New estimates indicate that between 3.4-3.5 million children live with at least one binge-drinking parent

14 October 2009

A new piece of research launched today shows that the number of children living with substance misusing parents is greater than previously thought

Action on Addiction research fellow Dr Victoria Manning and her team generated estimates from secondary analysis of 5 household surveys that shows a large number of children live with parents who drink excessively, use drugs, have mental health problems or some combination of the three. It is likely that harm is not limited to dependent use but that excessive consumption (binging) can lead to impaired parenting capacity.

Key findings (estimates generated by analysis):

1.   Approximately 30% of children under-16 years (3.4 - 3.5 million) in the      UK lived with at least one binge-drinking parent

  1. 8% (800,000 - 1 million) of children lived with an adult who had used illicit drugs within that year
  2. 3.6% (430,000) children in England who lived with a problem drinker who used drugs
  3. 4.2% (500,000) children in the UK live in a household where problem drinking co-existed with mental health problems

Nick Barton, Chief Executive Action on Addiction says,

"We have developed our programme Moving Parents and Children Together (M-PACT) in response to reports such as Hidden Harm which highlighted the numbers of vulnerable children living with parents who have drug problems. This new piece of research commissioned by us, looks at parental binge drinking and illicit drug use and shows that more children are at risk than we had previously thought and that potential harm is not limited to dependent users"

M-PACT is aimed at supporting parents and children/young people aged 10-17 who are experiencing the effects of parental substance misuse within the family.  The programme offers a ‘Whole Family Approach', working with up to eight families at any one time in different group combinations. The programme is made up of 10 sessions. This includes an individual family assessment, eight consecutive weekly core sessions and a family review session. The programme is run by experienced professionals who work with the young people and parents to reduce the harmful impact and harmful patterns that parental substance misuse and addiction can have on family life. 

www.actiononaddiction.org.uk

For more information contact:

Action on Addiction Press Office

Ed Clark on 0207 793 1011 or 07825 620 130 ed.clark@actiononaddiction.org.uk

Background Information

Action on Addiction is the only UK charity working across the addiction field in research, prevention, treatment, professional education and family support.

Action on Addiction offers a variety of treatment services which are available for men and women across the UK including:

Clouds House - a first stage residential treatment centre for men and women.

Hope House - a second stage residential treatment centre for women only.

SHARP London, SHARP Liverpool and SHARP Bournemouth and Poole which all provide structured day treatment for men and women.

Working Recovery in Bournemouth and Poole which provides skills training to men and women. 

Families Plus - working with family members trying to cope with someone who has a substance misuse problem.

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