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 ...
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: 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
“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:
...
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.
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 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
This research reveals that family members play a significant role helping their loved ones that are experiencing problems with their drinking or drug use to achieve and maintain recovery.
“I remember there’s a famous quote about addiction… the opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety or abstinence; the opposite of addiction is connection. And I think there’s something about that that hooked me in when I started working in the sector”.
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.
The Alliance of Family Support Organisations has launched its manifesto, calling on the next UK Government to ensure families affected by substance use are adequately supported.
The manifesto’s top four priorities include investing in services for children and families, tackling the affordability, availability and promotion of alcohol, reducing stigma, and the need for a new alcohol strategy.
‘Same but different’ Justina replies when asked what the differences are for families affected by substance use in Scotland. Politically, things are very different. The Scottish National Party (SNP) have led the Scottish Parliament since 2007 (including periods of minority government), and alcohol policy in Scotland has been significantly more forward-thinking than in England.
Behind familiar reporting of the latest rise in alcohol-related deaths, lies the less well known story of the bereavements these deaths entail for those who have lost a loved-one this way. Recent research is revealing that, whilst alcohol- and drug-related bereavements vary a lot, they are often severe, complex and long-lasting
“We’ve got to go for connectedness. We’ve really got to understand that no one set of professionals is going to work this. And working alongside and with the families, hearing the lived experience, hearing the voice. Now that is incredibly challenging, but I think it also has to be said that we’re not going to get anywhere if we don’t do that.”