Families can work – Time to end the blame game

1. Families can work – Time to end the blame game Deborah Cameron, Chief Executive addaction

2. Drugs, alcohol & families • 360,000 adult problem drug users in UK • < 3 m adults with alcohol dependency • 8 m adults with alcohol use disorder • 1.5 m children in substance misusing homes • > 1 m children whose parents abuse alcohol • At least 350,000 where there is drug taking

3. Consequences for children • Loss of respect • Worry about parents • Disrupted education • Angry, disaffected & potentially emotionally stunted • Risk of physical neglect – accidents • Risk of abuse • 7 times more likely to use drugs as adults

4. Addaction’s vulnerable children • 27,000 service users • 26% acknowledge dependent children = • 10,000 children living with Class A drug users • Some services – 50%-66% = • Up to 30,000 children affected • About 3,000 service users under 18 THE EVIDENCE

5. We are potentially working with more children than adults

6. The family issues: • Families often ignored • BUT relatives may be harmed • Often provide support • OR they may be part of the problem And they are blamed

7. Addaction’s work to support families • Maya Project, South London • Mother & baby service, Glasgow • Addaction Hackney – access to child care & a safe environment • Working with the whole family - Breaking the Cycle and Youngaddaction plus pilot programmes • Pilots independently evaluated by MHRDU at University of Bath • Addaction Derby Open College Network (OCN) qualifications

8. The challenge • Treatment model based on individual pathology, not social system • No resources invested in measuring impact • Adults reluctant to share information about family • Fear that children will be removed • Professionals expect chaotic families to meet unrealistic targets

9. Introducing Alpana • Alpana Ali lives in London’s Bengali community. • She began using heroin and crack cocaine 5 years ago when her marriage ran into problems. • Her daughter, Amita, 11 years old, was placed in local authority care. • Her husband Darshan does not understand drug use or how it could be treated. His English was poor.

10. Alpana: What we did • Supported Alpana to engage with local community treatment service, where she received a script for methadone. • There was pressure from Alpana’s husband and family to give up her methadone treatment: In partnership with Bengali speaking co-worker, we supported father and maternal grandparents to: Increase awareness about drugs and treatment Re-build trusting relationships Talk to children about drugs Help mother to complete treatment

11. Alpana: And the result • Alpana has been drug-free for 3 months • We worked with social services to review family progress and look at alternatives to adoption for Alpana’s daughter. Children’s Services plan to return Amita permanently to family • She will be soon be returned to her grandparents care and into her father’s custody. • Alpana and her husband are expecting their second child - we have drawn up a child protection plan for the unborn child.

12. What have we learned so far? • Training & support for front line staff is fundamental • Complex problems need tailor-made multi-agency solutions • If risk assessment allows …. • Give families a real chance …. • People can make extraordinary changes • Essential to share thoughts, concerns & ideas between agencies

13. To conclude: • Substance misusing parents are usually keen to give their children a better life • If professionals recognise this, it can make all the difference • Really practical help is crucial – many services are not family friendly • Honesty is essential