Ms Maria Caruana

Ms Maria Caruana graduated with a B.A Youth and Community Studies (Hons) in 2015. Maria has 9 years of experience in the social field, with extra attention to substances and behavioural addictions and their effects. Driven by a passion for understanding and assisting people with various addictions, Maria has guided people to find the best way to live a better, healthier life. Later in her career, she has guided people with addictions in legal procedures, both in criminal and civil proceedings. Maria has worked closely both with victims of addictions and also with their support system to ensure better outcomes. Maria attests that communication and good relationships between professionals and service users are vital to encourage healthy maintenance in the service user's life while assisting immediately in case of a relapse.

Working closely with various professionals, including Probation Officers, Psychiatrists, Police Officers, Legal Professionals, and Child Protection Professionals, Maria has enriched her knowledge about different addictions, their symptoms, and their effects. She attends ongoing training to keep up with the latest illicit substances on the market and behavioural addictions while understanding their short—and long-term effects.

Maria's core belief is in providing holistic care, engaging genuinely interested individuals in the service user’s life. This approach fosters better relationships and understanding, ensuring a comprehensive support system for the service user.

Dr Kristian Sant

Dr Kristian Sant M.D. (Melit) CCT (Psych) MSc (Addictions) is a consultant general adult and addiction psychiatrist. He started studying medicine and surgery with the University of Malta in 2005 and subsequently graduated in 2010. He pursued his studies further in psychiatry and completed specialist training in 2017. He has extended his postgraduate studies to a Master of Science in Addiction studies and is a visiting lecturer with the University of Malta, teaching both at an undergraduate and postgraduate level. Dr Sant has a special interest in addiction psychiatry and has contributed to local research related to the addiction field.

Dr Joey Reno Vella

Dr Joey Reno Vella is a practising advocate whose main areas of practice are civil, criminal, and family law.
In past years, he has worked on the drafting of several reforms and legislation, including the law relating to the Responsible Use of Cannabis.
Dr Vella currently serves as the Executive Chairperson of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC).
He holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Masters in Advocacy.

Mr Steve Libreri

Steve Libreri is the former Director for the Child Protection Services. After having graduated with honours in Social Work from the University of Malta in 2008, he embarked on a professional journey that led him to specialise in forensic style work in the field of child protection. Steve was the person responsible for redesigning the structures of the service so that they may align better to the best practices of forensic investigations in the protection of minors. He was also the person responsible to ensure that the new duties introduced by the new law in the year 2017 be integrated in the system. Steve has left the Directorate after serving as its de facto Director for five years, when he was appointed as Commissioner for the inmates welfare and development by the President of Malta in 2023.