The Duchess of Cambridge gave the keynote speech at the launch of the ‘Taking Action on Addiction’ Campaign, noting that “Addiction is not a choice.”
‘Taking Action on Addiction’ is a joint effort from The Forward Trust, of which Kate is patron, and other addiction support charities to “improve awareness and understanding of addiction, its causes and scale in society to enable more people to ask for and receive help,” according to Kensington Palace.
At the campaign launch, the Duchess of Cambridge was joined by popular UK television presenters Ant and Dec, who have been candid about Ant’s addiction and recovery.
In her speech, Kate prioritised the idea that nobody chooses to become an addict and that society should operate from a place of empathy when helping those dealing with addiction issues.
She said: “No one chooses to become an addict. But it can happen to any one of us. None of us are immune.
“Yet it’s all too rarely discussed as a serious mental health condition. And seldom do we take the time to uncover and fully understand its fundamental root causes.
“The journey towards addiction is often multi-layered and complex. But, by recognising what lies beneath addiction, we can help remove the taboo and shame that sadly surrounds it.
“As a society, we need to start from a position of compassion and empathy. Where we nurture those around us, understand their journey, and what has come before them.
“We need to value and prioritise care and support, helping to restore and connect individuals who are clearly suffering to the people around them.”
The Duchess praised the work of The Forward Trust for taking care to highlight the issue of addiction, which she also noted, has been exacerbated by the global pandemic. “This is the work that… is needed now, more than ever.
“The pandemic has had a devastating impact on addiction rates. And families and children are having to cope with addiction in greater numbers than ever before.”
She noted that over 1.5 million people in the UK who did not report having substance abuse issues prior to the pandemic may be experiencing problems now and that two million people who identified as being in recovery during the pandemic may have experienced a relapse. “Yet, there is hope,” Kate said.
The Duchess concluded by lending her support to the ‘Taking Action on Addiction’ Campaign, saying: “I fully support The ‘Taking Action on Addiction’ campaign to improve awareness and understanding of addiction. The campaign will show us that not only do many people recover from addiction, they can go on to prosper.
“We can all play our part in helping this work. By understanding, by listening, by connecting. So that together we can build a happier, healthier and more nurturing society.”
The campaign launch took place during Addiction Awareness Week in the UK, which runs from 18 to 24 October.
