Our Tutors
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 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 Ashley Cumbo
Ashley Cumbo is a social worker with over fifteen years working experience in the addictions field. His experience is based on assisting persons living with substance use difficulties at community level with practise in the local residential services. Along the years, he has been actively involved in various liaisons with different stakeholders in the field, policy development and legal amendments. He also has an active role in further consolidating prevention efforts and advocating for harm reduction services in the local field. Ashley is also experienced in the fields of homelessness and relative poverty. During these last years, he has been Team Leader at Aġenzija Sedqa’s Addictions Community Team and a Board Member of the Drug Offenders Rehabilitation Board.
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.
