"Like Sugar for Adults": The effect of non-dependent parental drinking on children and familiesThis report explores the effect of non-dependent parental drinking on children, making a direct link between parental drinking habits and the attitudes, behaviours and impacts reported by their children.AlcoholGood practiceParentingPolicy
"Marks and Scars" Hepatitis C and people who inject drugs: The family experienceThis report looks at the impact of hepatitis C on the families of people who inject drugs.ParentingResearch
"No one judges you here": Voices of older people affected by a loved one's substance useReport for Adfam's Older Carers project working with and supporting older people in London who are affected by the drug or alcohol use of a loved one. Good practiceResearch
Adfam Impact Report 2016Adfam’s first impact report, outlining our key achievements and activity from 2016.Family supportGovernancePolicy
Adfam Impact Report 2017Adfam's annual impact report, outlining our key achievements and activity from 2017. Data & statisticsFamily supportGovernancePolicy
Adfam Impact Report 20202020 and the global pandemic brought about new challenges for Adfam. We demonstrated our adaptability and resilience by moving our support services (one-on-one and groups), training modules and policy events online to ensure that we could connect with and continue to support families, friends and practitioners throughout this difficult year.
Adfam/YouGov Survey Results - July 2019Adfam's research with YouGov which found that 1 in 3 people in Great Britain have been negatively affected by the substance use of someone they know. Data & statisticsResearch
Alcohol and Whole Family Recovery: What we know and what we don’t knowThis document provides an overview of themes that emerged from the Adfam’s Whole Family Recovery and alcohol focus groups in Leeds and in Hertford, and structured interviews with three young people in Scotland conducted by STRADA. It explores how having a family member with an alcohol problem can impact on the recovery of families.AlcoholFamily support
BEAD project: Consultations findingsA report of the BEAD Project's research into the experiences of those bereaved through substance use and how they access support.AlcoholBereavement
BEAD project: Scoping reviewAn overview by Adfam and Cruse Bereavement Care on the existing research literature on drug and alcohol related bereavement.Bereavement
Becoming Visible: The Somali community and substance use in LondonAdfam research on patterns of drug and alcohol use (including khat) and supporting information on relevant elements of Somali culture and community.Diversity
Bereaved by Addiction - A booklet for anyone bereaved through drug or alcohol useThis booklet has been developed by DrugFAM and contains sections on what bereavement is, how drug and alcohol related bereavement can effect families, what to expect following an unexpected death and links to useful organisations and resources.BereavementFamily support
Between a rock and a hard place: Executive summaryThis Executive Summary presents the main findings of 'Between a rock and a hard place'; how parents experience child-parent violence and how they look for help. It also makes recommendations for policy and practice.AlcoholDomestic violence
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: How parents deal with children who use substances and perpetrate abuseThis project report presents findings on how parents experience child-parent violence and how they look for help. It also makes recommendations for policy and practice.Domestic violence
Blue Light Family ToolkitThe Blue Light Family Toolkit, produced collaboratively by Adfam and Alcohol Concern, aims to help adult family members engage more effectively with change resistant drinkers within their family.The toolkit contains a range of resources that support family members to engage appropriately and effectively with their loved ones.
Challenging Stigma: Tackling the prejudice experienced by the families of drug and alcohol usersAddresses the stigma experienced by the families of substance users, and the barriers this presents to recovery for the whole family.Family support
Changing Lives: using peer support to promote access to services for family members affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol useProject report from Adfam’s Whole Family Recovery Project which was funded by the Big Lottery to work with families affected by drugs and alcohol in the Royal Borough of GreenwichFamily support
Chemsex: more than just sex and drugsOnline resource produced in partnership with London Friend with information and advice for families, friends and partners of LGBT people using alcohol, drugs or engaged in chemsex.
Child to parent violence briefing 1 – for parentsA short guide to child to parent violence when the child uses drugs or alcohol for parents.Domestic violence
Child to parent violence briefing 2 – for practitionersA short guide to child to parent violence when the child uses drugs or alcohol for practitioners.Domestic violence
Child to parent violence briefing 3 – for commissionersA short guide to child to parent violence when the child uses drugs or alcohol for commissioners.Domestic violence
Dame Carol Black Review: A response from the family support sectorA joint response to Part 2 of the Dame Carol Black Review from an alliance of organisations that support, advocate and champion families affected by substance use.Download here.
Drug Misuse Declared: Findings from the British Crime SurveyAnnual report tracking trends in illegal drug use, with detailed information on what drugs people use, when they start and stop, where they get them from and where they take them.Data & statistics
Families FirstPolicy report by the Alcohol and Families Alliance, which Adfam provides secretariat for, examining the impact alcohol has on families and children in the UK and the gaps in support, making policy recommendations for closing those gaps.
Families in Lockdown (2020)In April 2020, 241 people coping with a friend or family member’s alcohol, drug or gambling problem responded to an online survey by Adfam which sought to understand how some of their usual daily challenges associated with addiction- fear, domestic abuse, isolation, loneliness and mental stress – might be being further exacerbated by COVID-19 and the lockdown measures imposed from March 2020. The survey also asked family members and friends about what kind of support they would benefit from going forwards.Data & statisticsFamily supportGovernment policyPolicyResearch
Families, drugs and alcohol - policy and research since 1984Produced as part of Adfam's 30th birthday celebrations in 2014, this document provides a thorough overview of the policy and research around families and substance use since 1984. It cover both Adfam's own work and that of the sector.Family supportPolicy
Families, substance use and mental health (2020)People affected by dual diagnosis often fall through the cracks of public services, and so do their families. To understand more about this issue we carried out a detailed consultation with family members affected by a loved one’s dual diagnosis, the findings from which have been published in this research report.Download the full report here.Download the executive summary here.Family supportResearch
Fighting Their Own Battle: Families of Veterans with Substance Use Problems (2020)Adfam, in collaboration with the University of York, and funded by the Forces in Mind Trust, published a research report and executive summary outlining the experiences and needs of families of veterans with substance use problems (FVSUs), along with Family Force, a new model of support specifically for FVSUs.Data & statisticsFamily supportGood practiceResearch
Fundraising toolkitThis fundraising toolkit gives guidance for family support services on how they can enhance their fundraising at the local level. Areas covered include partnering with local businesses, running events and promoting them in the media, and applying to trusts and foundations.Family supportGovernanceToolkit
Guide to Coroner ServicesThis guide has been written for anyone who has recently lost someone close to them, and whose death has been reported to the coroner. It includes information on drug and alcohol related deaths and a section on inquests.Bereavement
Hidden Harm: Responding to the needs of children of problem drug usersHighly influential report highlighting the needs of children whose parents use drugs. Hidden Harm, three years on: realities, challenges and opportunities (pdf) examined the progress made in the wake of Hidden Harm.Children & young peopleData & statisticsParentingSafeguarding
Identifying and supporting children affected by parental substance use: resource for schoolsThis resource, published by Adfam and Mentor UK for the ADEPIS project, summarises the key issues around parental substance use for a school audience. It provides information on the impacts of parental drug and alcohl use on children, indicators the children might show in school and how they can be supported in this setting.Children & young peopleFamily supportSafeguarding
Including Diverse Families: Good practice guidelinesHow to support family members who may be harder to reach: men, people from ethnic minorities, LGBT families and those living in rural areas.DiversityGood practiceToolkit
Information and advice for the families of people living with Heptatitis CResource providing practical and emotional support to the family and friends of those with hepatitis C or who inject drugs.
Living with domestic abuse and substance useThis leaflet is intended to provide you with information about domestic abuse and substance use. It looks at its impact on victims, family and friends, as well as what you can do to help others, and yourself, stay safe.Domestic violence
Making it Happen: Support for families and carers affected by someone else's drug or alcohol useMaking It Happen brings together Adfam’s 30+ years of experience in family support in a best practice guide aimed at commissioners and service managersGood practice
Medications in Drug Treatment: Tackling the Risks to ChildrenOver the past decade, a number of children have been killed or seriously harmed through ingesting drug treatment medication prescribed to their parents and carers. In light of these incidents, in 2014 Adfam published a research report, Medications in drug treatment: Tackling the risks to children (pdf). This analysed learning from Serious Case Reviews, explored current literature and guidance on the issue, canvassed the views of frontline practitioners and experts, and recommended ways of improving safety. A year after the publication of the report, Adfam produced a new research report, Medications in drug treatment: Tackling the risks to children – one year on (pdf) to build on the original work by looking at progress made in the last year, providing updated statistics and information, and giving recommendations to practitioners and policymakers on how to reduce risk and the incidence of these tragic occurrences.In 2018 Adfam produced a guide, Opioid Substitute Treatment (OST) and risks to children: Good Practice Guide (pdf), for practitioners to implement some of the learning from the research. The guide is for any practitioner who comes into contact with parents (or those living with children) using substances and their children.Children & young peopleParentingSafeguarding
One in Three: Adfam’s Manifesto for 2020 and beyondAdfam's manifesto outlining five ways the government can improve support for families affected by drugs or alcohol.Government policyPolicy
Out of focus - How families are affected by problem drinking, and how they look for helpThis report explores the experiences of families affected by alcohol use. It asks how the families of drinkers may experience things differently to those of drug users, what the barriers are that prevent people from accessing support and how society characterises problem drinking.AlcoholChildren & young peopleFamily support
Overdose: Bereavement - What happens now?This booklet is produced by the Scottish Government and is aimed at any family member or friend who is affected by this type of bereavement. It describes some of the emotions and processes that will take place, and how family members can best deal with possible post-mortems, media interest and other topics.Bereavement
Overlooked: Why we should be doing more to support families and friends affected by someone else's drinking, drug use or gamblingThis latest research looks at the number of people negatively impacted by someone else's drinking, drug use or gambling. It finds that over 5 million adults in Great Britain are currently negatively affected by one or more of these issues, and highlights why we should be doing more to support these families and friends.
Parental substance use: through the eyes of the workerAdfam research into the views and experiences of frontline practitioners working with parental substance users and their children. This report is also available as an executive summary (pdf).Family supportParentingSafeguardingSocial care
Real Voices in VolunteeringA resource for family support services with all the practical and legal information needed for the successful use of volunteers.GovernanceToolkit
Relationship Realities: A summary of findings from a survey on the effects of drug and alcohol misuse on relationshipsSummary of findings from a survey into how couple relationships are affected by drugs and alcohol. The survey is part of a wider pilot project, ‘Relationship Realities’, a partnership between relationship research charity OnePlusOne and Adfam, funded by the Department for work and Pensions. Family support
Silent Voices: Supporting children and young people affected by parental alcohol misuseThe Children’s Commissioner’s research centres on the 700,000 children living with a dependent drinker and up to 3.5m whose parents binge drink.AlcoholChildren & young peopleData & statisticsParenting
State of the Sector 2019: Drug and Alcohol Family SupportThis report shares the findings from Adfam's State of the Sector Family Support Survey which in 2019 asked 117 practitioners and managers working in family support services in England about current trends, developments, strengths and challenges in the sector. It explores a range of themes including commissioning, funding, family needs, partnership working, and service delivery.
State of the Sector: drug and alcohol family supportAdfam published our family state of the sector report in December 2016 following two online surveys an in-depth interviews with family support service managers across the UK, examining the state of the family drug and alcohol support sector. You can also read the executive summary (pdf). Family supportGovernment policyPolicy
Supporting Families Affected by Substance Use and Domestic ViolenceThis project report presents the findings of research into the help seeking behaviour of families of substance users carried out by Dr Sarah Galvani of the University of Bedfordshire.Domestic violence
Supporting parents affected by child-parent-abuse (CPA) from substance-using children (2020)Adfam has produced an online toolkit for practitioners working with parents who care for someone who uses drugs or alcohol and is also abusive toward them. The toolkit contains resources for practitioners to work through with their clients and others that can be given directly to clients. This resource is the culmination of several years of research and projects Adfam has delivered in this area.Children & young peopleDomestic violenceParentingToolkit
Supporting the Supporters: Families of drug misusersResearch into the impact of a relative’s substance use on adult family members, including the cost savings families make to the state, the harms they experience and the benefits of support.Data & statisticsFamily support
Talking to your children about legal highs and club drugs - A parent's handbookThis booklet was produced in partnership with Mentor UK and provides background on the nature, history and legality of legal highs and club drugs and considers some of the myths that surround them. It also provides some tips on how parents might start health conversations with their children on this topic, and where to go if they need further help.Children & young peopleParenting
The Forgotten Carers: Support for adult family members affected by a relative’s drug problemsResearch into the support provided for families of substance users across the UK, and how to improve its effectiveness and availability.Data & statisticsFamily support
The Social Return on Investment of Family Support ServicesThe first economic assessment of a family support service, showing that it provides £4.70 of savings to the state for every £1 of investment. It also shows that Adfam provides a Social Return on Investment (SROI) of £2 for every £1 of income. Data & statisticsFamily support
Toolkit for those affected by someone else's co-occurring mental ill health and substance use conditions (Dual Diagnosis) (2020)A toolkit for families affected by co-occurring mental ill-health and substance use conditions (dual diagnosis). It contains resources and suggestions for anyone affected by someone else's co occurring conditions. Much of the information is drawn from guidance from professionals, including those working to support families on a daily basis. We welcome practitioners to share this with families they support. Toolkit
Understanding recovery from a family perspective: A survey of life in recovery for familiesThe ‘Family Life in Recovery’ project from the Department of Law and Criminology at Sheffield Hallam University and Adfam, funded by Alcohol Research UK, is the first piece of research of this scale to illustrate the far-reaching impacts of dependent drinking through the lens of family members.AlcoholData & statisticsFamily support
Why invest? Support for families and carers affected by someone else's drug or alcohol useIn 2015 Adfam produced 'Family Support: Why Invest': a pack for family support services, commissioners, funders and decision-makers, setting out the key arguments in favour of family support and presents a convincing case for investment at the local level.
Women, domestic abuse and someone else's substance use (2021)Findings from the Adfam Women’s Project, funded by the DCMS Tampon Tax Programme, aims to reduce the risks to women experiencing domestic violence in homes where drugs and alcohol are misused. Download the report here, and the executive summary here. Domestic violenceGood practicePolicyResearch
Working with Grandparents Bringing Up Their Children Due to Parental Substance UseThis guide offers advice and suggestions to support service providers to deliver effective services to grandparents who are carers for their grandchildren due to parental substance misuse following Adfam's Grandparents Carers Project.Family supportGood practiceGrandparentsSafeguardingToolkit