Wirral residents share stories of addiction and recover as part of new public health report

Wirral residents have bravely shared their stories to help show the impact of addiction and recovery across the borough, in an illuminating public health report.

The Wirral health report, titled ‘From Darkness to Light, from Harm to Hope: Journeys of addiction’, studies the historic and current landscape of addiction in the borough. It is Wirral’s Public Health Annual Report, or ‘PHAR’, for 2024/25.

Shared with local councillors at Wirral’s Adult Social Care and Health committee in March 2025, the PHAR discusses the complexities of addiction, while also centring the moving and emotive stories of residents.

Dave Bradburn, Wirral’s Director of Public Health, said:

“Addiction is complex; people do not choose to be addicted; they are influenced by various interrelated factors but sadly the impacts and stigma surrounding addiction have profound negative effects on so many.

“I want to thank those men and women who shared their stories, dreams and hopes. These shed light on the human side of addiction; their challenges, triumphs, and ongoing battles that define their journeys.”

One of these stories, comes from a resident referred to as ‘Dr Mike’ – a GP who struggled with alcohol addiction for decades. Dr Mike’s story represents a significant demographic of professional people with addiction issues who slip through the cracks because on the surface they look like they have their lives together.

Dr Mike said:

“I did not identify with being an alcoholic because I felt in control. I was holding down a job. I was being promoted. I had great appraisals at work.”

Dr Mike is now in recovery having accessed support through his own GP and attended AA meetings. He now leads weekly AA meetings online and sponsors others in recovery. His story highlights how addiction can happen to anyone and can sometimes fly under the radar if the addiction doesn’t manifest in the ways in which ‘addicts’ are often stigmatised.

Another story follows ‘Liz’, a 35-year-old former finance manager from Wirral who started gambling in her late childhood and became hooked for 10 years. According to Liz, what started out as a casual ‘flutter’ on the football or bingo, became a fully-fledged addiction that would culminate in her spending time in prison. Liz speaks candidly about the effects of her addiction on her personal and family life as well as her career. Liz said: “I would be lying in bed at night next to my husband, with my phone on silent mode. I would be gambling until 4am.”

She recounts how she tried to quit several times on her own, and in 2015, managed to stay abstinent for one week. However, following repeated ‘we miss you’ emails from gambling sites/apps, some even crediting her account with free bets, she returned to her addiction.

Liz believes this is something that the gambling industry is able to get away with in a way that wouldn’t be possible for other industries. Liz said: “You wouldn’t see a pub landlord knocking on a drunk’s door – ‘we’ve missed you at the pub, come and have a free pint’, you just wouldn’t.” 

The Public Health Annual Report is a statutory requirement. It is an independent report of the Director of Public Health and describes some of the key issues impacting the health and wellbeing of residents and makes recommendations for how these might be most effectively addressed.

Through seven chapters, the report lays out the history of addiction, explains what addiction is, explores the landscape of prevention and treatment and discusses the challenges yet to be overcome in this area.

Dave Bradburn said: “We all know, that addressing addiction requires a whole-system approach that involves cooperation across various sectors, including education, wider local authority services, the NHS, the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector (VCFSE) and law enforcement. By working collaboratively and drawing upon the strengths of individuals and communities, we can aspire for every resident to live a fulfilling, addiction-free life.”

The report concludes by setting out key areas for action that will create a better and more integrated approach to addiction support, across all of types of addictive behaviours, that makes best use of resources.  

Read the full Wirral health report here.

Find out more news from across the Wirral here.