Capability Circles: Addiction Expert Series
Strengthening the social service sector’s capability in behavioural addiction support through expert insights and collaborative learning.
Last updated 18 December 2025
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Overview
NCSS has identified behavioural addiction support as a critical focus area with increasing needs through surveys with our member agencies.
The Capability Circles: Addiction Expert Series aims to strengthen the social service sector’s capabilities in behavioural addiction support through knowledge sharing and collaborative learning.
The series brings together policy makers, social service professionals, and frontline practitioners to build a more informed and effective addiction support ecosystem across Singapore. Participants are equipped with opportunities to:
Learn more about addiction from clinicians and experienced social service professionals
Discover insights and knowledge that can inform their services and practice
Network and find opportunities for partnership
Giving a Voice to Silent Struggles: Experiences of Women with Addiction (Nov 2025)
Over 70 social service professionals attended the second session on 27 November 2025, featuring Ms Isabel Tan, Senior Clinical Counsellor, Changi General Hospital on the unique challenges faced by women with addiction.
Mr Lim Shung Yar, CEO (Designate), NCSS, highlighting the need to address women's distinct experiences with addiction, noting their unique vulnerabilities compared to men.
Ms Tan presenting statistics of women with addiction in Asian countries.
Key insights include:
Whilst men historically consume more addictive substances, women's alcohol consumption rates are growing rapidly. In Singapore specifically, the most pronounced increase in frequent alcohol use over time was observed in women aged 18 to 29.
Women are also more likely to experiment with substances at a younger age as a consequence of unhealthy social beliefs. This also increases their likelihood of self-medicating due to trauma, as opposed to thrill-seeking behaviours observed in men.
She also introduced the double-bind concept – women face difficult situations whether they seek help or not. Without treatment, addiction escalates, but seeking help brings judgement and stigma. She recommended reducing systemic barriers through childcare options, providing clinical clarity, and adopting more empowering approaches to support women with addiction.
Participants exploring topics such as the co-morbidities women with addiction presented with, available resources, and what more could be done to strengthen support for such women during the Q&A.
Overview of Addiction (October 2025)
A big turnout at the first NCSS Capability Circles on Addiction in October 2025.
The inaugural session of our Addiction Expert Series was held on 23 October 2025. 85 professionals across 40 organisations from the social service, healthcare, and public sectors gathered to learn about what addiction is, the types of addiction in Singapore, and the services available for persons with addiction.
Ms Tan Li San, CEO, NCSS introduces the session
Ms Tan Li San shared that NCSS had identified behavioural addiction support as a significant service gap in the social service sector and would strengthen support for behavioural addictions. She acknowledged the contributions of many social service agencies (SSAs) and policy owners in the room for deepening NCSS’s knowledge of the issue.
Dr Christopher Cheok, Chief of the National Addictions Management Service (NAMS) shared valuable insights on Singapore's addiction landscape, covering both substance addictions (such as drugs and alcohol) and behavioural addictions (including gambling and internet addiction). He explained:
The impact of addiction on the brain and shared statistics for different kinds of addiction in Singapore
How addiction is a complex issue that impacts the brain's reward system and highlighted key risk factors that contribute to addictive behaviours
Dr Cheok concluded his sharing with helpful guidance on accessing care through various channels, including NAMS, the 1771 helpline, community social service agencies, and private healthcare providers.
Sharing by Leslie Goh, Senior Manager, WE CARE Community Services
Leslie Goh shared about the services run at WE CARE Community Services, a community-based addiction recovery centre. Through its Sober Living Framework programme funded by NCSS, WE CARE Community Services treats all forms of addictions including drugs, alcohol, and compulsive behaviours like problem gambling, compulsive sexual behaviours and porn use, overeating, problematic internet use, excessive gaming, and shoplifting.
Q&A Session moderated by Mr Yoganathan Ammayappan, Deputy CEO, NCSS
Panel:
Dr Christopher Cheok, Chief and Senior Consultant of the Department of Forensic Psychiatry & Chief of the National Addictions Management Service
Mr Leslie Goh, Senior Communications and Relations Manager, WE CARE Community Services
The session closed off with a round of Q&A, where participants asked questions on a range of topics such as risk factors and accountability. Participants shared that their biggest takeaways were understanding the medical basis behind addiction, learning about the types and prevalence of addictions, and gaining insights into risk factors and vulnerabilities.