WESTON-SUPER-MARE, UK. July 17th, 2026 – A new survey of 130 people with lived experience of addiction has found that stigma is one of the most significant barriers to people seeking help – with nearly half of respondents reporting that it delayed their recovery by years.
The findings, published by Broadway Lodge, one of the UK’s leading residential addiction treatment centres, paint a picture of the human cost of social stigma around addiction.
The survey, titled Breaking the Stigma: Your Insights on Addiction, found that 93.8% of respondents believe stigma around addiction persists in society, and 53.1% said it prevented them from seeking help sooner. Of those, 42.3% said the delay lasted years.
The data also reveals respondents aged 41 and above were nearly twice as likely as those aged 18–30 to report that stigma delayed their recovery by years, suggesting that for older generations, the barriers to seeking help may run even deeper.
96.2% of respondents feel that addiction is treated worse than other health conditions such as diabetes or cancer, and 43.8% reported experiencing judgement or discrimination directly from healthcare professionals. Meanwhile, 84.6% identified the public’s failure to view addiction as a disease rather than a personal choice as a primary driver of stigma.
The survey also found a strong sense of solidarity and empathy among those with lived experience. When asked what advice they would give to someone who feels ashamed to seek help, respondents offered words that speak to the resilience of the recovery community such as “You are not alone, and asking for help is an act of courage, not weakness” and “There is a whole community of people in recovery just like you waiting to help”.
Charlotte Thorpe, Marketing Officer at Broadway Lodge said: “These findings are a powerful reminder that stigma is not just a social issue – it has real consequences for people’s health, wellbeing and, ultimately, their lives.
“When more than half of people tell us stigma prevented them from seeking help, and many say that delay lasted years, it should concern all of us. Addiction is a treatable health condition, yet too many people still fear judgement from society and even from the professionals they turn to for support.
“We hope this research encourages more open conversations, challenges outdated attitudes and reassures anyone struggling that they deserve compassion, understanding and access to effective treatment.”
Broadway Lodge’s full whitepaper, which includes a detailed analysis of the survey results, is available to download at broadwaylodge.org.uk/stigma or alternatively there is a video presenting the key findings here.
ENDS