Addiction In The Family Home

Addiction in the Family Home: Understanding the Impact and Legal ImplicationsAt the end of a stressful day or week at work, the majority of us can't wait to get home, relax, and forget about work. But stress isn't limited to work life - a number of things can cause stress: relationships, children, having sick relatives, bereavements or money problems.

The Stress-Addiction ConnectionAt times these stressors become overwhelming, leading your daily and family life to impact both health and happiness. 1 in 4 of us will suffer from a form of stress-related mental illness (such as anxiety or depression) in our lives, and as a result more than 10 million working days are lost each year.

Stress can not only lead to mental health issues but if not controlled, can lead to long-term health risks such as strokes, cancer, diabetes or heart problems.

How People Cope with StressDifferent people deal with stressful situations in different ways. Some of these responses to stress can be damaging, such as avoidance, or turning to drink or drugs to feel better, instead of attempting to sort things out in a positive manner.

The Reality: Addiction's Impact on FamiliesMany families find themselves in difficult situations because of the presence of alcohol and drugs. Recent research shows:

• 1 in 5 children live with a parent who has a drinking problem
• 1 in 10 children live with a parent who is alcohol dependent
• Two-thirds of cases where children are considered at risk of harm involve a parent's drug abuse problem

Addiction Affects All CommunitiesAddiction is not limited to a particular area of a community, or to a particular income bracket. Similar to issues such as domestic abuse, addiction can affect anyone, regardless of where they're from - however some families may be better at hiding it than others.

When Parents Struggle with AddictionFor a parent suffering an addiction, the addiction becomes their priority, even over the welfare of themselves, their children and their partners. This can result in children having to:

• Care for themselves
• Get ready for school alone
• Get home alone
• Make their own meals
• Worry about their parent who is still asleep

In this situation the child becomes the carer for the adult. These situations often attract the attention of social services and come before a court due to allegations of failing to look after children because of addiction problems.

Legal Consequences and Family Court ProceedingsCases that appear in family courts include:

• Social services intervention due to child welfare concerns
• Relationship breakdowns with disputes about where children should live
• Decisions about whether parents can overcome their problems to keep children at home

The Family Drug and Alcohol CourtIn 2008 the Family Drug and Alcohol Court was created to help families affected by substance misuse. It enables parents to work with professionals to combat their addictions and try to keep their family together. The court:

• Aids families at risk of having children removed due to welfare and safety concerns
• Recognises that unless a parent's dependency is addressed, they will continue to struggle to care for their children
• Requires significant problems and willingness from parents to tackle addiction

Time Limits and Success RatesGovernment guidelines normally require court decisions within 26 weeks, despite the fact that showing abstinence in that timeframe can be difficult. However, there is an exemption for parents in the specialist programme if certain criteria are met.

This involves families engaging in a highly intensive programme, which research suggests is successful. The proposal is to roll out more of these specialist courts nationally.

Getting Help Before Court InterventionAddiction can have serious consequences for you and your family, so don't battle it alone. Get help and support from loved ones and speak to a professional, before your situation needs help from the court.

Family Law SupportIf you need advice about family law matters, addiction-related court proceedings, or child welfare concerns, contact our experienced team on: 0116 2999 199 or email us at: info@d-w-s.co.uk