Because families matter
You don't have to use drugs to be affected by them
Drug use doesn’t just affect individuals - families are also at the frontline of addiction. When someone in their family uses drugs or alcohol, people can experience anger, betrayal, guilt, fear, isolation and loss of control. A recent study by the UK Drug Policy Commission suggests a minimum 1.5m people are affected by someone else’s drug use, and other studies have suggested this number is up to 8m. The UKDPC report also asserts that families can experience harms worth £1.8bn per year - for example through healthcare costs - and provide care that saves the state up to £750m annually.
Families need support for their own needs and research has also shown that outcomes for drug users improve when their family is behind them - they are more likely to start treatment, more likely to complete their course, and more likely to maintain their new lifestyle afterwards.
Relationships with others are a key element in successful recovery from drug or alcohol dependence, and a happy family life is a vital aspiration. For more information on the impact on families, see the resources section, which contains documents and reports including Recovery and drug dependency: a new deal for families and Adfam’s manifesto.
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