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. With over a decade of experience 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, and brings strategic insight and lived sector knowledge to her work. She regularly attends and organises addiction treatment conferences across the UK and Europe, promoting high standards of care and best practice in the field. Victoria also works with the media to raise awareness and share informed perspectives on addiction and recovery. The Herald, The Times, BBC, STV, The Times, New York Post, The Guardian.

Castle Craig Nurse Checking Blood Pressure of Patient

Drug detox: safe and medically managed withdrawal

Withdrawing from drugs can be difficult, particularly if you try to detox alone at home. Your body has to learn to readjust. How you withdraw depends on what you have been using, how much, and for how long. It’s important to have a strong support network around you and a medical team on hand to […]

Residential drug rehab in Scotland

Castle Craig is a residential drug rehab centre near Edinburgh, with a treatment programme that’s been refined over 40 years. We have been providing drug addiction treatment in Scotland since 1983. In that time, we’ve helped thousands on their journey to sustainable recovery from drug addiction, building completely new lives. Some of which were people […]

Yong adult with phone addiction, looking down at their iPhone with a blank screen

Phone addiction: understanding compulsive smartphone use

So much of our lives are now connected to our phones; our work and livelihoods, social lives and leisure time, as well as all our beloved photos. This is causing phone addiction to become a challenge across all demographics. It’s a dependency that can take anyone by surprise, and many people notice it in others […]

Anabolic steroid addiction: risks, withdrawal and treatment

Anabolic steroid addiction is a growing health concern across Britain. People that start using anabolic steroids might develop a growing sense, over time, that they can’t stop using them as easily as they might have thought. This may even be the first time they have heard that it’s possible to become addicted to steroids. Understanding […]

Crack Cocaine Addiction & Treatment

While crack cocaine addiction is a tough dependency to break, recovery is absolutely possible. Castle Craig has been treating addiction since 1983, and we have helped countless people achieve and sustain sobriety and meaningful recovery. If you’re finding out more about treatment for cocaine and crack addiction or crack detox, whether for yourself or someone […]

Addiction recovery journey: I wish I knew what I know now

The following is drawn from real accounts of patients in recovery and their rehab experiences. While some details have been changed to protect privacy, the insights and advice reflect genuine journeys through addiction treatment. For a long time, I didn’t think I had an addiction to alcohol. There were times I questioned it, but then […]

Is weed legal in Scotland?

The debate on legalising cannabis is in the press again. In Scotland there is pressure to legalise both cannabis and ecstasy. Read both sides of the argument here.

The financial impact of addiction

Addiction and financial problems often sit side by side. Spending can start to feel unmanageable when addiction is involved, and money worries can become an ongoing source of pressure on top of an already stressful situation. We often talk about the mental and emotional toll of addiction, but the financial effects can be life-altering. People […]

Pregabalin addiction and treatment

Pregabalin is prescribed to hundreds of thousands of people in the UK each year. For many, it provides relief from nerve pain, anxiety, and epilepsy. But it also carries a risk of addiction, even if you don’t have any history of addiction. If you’re taking pregabalin and something feels wrong, it may be time to […]

Drug and alcohol rehab for seniors

Castle Craig offers residential treatment that encompasses everyone, including kind and compassionate drug and alcohol rehab for seniors. Our clinic is located within 50 acres of private woodland in the Scottish Borders, combining historic Georgian architecture with modern treatment facilities and pioneering research. Castle Craig has over 37 years of experience, offering a supportive environment […]

NHS addiction rehab: how funding works at Castle Craig

If you’re looking into residential rehab for drug or alcohol addiction, cost is often one of the first things that comes to mind. NHS addiction rehab funding does exist, but it’s not always guaranteed. It’s also important to bear in mind that the process can take time as the NHS doesn’t run its own residential […]

First responder addiction treatment in the UK

People working in the police, armed forces, prison service, fire service, and ambulance service are exposed to things most people never see. For some, that exposure, combined with shift work and sustained pressure, puts people at considerably higher risk of developing addiction than most other professions. At Castle Craig, we offer residential rehab for first […]