Research

Research from the DDN Conference in Birmingham – Choices Stand

During the DDN Conference in Birmingham, Penny Williams, Chair of Choices Rehabs, carried out research at the Choices stand, asking delegates four key questions:

• What is one thing that supports recovery?

• How do you think we can overcome the stigma surrounding addiction?

• What would you like to say to Andy Burnham about supporting people affected by addiction?

• What pathways would you like to see in the future?

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand and shared their thoughts at this year’s DDN Conference. Delegates reflected on what supports recovery, how we can challenge the stigma surrounding addiction, and what they would like to see from leaders and services in the future.

While every response reflected an individual perspective, several powerful themes emerged.

What Supports Recovery?

Participants consistently highlighted that recovery thrives through relationships. Peer support, lived experience, community connection and person-centred care were repeatedly identified as essential.

Delegates emphasised the importance of meeting people where they are, respecting individual journeys and providing consistent, compassionate support rather than expecting recovery to follow a fixed path.

Honesty, trust and keeping conversations going were also recognised as key ingredients in helping people feel seen, valued and supported throughout their recovery.

Overcoming the Stigma Surrounding Addiction

Education was the strongest message when discussing how to reduce stigma around addiction. Delegates called for greater awareness from an early age, with addiction education becoming part of school life and public conversation.

Many also stressed the need for more open, honest discussions that challenge misconceptions and recognise addiction as a health issue rather than a moral failing.

Increasing the involvement of people with lived experience, alongside better training for professionals across health, social care and the criminal justice system, was seen as vital in creating understanding and reducing discrimination.

A Message to Andy Burnham

When asked what they would say to Andy Burnham, delegates spoke with passion and clarity.

The overwhelming message was simple: listen. Listen to people with lived experience, to families and to those delivering frontline support.

Delegates also called for sustained investment in recovery services, trauma-informed and gender-specific support, greater access to housing, and recognition that addiction is an illness deserving of care rather than punishment.

Several respondents highlighted the importance of long-term funding, increased support for volunteers and community organisations, and a justice system that prioritises rehabilitation over imprisonment where appropriate.

What Pathways Would Delegates Like to See?

When discussing future pathways, delegates envisioned services that are easier to access, better connected and more responsive to people’s needs.

A recurring priority was integrated support for people experiencing both mental health challenges and addiction, ensuring they do not have to navigate separate systems.

Respondents also wanted greater choice, quicker access to help, stronger collaboration between services, improved dual diagnosis pathways and easier routes into rehabilitation.

Moving Forward Together

Across all four discussions, one message stood out above all others: recovery is most effective when it is compassionate, collaborative and centred on the individual.

Delegates called for systems that value lived experience, reduce barriers to support, invest in long-term recovery and treat every person with dignity and respect.

Their voices reinforce a shared ambition: to build services that not only respond to addiction but also create lasting opportunities for recovery, hope and inclusion.