forward to hearing our excellent speaker lineup, including our keynote speakers Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones OBE and Mel Ball, discuss this important topic. On the day, you can follow #APAConf25 across our social media channels, for all the highlights

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What to expect at this year’s virtual NHS APA Conference 2025

Breaking Barriers: How stigma undermines support and connection - and what we can do about it On Thursday 27th November 2025, professionals from across the UK will gather online for the NHS Addictions Provider Alliance’ Annual Conference. It is a fully virtual, free event exploring how stigma continues to shape the experiences of people experiencing addiction, and what we can collectively do to dismantle it. This year’s theme, Breaking Barriers, brings together lived experien

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NHS APA 2025 Virtual Conference Guide for Delegates

After the success of the 2023 conference, we’re looking forward to hosting our next virtual conference on Thursday 27th of November, and ensuring it runs smoothly for all of our speakers and attendees. As with previous years' conferences, our 2025 virtual conference, ' Breaking Barriers: How stigma undermines support and connection - and what we can do about it' is FREE for all attendees and will be streamed online so that you can access it from your computer and/or mobi

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Alcohol Harms campaign: Mary’s story

Addiction and recovery often come with layers of complexity, stigma, shame, fear of judgement, and the practical barriers that make asking for help feel impossible. For Mary at Forward Leeds, those challenges were magnified by working in the very system designed to provide support.

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Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2024 registrations: NHS APA Statement

The latest drug-related deaths statistics for England and Wales show – once again – a concerning rise in overall mortality and regional disparities in harms. A record 5,565 deaths related to drug poisoning were registered in 2024—the highest annual total since records began in 1993. Mortality rates have been climbing every year since 2012. As in previous years, opioids are responsible for a considerable and rising share of fatalities, emphasising the need for urgent targete

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NHS APA calls for urgent action to support people living with co-occurring conditions, this World Mental Health Day

This World Mental Health Day, the NHS Addictions Provider Alliance (NHS APA) is calling for urgent system-wide action to address three persistent challenges faced by people experiencing co-occurring conditions, including insufficient access to integrated care. The NHS APA stresses that stigma remains the underlying barrier preventing people from accessing the joined-up, compassionate support.

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Gambling Harms language paper released

Download our new Gambling Harms paper with preferred terms for language around gambling stigma.

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#IOAD2025 : Redefining family and connection in communities

This year’s theme for International Overdose Awareness Day is ‘One big family, driven by hope’.

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Telford STaRS - supporting women experiencing addiction

Telford STaRS has been a successful and evolving partnership since 2018, but 2024 marked a significant turning point: a full commitment to gender-specific interventions for women, powered by Willowdene’s whole system approach.

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