In the UK, more than 180,000 children are raised by kinship carers – relatives or close family friends caring for children when their birth parents are unable to do so. Kinship carers play a vital role raising children and keeping them connected to their families. While kinship families form for a variety of reasons, parental substance use is one of the most common factors behind these arrangements.
According to the Kinship charity’s 2022 Cost of loving annual survey, 40 per cent of kinship carers cited substance misuse as the primary reason the children in their care were unable to live with their parents. This statistic highlights a widespread yet often overlooked reality: when parents struggle with drug or alcohol dependence, it is frequently family members who step in to provide stability and care for affected children.
Drug and alcohol treatment providers regularly witness kinship care arrangements being put in place as families rally together to support a loved one through treatment. While these arrangements are often informal, they come with immense emotional and financial demands.
In 2020, Dame Carol Black’s landmark Independent review of drugs estimated that the indirect costs for kinship care resulting from substance misuse amounted to £73m. However, the true cost – including direct financial expenses – is likely far higher. Many carers take on the role suddenly or unexpectedly, bearing considerable financial costs – including basic necessities such as food and clothing – often without adequate support. Beyond the financial toll, carers also endure intangible emotional and psychological strain, including through increased stress and anxiety.
Through Adfam’s many years’ experience working with kinship families affected by substance use we know that these carers face unique and complex challenges. One of the most difficult is the stigma surrounding substance use, which often extends to both the children and carers themselves. Despite their selfless dedication, many kinship carers experience feelings of isolation and judgment for raising a family member’s child under such circumstances – making their already demanding role even harder.
Despite the vital role they play in children’s lives, kinship carers often lack the recognition and support they deserve. Vital reform is needed to recognise the value of kinship carers, including those affected by substance use and the challenges they face, and to ensure their unique needs are addressed.
Charities like Adfam are committed to championing kinship families, and helping them navigate the complex realities of caring for a child affected by parental substance use. In addition to our work supporting kinship carers affected by substance use, Adfam is a member of the Kinship Care Alliance, which campaigns for kinship families to receive the right support and help in order for them to thrive.
Adfam recently held an online forum event featuring Jahnine Davies, the government’s national kinship care ambassador, alongside Sue Nash, from the Peterborough Kinship Care Group, and Lindsay Reid, a kinship care support and development coordinator for Adfam. During the event, attendees heard about Jahnine’s ambassadorial role in raising awareness to advocate for kinship carers and children, and to improve local practices and support. Sue and Lindsay also shared powerful insights into the challenges faced by kinship families affected by substance use and the essential support they provide to these families.
Adfam is also currently working in partnership with the Kinship charity to deliver a series of free training sessions for kinship carers across the country and online, made available through a grant from the Department for Education. These workshops focus on the effects of substance use, offering practical strategies to better support children while also offering kinship carers the chance to meet others in similar situations, to connect and learn from each other.
Kinship carers play a crucial, yet often overlooked, role in providing stability and care for children affected by parental substance use. Research indicates that children raised within their family network typically experience better education, health, and labour market outcomes than those placed in local authority care. The commitment, dedication, and support provided by carers can have a lasting, positive impact on a child’s life. However, much more must be done to ensure that kinship families affected by substance use receive the recognition, support, and resources they undoubtedly need and deserve.
Robert Stebbings is policy and communications lead at Adfam