Catherine, Princess of Wales, said that 'attitudes to addiction are changing. But we are not there yet'. EPA/
Catherine, Princess of Wales, said that 'attitudes to addiction are changing. But we are not there yet'. EPA/
Catherine, Princess of Wales, said that 'attitudes to addiction are changing. But we are not there yet'. EPA/
Catherine, Princess of Wales, said that 'attitudes to addiction are changing. But we are not there yet'. EPA/

Princess of Wales: Addiction a 'serious health condition' and ' not a choice'


Simon Rushton
  • English
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Catherine, Princess of Wales, has urged people suffering addictions to not feel shame and look for help.

Kate, patron of addiction recovery charity The Forward Trust, said addiction was “a serious health condition” and “not a choice”.

Her message of support for the Taking Action on Addiction campaign was released on video for the start of Addiction Awareness Week.

“Addiction is a serious mental health condition that can happen to anyone, no matter what age, gender, race or nationality,” she said.

“As patron of The Forward Trust, I have met many people who have suffered from the effects of addiction.

“Attitudes to addiction are changing. But we are not there yet, and we need to be. Still the shame of addiction is stopping people and families asking for help and people are still tragically losing their lives.”

The Forward Trust’s campaign hopes to reframe perceptions of addiction, build awareness of the causes and nature of addiction, improve understanding, reduce prejudice and enable more people to get help.

“We as a society need to recognise that the only way to help those suffering is to try to understand what has led them to addiction, to empathise with them and to be compassionate to their struggles,” Kate said.

“And so today, during Addiction Awareness Week, I want to share a message of support to those who are continuing to suffer.

“Please know that addiction is not a choice. No one chooses to become an addict.

“I want you to know that this is also a serious health condition. Please do not let shame hold you back from getting the help you so desperately need.

“The charities leading the Taking Action on Addiction Campaign, along with others, are working across the country delivering life-changing work to help people recover and move forward.

“They are here for you. So please ask for help. I know this was not a choice. Recovery is possible.”

In the video, Kate appears to be speaking from home as she sits on a sofa with framed family photographs behind her.

Mike Trace, chief executive of The Forward Trust, said: “Addiction Awareness Week speaks directly to people affected by addiction, offering support and understanding so that more people ask for and receive help.

“At a time when addiction is growing across the UK, it is crucial we build awareness of its causes and act quickly to stop this tide, to get in early to reduce the impact on families and children, and make sure that people are able to access the support and treatment that we know makes recovery from addiction possible.”

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

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5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

Gothia Cup 2025

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1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Founders: Michele Ferrario, Nino Ulsamer and Freddy Lim
Started: established in 2016 and launched in July 2017
Based: Singapore, with offices in the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand
Sector: FinTech, wealth management
Initial investment: $500,000 in seed round 1 in 2016; $2.2m in seed round 2 in 2017; $5m in series A round in 2018; $12m in series B round in 2019; $16m in series C round in 2020 and $25m in series D round in 2021
Current staff: more than 160 employees
Stage: series D 
Investors: EightRoads Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Sequoia Capital India

Profile

Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari

Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.

Number of employees: Over 50

Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised

Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital 

Sector of operation: Transport

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

How to help

Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

2289 - Dh10

2252 - Dh50

6025 - Dh20

6027 - Dh100

6026 - Dh200

SPECS
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: October 30, 2022, 1:37 PM`