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Adfam relaunches Journeys resources for families

Adfam, in partnership with Nexus Values, is thrilled to refresh and relaunch our Journeys resources, a free series of online booklets for families affected by substance use. Families affected by substance use often go on a journey in their lives while dealing with the effects of their loved one's substance use. These journeys can be challenging, complex and varied, and its important that ...

Family Voices 2024 winner: Addicted to you – a letter to my son, by Caroline Wills

Congratulations to Family Voices 2024 winner, Caroline Wills with her entry, Addicted to you - a letter to my son Adfam’s Family Voices Competition is a poetry and creative writing competition, for families affected by substance use to share their story and creatively express their thoughts and feelings. Caroline was selected by the judging panel as the winner for 2024, and her entry ...

Family Voices 2024 runner-up: Adrift, by Jude Lockwood

Congratulations to Family Voices 2024 runner-up, Jude Lockwood with her entry, Adrift. Adfam’s Family Voices Competition is a poetry and creative writing competition, for families affected by substance use to share their story and creatively express their thoughts and feelings. Jude was selected by the judging panel as one of the runners-up for 2024, and had her entry read out at ...

Family Voices 2024 runner-up: Only Hope, by Kathleen Bryson

Congratulations to Family Voices 2024 runner-up, Kathleen Bryson with her entry, Only Hope. Adfam’s Family Voices Competition is a poetry and creative writing competition, for families affected by substance use to share their story and creatively express their thoughts and feelings. Kathleen was selected by the judging panel as one of the runners-up for 2024, and had her entry read out ...

Free workshops for kinship carers in 2025

Adfam is delighted to be working with the charity Kinship, to provide a number of free in-person and online workshops for kinship carers, on understanding the effects of drug and alcohol misuse on kinship families. Kinship carers are family or friends who step up, often during an unexpected crisis, to care for a child when their parents aren’t able to. Many children are in kinship care as ...

Getting help over the festive season

The Adfam team will be taking a break over the Christmas and New Year period. Our services will be closed from 20th December until 6th January. If you contact us during this time, we will be in touch soon after. Please find details below for support helplines that are available over the festive season: Samaritans - 116 123 – if you need to speak to someone. Available 24 hours every ...

Alcohol-specific death figures released for 2023

The Department of Health and Social Care's Alcohol Profile shows that 8,274 people died from alcohol-specific causes in England in 2023, a 4.6% increase from 7,912 in 2022, and a a 42% increase compared to 2019 (5,819) . The number of alcohol-specific deaths in 2023 are the highest since records began. Every life lost to alcohol or drugs is a tragedy and preventable, and losing someone ...

Adfam at 40 – Craig Knowles

Adfam at 40 – Craig Knowles: supporting kinship carers in Nottinghamshire 2024 marks a special year for Adfam as we celebrate our 40th year. Throughout 2024, we have been reflecting on the past 40 years, the progress that has been made in supporting families affected by substance misuse, as well as looking to the future. Through a series of articles over the course of the year, Adfam has ...

Drug and alcohol treatment and recovery workforce survey

Department of Health and Social Care has commissioned Ipsos to undertake a drug and alcohol treatment and recovery workforce survey. This is to understand the motivations and experiences of people working in the drug and alcohol treatment and recovery sector and how they can be better supported. The results of this staff survey will be used to inform work relating to the DHSC’s 10-year ...

Adfam at 40 – Chris Lee: “one of the most stigmatised healthcare conditions in the country”

This year marks a special year for Adfam as we celebrate our 40th year. Throughout 2024, we have been reflecting on the past 40 years, the progress that has been made in supporting families affected by substance misuse, as well as looking to the future. Through a series of articles over the course of the year, Adfam has spoken to a range of key individuals active in supporting and advocating ...

Drug-related death figures released for 2023

Figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that 5,448 people died from causes related to drug poisoning in England and Wales in 2023; this is the highest number since records began in 1993 and 11.0% higher than in 2022 (4,907 registered deaths). Every life lost to drugs or alcohol is a tragedy and preventable, and losing someone you love as a result of drug ...

Kinship Care Week 2024

This week (7-13 October) is #KinshipCareWeek, a campaign to celebrate the incredible role that kinship carers play in children's lives and raise awareness of what life is like for kinship families. Kinship care is when a child lives in the care of a family member, because their parents are not able to care for them. In the UK, there are more than 180,000 children living in kinship ...

Enter Adfam’s Competitions for 2024

Family Voices Competition and Gary Seaman Award 2024 Adfam runs two special competitions each year to recognise and give a voice to families affected by addiction. Family Voices is a creative writing and poetry competition for families to share their stories, while the Gary Seaman Award was set up as a tribute to Gary Seaman, who dedicated his life to supporting families and those ...

Addiction Mission Priority Setting Partnership survey

“Today’s research leads to tomorrow’s care”. What needs investigating to help improve care for people with experience of addiction to drugs and/or alcohol, and their families, friends, and carers? A team supported by the UK Government’s Office for Life Sciences Addiction Mission is looking for the following people to answer a new short survey which will influence future research: ...

New Lived Experience Campaign Network

Adfam is setting up a National Lived Experience Campaign Network, to remotely bring people together with lived experience of a family member's substance use, to campaign, raise awareness and influence change.

Adfam at 40 – Dr Emily Finch: “helping people recover is helping them reconnect”

2024 marks a special year for Adfam as we celebrate our 40th year. Throughout 2024, we will be reflecting on the past 40 years on the progress that has been made in supporting families affected by substance misuse, as well as looking to the future. Through a series of monthly articles, Adfam is speaking to a range of key individuals active in supporting families through substance ...

Adfam remembers Bernie Carr

Adfam is saddened to learn that Bernie Carr died on 12th June 2024. Bernie was a prominent member of the Alcohol and Families Alliance (AFA) Steering Group for many years and played a huge role in championing the AFA and the needs of families affected by substance use, whilst also being an influential advocate for people with lived experience of addiction

Adfam launches new website!

We are so excited to announce the launch of Adfam’s new website. The site has been completely redesigned with a brand-new look and feel. It is now more engaging, interactive and easier to navigate for both families and professionals.
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