College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences

A new comic, bringing together personal stories and insights from people in recovery from drug and alcohol dependence, medical students, and doctors, has been created to help shed light on the complex and personal journey of recovery.

Launched in Recovery Month, the public information comic, Pathways of Hope, was developed through conversation cafés at the University of Glasgow, hosted by the Humanising Healthcare initiative. It was co-created with the recovery communities to capture their stories authentically.

The comic explores recovery through lived experience, dialogue and visual storytelling. It aims to build understanding and reduce the stigma around drug and alcohol dependence. The creators hope it will be used as a tool for learning and conversation by healthcare professionals, people on their own recovery path, and the family members and friends supporting them.

Recovery is a very personal journey, and the comic tells one of those varied stories – Dave's Story – which depicts the grip of dependence and the possibility of recovery with support.

The comic is structured around five themes: what leads to drugs and alcohol dependency; the meaning of recovery; first steps to recovery; harm reduction strategies; and maintaining recovery. It also includes links for help and support.

Dr Nic Dickson, Research Associate at the University of Glasgow and comic illustrator said: “Recovery means different things to different people – but it is about more than just stopping substance use. It is about rebuilding, reconnecting, and rediscovering what it means to live well. Health professionals, families, and friends all play a part in recognising when help is needed and in walking alongside someone on their recovery journey. I hope this comic will be used to spark conversations about the meaning of recovery in teaching, workshops, and support groups.”

The comic was shaped through a collaborative research process. Conversations at the cafes were captured as visual notes by Dr Nic Dickson. The themes were then refined with GP academics Dr Lynsay Crawford and Professor Andrea Williamson, alongside colleagues from Humanising Healthcare. The imagery and words were presented to members of the recovery community, medical students and doctors in workshops, to ensure the material felt appropriate and impactful. Illustrators Nic and Oscar Dickson then created the graphic content.

Steff Kerr, Recovery Project Manager at NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, who also has personal experience with addiction recovery, said: “The comic is a unique way to inform professionals about the realities of addiction and recovery. The fact that we, as people with lived experience, were at the forefront of its development makes it real, honest and powerful. It comes directly from our hearts and our souls and details our journeys from the darkness of addiction, to the struggles and joy of recovery. Our stories need to be told, and this comic is as important a way as any.”

Allan Houston, Senior Addiction Worker at North West Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services, said: “Our Humanising Healthcare collaboration brings lived experience, education, and creativity together. A pioneering partnership led by Dr Hugo Jobst and myself, alongside Dr Seonaid Anderson, is reshaping how medical students, healthcare professionals, and the public engage with addiction and recovery. The project centres on bringing people with lived experience of addiction into direct dialogue with medical students. These encounters provide future clinicians with insights that go beyond textbooks, helping to reduce stigma and cultivate empathy.

“One of the many highlights of the initiative is this public information comic, created by Dr Nic Dickson and her son in collaboration with individuals in recovery. The comic uses accessible, visual storytelling to make complex experiences approachable for a wide audience. To further open dialogue and create the material for the comic, the team hosted discussions in local recovery cafés, where the comic became a springboard for community conversations about addiction, recovery, and compassion in healthcare.

“Together, the team have developed and have demonstrated the power of collaboration across disciplines to humanise healthcare—placing dignity, empathy, and lived experience at the heart of education and public understanding. The comic will be invaluable in giving an insight into the world of recovery and addiction in a recovery orientated system of care frame.”

 

 

 

 

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Enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk

 

 

First published: 12 September 2025