Damien Samedi is a hard-working man, a loving son and a caring boyfriend. He’s also been struggling with a drug addiction most of his adult life, counting on his mother’s matter-of-fact, yet unwavering support. Mixing unexpected moments of humour, insight and compassion, their tender mother-son relationship is at the heart of his challenging journey.

At once an intimate character study and a much-needed humane counter to the shockingly one-sided, fear-mongering depictions of addiction prevalent in today’s media, “Petit Samedi” is the universally relatable, life-affirming portrait of a man facing his demons.

Blue heroin ‘baggies’ symbolise a lifetime of rejection for Lisa. Since childhood, the narcotic has been an intrusive and destructive presence, through her relationship with her addict mother and partner. When her mother dies and her partner’s relapse leads to his incarceration, Lisa embarks on a cinematic pilgrimage of self-discovery and salvation. Through it, she becomes determined that the indelible mark addiction has left upon her will be transformed into something positive.

Blue Bag Life is a raw yet deeply moving journey through the world of addiction. Unflinching in its portrayal of the darkness addicts enter into, as well as the stigma that accompanies it, Selby’s film is nevertheless an emotionally resonant love story that champions hope over despair.

We follow Sam as he makes an autobiographical spoken word film about his battles with addiction, whilst living in an abstinence based recovery centre in Liverpool (Damian John Kelly House). DJK House helps its residents find purpose by introducing art, sport, culture and community back into their lives.

The residents and Sam make a film about addiction whilst also exploring their own recovery and growing as individuals, a film about love, hope and kindness, new beginnings and a different approach to viewing the world, One day at a Time.

Stigma and discrimination of people with substance use disorders (SUD) contribute massively to the harm done by their condition: stigma has negative effects on service engagement, life opportunities, and personal shame, both for those who struggle with substance abuse and their families.

Overcoming the stigma of substance use disorders is essential to aid recovery in those with SUD. This book provides an in-depth understanding of the stigma of SUD, and proposes ways to overcome it in different settings

In this stigma-busting book Lucy Nichol exposes 10 of the most harmful mental health stereotypes. She examines where they come from and how they are perpetuated, exploring the impact of social media, the power of the press and how mental health is represented in popular culture.

With the help of experts and the voices of those affected by these harmful perspectives, Lucy proposes how we can dismantle stigma once and for all.

Sobriety Films UK a social enterprise that uses film to raise awareness of recovery and champion recovery for those that need healing from addiction, mental ill health and trauma.

SFUK makes films, runs filmmaking workshops and holds screenings of films with Q&A’s to raise awareness, break down stigma and encourage understanding of these issues.

Project 6 is an award-winning voluntary sector drug and alcohol charity working across Yorkshire in Keighley, Sheffield and Doncaster. They have been delivering services for people experiencing challenges connected to drug and alcohol use and multiple disadvantage in our local communities for over 30 years.

Project 6 are a harm-reduction and recovery focused service, working to help people reduce the risks associated with substance use and offering highly effective, evidence-based support to drug and alcohol users and their families.

This award-winning and ground-breaking BBC podcast features two women of substance, Melissa Rice and Jade Wye. They debunk the stereotype of addicts and guide you through the highs and lows of addiction and recovery.

The Recovery Street Film Festival focuses on filmmakers who have a lived experience of recovering from drug or alcohol use, whether it is themselves or a loved one.

Empowering people affected by substance use disorder by giving them a voice, providing a platform for them to tell their own stories of the ‘ups and downs’ and how they reached recovery.

A short language guide on how the AHA communicates when writing about alcohol and its harms.

LJMU deliver the intelligence and evidence to inform public health policy and practice.

Growing concern over the cost of health services, the problem of people living longer with chronic disease and the increase in health risk behaviours means that the need for public health strategies is greater than ever.

The Public Health Institute is influencing health service design and delivery, as well as health-related policy.

The Society’s knowledge hub is a wealth of knowledge. You can find pages about specific treatments, interventions and policies. The SSA Knowledge Hub also contains a large archive of articles, presentations, publications, and videos for you to browse.

The Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (DARC) is a multi-disciplinary centre engaging staff across the Schools and Faculties of Health and Education, Law, Business, and Science and Technology.

The Centre builds on a long tradition of cutting edge research and promotes the ‘golden circle’ of linked research, teaching and knowledge transfer.

ISSUP are a membership organisation that connects, unites, and provides knowledge to the global substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery support workforce.