Harmful drinking can cause significant issues not only for the alcohol user, but also for members of their family.
This can appear in the form of health problems, financial worries, relationship breakdown and parenting difficulties. These families need and deserve support; family interventions can play a role in this, and in reducing overall alcohol harm.
Until relatively recently, interventions for harmful drinking have tended to focus on the individual user; however, researchers and practitioners are increasingly highlighting the vital role that family members can play in the treatment process. In addition, those family members need support.
The UK Government’s updated Drug Strategy commits the Government to providing greater support for families affected by alcohol and other substance misuse.
Family interventions cover three main areas:
Some of these interventions are delivered through formal alcohol programmes, but many others happen through community drop-ins, carers’ centres, and peer support. These informal interventions are vital and deserve attention and funding.
Harmful drinking can have a potentially devastating impact on families. Some of the behaviours associated with harmful drinking can cause intense stress – for example domestic abuse, child abuse, individuals driving under the influence or disappearing for days at a time. Some of these behaviours can cause more upset than the drinking itself.
There is good evidence that family members can play an important role in helping someone who drinks harmfully to seek out treatment. A variety of approaches have been trialled and researched, including:
Working jointly with alcohol users and their families during treatment has been shown to be effective, particularly where the user is an adolescent.
Family members have often been seen primarily as a tool in addressing an individual’s harmful drinking. However, the needs of family members themselves are now beginning to be attended to as well.
There are many sources of support available for both individuals who drink too much and their family members.