Resources

State of the Family Support Sector 2023

Adfam's 2023 State of the Sector report examining current circumstances and practice in supporting families affected by substance use. This includes current trends, developments, strengths and challenges facing those working to support family members. The report’s findings are based entirely on the input and responses of those working within or connected to services that support families affected by substance use.

• Data & statistics
• Family support
• Research

Combating Drugs Partnerships: Guidance to services on involving families 

Adfam's guidance for services on involving families in Combating Drugs Partnerships (CDPs)

• Good practice
• Governance
• Policy

Combating Drugs Partnerships: Guidance to Senior Responsible Owner’s (SROs) and organisers on involving families

Adfam guidance to Senior Responsible Owner's (SROs) on involving families in Combating Drugs Partnerships (CDPs).

• Good practice
• Governance
• Government policy
• Policy

The effects of the cost of living crisis on families affected by substance use

This research, based on the testimonies over over 100 families affected by substance use and professionals, explores the impact of the cost of living crisis, and highlights it has made things doubly hard for family members, adding further complexity to the challenges they were already facing pre-crisis.

• Data & statistics
• Government policy
• Policy
• Research

Substance misuse: through the lens of the family

This report looks at how the government’s Drug Strategy, From Harm to Hope, could adopt a more family-focused approach, and examines some of the different elements a drug strategy might include if considered through the lens of the family.

• Family support
• Good practice
• Government policy
• Policy

Alcohol and Intimate Partner Relationships

Alcohol and Families Alliance (AFA) study looking at the experiences of those affected by the drinking of an intimate partner and the negative effects drinking can have on a relationship. The study finds that drinking does not necessarily need to be frequent or considered dependent, to have a negative effect on partners and relationships. A range of negative effects were reported, including a breakdown of trust between partners, conflict, tension and lack of emotional connection and intimacy.

• Alcohol
• Data & statistics
• Domestic violence
• Policy
• Research

Adfam Impact Report 2020

Adfam's impact and achievements in 2020.

• Data & statistics
• Governance

Adfam Impact Report 2021

Adfam's impact and achievements in 2021.

• Data & statistics
• Governance

State of the Sector: drug and alcohol family support

Adfam 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 support
• Government policy
• Policy

Families First

Policy 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.

• Alcohol
• Government policy
• Policy

Chemsex: more than just sex and drugs

Online 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.

• Family support
• Toolkit

Information and advice for the families of people living with Heptatitis C

Resource providing practical and emotional support to the family and friends of those with hepatitis C or who inject drugs.

• Family support
• Toolkit

Why invest? Support for families and carers affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol use

In 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.

• Data & statistics
• Family support
• Policy

Adfam/YouGov Survey Results – July 2019

Adfam'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 & statistics
• Research

One in Three: Adfam’s Manifesto for 2020 and beyond

Adfam's manifesto outlining five ways the government can improve support for families affected by drugs or alcohol.

• Data & statistics
• Government policy
• Policy

State of the Sector 2019: Drug and Alcohol Family Support

This 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.

• Data & statistics
• Family support
• Good practice
• Research

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 support
• Research

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. 

• Family support
• Toolkit

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 violence
• Good practice
• Policy
• Research

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 people
• Domestic violence
• Parenting
• Toolkit

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 & statistics
• Family support
• Government policy
• Policy
• Research

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 & statistics
• Family support
• Good practice
• Research

Blue Light Family Toolkit

The 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.

Dame Carol Black Review: A response from the family support sector

A 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.

• Government policy
• Policy

Overlooked: Latest Research

This latest research looks at the number of people negatively impacted by someone else's drinking, drug taking or gambling. It highlights why we should be doing more to support families and friends affected. 

• Data & statistics
• Government policy
• Policy
• Research

Identifying and supporting children affected by parental substance use: resource for schools

This 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 people
• Family support
• Safeguarding

Talking to your children about legal highs and club drugs – A parent’s handbook

This 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 people
• Parenting

Medications in Drug Treatment: Tackling the Risks to Children

Over 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. 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.

• Children & young people
• Parenting
• Safeguarding

BEAD project: Scoping review

An overview by Adfam and Cruse Bereavement Care on the existing research literature on drug and alcohol related bereavement.

• Bereavement
• Research

Families, drugs and alcohol – policy and research since 1984

Produced 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 support
• Policy
• Research

BEAD project: Consultations findings

A report of the BEAD Project's research into the experiences of those bereaved through substance use and how they access support.

• Bereavement
• Research

Relationship Realities: A summary of findings from a survey on the effects of drug and alcohol misuse on relationships

Summary 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. 

• Domestic violence
• Research

Making it Happen: Support for families and carers affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol use

Making It Happen brings together Adfam’s 30+ years of experience in family support in a best practice guide aimed at commissioners and service managers

• Family support
• Good practice
• Policy

“Like Sugar for Adults”: The effect of non-dependent parental drinking on children and families

This 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.

• Alcohol
• Good practice
• Parenting
• Policy

“Marks and Scars” Hepatitis C and people who inject drugs: The family experience

This report looks at the impact of hepatitis C on the families of people who inject drugs.

• Research

“No one judges you here”: Voices of older people affected by a loved one’s substance use

Report 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. 

• Family support
• Good practice
• Grandparents
• Parenting
• Research

Understanding recovery from a family perspective: A survey of life in recovery for families

The ‘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.

• Alcohol
• Data & statistics
• Family support
• Research

Changing Lives: using peer support to promote access to services for family members affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol use

Project 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 Greenwich

• Family support
• Good practice

Challenging Stigma: Tackling the prejudice experienced by the families of drug and alcohol users

Addresses the stigma experienced by the families of substance users, and the barriers this presents to recovery for the whole family.

• Family support

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: How parents deal with children who use substances and perpetrate abuse

This 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
• Parenting
• Research

Parental substance use: through the eyes of the worker

Adfam 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 support
• Parenting
• Safeguarding
• Social care

Between a rock and a hard place: Executive summary

This 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.

• Alcohol
• Domestic violence
• Parenting