In this blog, Leeanne MacPherson and Dr Ben Chetcuti from the NHS mental health, alcohol and drug liaison team in Ayrshire and Arran, share their experiences of working with alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) patients and the various ways these service users can be stigmatised through their treatment journeys.

Leeanne MacPherson’s views - Having worked in the health and social care system for over 25 years, I have supported many individuals with differing needs and requirements, many of whom were residing in the community with alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD). When I joined the NHS full time in 2014, some of the first patients I cared for were individuals with ARBD....

Dr Chetcuti’s views - Stigma and Alcohol-Related Brain Damage (ARBD): A Call for Understanding and Change - Alcohol-Related Brain Damage (ARBD) presents a unique and complex challenge within healthcare systems. This condition, an umbrella term encompassing disorders such as Wernicke’s encephalopathy, Korsakoff’s syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and strokes related to alcohol use, often slips through the net due to systemic gaps in understanding and care. Beyond the medical challenges, the stigma associated with ARBD casts a long shadow over patients and their ability to access timely and appropriate treatment. Addressing this stigma requires a compassionate and multidisciplinary approach, grounded in reflection and a commitment to systemic change....

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