How Big is the Need?

An article by Lorna Templeton which appeared in the June 2009 issue of the Journal of Substance Use highlighted the issues of estimating how many families and carers may be affected by drug and alcohol abuse within the Bristol area. She estimates that there are around 40,000 men and 20,000 women with hazardous/harmful levels of alcohol use in the city, about 7,500 men and 2,500 women who are alcohol dependent (Safer Bristol Partnership, 2007) and about 8,000 problematic drug users (Safer Bristol 2005). She states: ‘Whilst the number of affected family members is unknown it can be assumed to be very large, based on these estimates of the number of individuals believed to be misusing drugs and/or alcohol.’

The impact on the individual is profound. Templeton writes: ‘Living with a close relative who is misusing alcohol or drugs is often a rollercoaster of uncertainty and chaos coupled with mixed and confused emotions’.

Kwads is unique in the range of services it provides to carers in the region. It is clear that families and carers sometimes find their lives thrown into chaos by the actions of those they love. Our support lines frequently handle calls from individuals who are emotionally at the end of their tether. We channel people into the right services for them, giving them tools and techniques for managing their relationships and responses with other family members.