Putting Families First: Revival Newcastle Hosts Crucial Session on Addiction and Family Support
Addiction rarely impacts just one person; it leaves a ripple effect that touches parents, partners, children, colleagues and friends. Recognising this, Revival Newcastle hosted a collaborative session dedicated entirely to discussing family support in recovery and addiction.
The event brought together leading support services to start to highlight the essential resources available for people navigating the complexities of a loved one's substance use.
The Scale of Newcastle's Hidden Carers
The data surrounding families affected by substance misuse reveals a massive, yet largely invisible, workforce. National estimates provided by the charity Adfam indicate that for every individual with a substance use problem, an average of three family members are significantly affected. Applied to local estimates, this means Newcastle alone has thousands of parents, partners, and relatives absorbing the impact of addiction.
This "hidden carer workforce" acts as a vital buffer for the healthcare system. Landmark data indicates that the value of unpaid care provided by families of substance users saves health and social care services nearly £750 million per year. State of the Family Support Sector 2023 . Yet, despite providing a massive economic safety net, these families frequently go unrecognized, facing severe emotional trauma, financial hardship, and isolation.
A Deficit in Family Support Funding
The session highlighted a critical gap between the societal value these carers provide and the actual funding allocated to support them. According to Adfam’s local authority spending research, family support remains severely underfunded across England.
On average, local authorities allocate just 1.58% of their total substance misuse budgets to family and carer support, with some areas reporting zero dedicated spending. This stark funding gap creates a postcode lottery for relatives seeking help, leaving organisations like those presenting at the Revival Newcastle event to bridge the gap.
Spotlighting Vital Support Networks
The session featured presentations from three key organisations, each describing their approach to helping families reclaim control of their lives:
PROPS (Positive Response to Overcoming Problems of Substance Misuse): PROPS North East described their dedicated work across Newcastle and North Tyneside. They detailed the practical and emotional support they offer—ranging from 1-2-1 counselling to respite breaks—to help families stay safe and look after their own wellbeing while dealing with someone else's substance misuse.
SMART Recovery Friends and Family: UK SMART Recovery introduced their specialised Family & Friends programme. Built on evidence-based tools, this initiative helps loved ones develop effective coping mechanisms, set healthy boundaries, and focus on their own goals and self-care rather than being consumed by the addiction.
Adfam: As a national voice for families affected by drugs and alcohol, Adfam highlighted the broader landscape of family support, tackling the isolation and stigma that many relatives face, and providing resources to help build stronger family communication. Data form their research is shared above.
Mapping the Gaps and Future Training Needs
Following the main presentations, attendees helped map out the current family provision across Newcastle. The group collectively identified where existing support is strong and generated ideas for further work across the city.
A significant portion of the workshop focused on the practical needs of families, specifically identifying what further training individuals in caring roles need to protect their own mental health and manage their own situations.
Looking Forward: Next Steps
Attendees agreed that this initial conversation is just the starting point. Plans are already underway to host a follow-up session. This next meeting will expand the network, providing an opportunity to hear from other local services that also offer family support, ensuring a fully integrated approach across Newcastle.
Why Investment Matters
Investing in family support delivers benefits on three levels. It helps loved ones access treatment sooner and maintain recovery, improves the wellbeing of family members, and helps prevent trauma from being passed on to future generations.
By bringing these important organisations together, Revival Newcastle continues its work to reduce stigma, raise the voices of people with lived experience, and ensure that no family in Newcastle faces addiction alone.
