As Addiction Awareness Week 2024 begins, we commissioned research into the scale of dependency in the UK. On our behalf, Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 2,139 UK adults aged 16 to 75. Just over one in 10 (11%) had experienced addiction to alcohol, drugs, medication, or gambling at some point in their lives.
Nearly half of UK adults (47%) have either experienced or know someone who has lived with drug, alcohol, medication or gambling dependency. Countrywide, this equates to around 23 million adults affected by addiction.
Our data reveals that alcohol is the most prevalent dependency (49% among those with personal experience), followed by drugs or prescription medication (38%) and gambling (32%).
This is not a pandemic blip, as some hoped: 31% of people with personal experience of addiction say their consumption of alcoholic drinks is higher than before March 2020. One in 10 (10%) of those who have consumed alcohol since March 2020 say drinking is now part of their daily routine.
We also conducted research into the wide-ranging impacts of the UK’s addiction crisis. We do not use this word lightly: in 2022, 10,048 deaths from alcohol-specific causes were registered in the UK, the highest number on record. The following year, 5,448 deaths related to drug poisoning were registered, according to official government data.
Among those living with addiction, both directly and indirectly, more than half (54%) say their physical health has suffered. Other negative impacts include emotional or psychological distress (53%), financial issues (46%), and relationship problems (41%).
The poll also highlights one of the biggest barriers to tackling this crisis: the stigma of dependency. Between 21% and 43% of those with experience of addiction say that shame would stop them seeking support from one of 9 sources, including their GP and employer.
Addiction continues to be a hidden condition – but it does not have to be this way.
Addiction affects everyone, but recovery is possible.
Join our campaign: Taking Action on Addiction
