Adfam has recently launched its manifesto for 2020 outlining five ways the next government can improve support services for families affected by drugs and alcohol.
Recommendations
1. Funding must be made available for every Local Authority to provide dedicated support services for those affected by a loved one’s substance misuse.
2. Family members who assume roles as kinship carers should be supported financially to ensure they are able to fulfil their responsibilities without fear of entering poverty.
3. Money should be ring-fenced for children’s social care services to identify and provide ongoing support for children affected by parental substance misuse to ensure they are given opportunities to recover and thrive.
4. Central Government money should be made available to start a national conversation to improve public understanding on the impact of substance misuse on others and tackle stigmatising attitudes.
5. The Health and Social Care Select Committee should launch an inquiry into the relationship between substance misuse, mental ill-health, and poverty in families, and should produce recommendations to prevent these negative impacts of substance use on families.
