This document discusses the impacts of alcohol use on families in the UK. Some key points: - Over 10 million UK adults drink above recommended limits, with 1.6 million dependent on alcohol. - Approximately 1 million children live with dependent drinkers, and alcohol is a factor in 1/3 of divorces and 60% of child protection cases. - The document examines a case study about the Smith family and how alcohol could impact each member. Additional information is provided that may change thoughts on family impacts. - The document discusses links between problematic alcohol use and issues like child protection, young people's drinking, health problems, and criminality. It suggests multi-agency support for children and families.

1. Alcohol and Families
Lauren Booker
Workplace Programme Manager

2. Drinking in the UK
• Over 10m adults drink more than
recommended limits
• 2.6m drink more than 2x recommended limits
• 1.6m dependent on alcohol
• Alcohol related diseases account for 1 in 8
hospital beds
• £21bn cost to individuals and families p.a.

3. Case Study
Read your case study about Jack and Jill Smith
and their family.
What impact do you think that alcohol may
have on each member?

4. Alcohol and families
• Approximately 1 million children live in a household
with one or more dependent drinkers
• Alcohol is cited in 1/3 of divorce petitions
• Parental alcohol use is a factor in up to 60% of child
protection cases
• 1/3 of reported domestic violence involves alcohol
• Almost 1/5 of the population is affected by a family
members’ alcohol use.

5. "To suggest that all parents who suffer from
problem drug use present a danger to their
children is misleading.
Indeed, much research indicated that in
isolation, problem drug use of a parent
presents little risk of significant harm to
children."
Cleaver H., Unell, I., and Aldgate, J., (1999) Children’s Needs Parenting
Capacity, p.23, London; HMSO.

6. Case Study
Look at the new information about the Smiths.
Does this change your thoughts about the
impact on the family?

7. Alcohol and young people
• Over half of 11 year olds have tried alcohol
• 30% of young people with alcohol problems
also suffer from an eating disorder
• 20% of young offenders report being
intoxicated the time of the offence(s)
• 1 in 3 young suicides are intoxicated at the
time of death

8. Alcohol and other factors
• Alcohol related brain damage contributes to up
to a quarter of all dementia cases
• Over half of male prisoners engaged in hazardous
drinking in the year before going to prison
• 30% of female heavy drinkers are diagnosed with
a neurotic disorder
• Heavy alcohol use is linked with over 50 life
threatening and life limiting illnesses

9. What can we do?
• Information and Awareness
– Change4life
– Every Contact Counts
• Early Identification and assessment: IBA
• Referral pathways
• New approaches – online, recovery communities,
workplace

10. "We should particularly be concerned with
substance use that is dependant or chaotic.
For the practitioner and the client, the ability to
distinguish recreational use from problematic
misuse is a crucial skill.”
Murphy, M. (1996). The Child Protection Unit. p 11. Aldershot: Avebury.Links
between problematic use and child protection

11. What can we do?
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Multi-Agency Working
Support children, support the family
Promote resilience factors
Our duty of care, transferable skills
Support for families:
– Brief Strategic Family Therapy; Community
Reinforcement and Family Training, Positive
Parenting Programme