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In Wiltshire, families quietly live with the everyday weight of someone else’s drug or alcohol dependency.

When we talk about addiction recovery, often the spotlight falls on the individual: detox, treatment, abstinence, relapse prevention. But what about the families?

When the conversation turns to addiction recovery, much attention rightly goes to the individual with addiction: detox, treatment programmes, medication, counselling. But there’s another part of the story that doesn’t always get enough focus: the family.

Living with a loved one’s addiction can be overwhelming. At Families Out Loud (FOL), we know that families are often left feeling isolated, helpless, and unsure where to turn.

In recent years, there’s been a marked shift in how health services and charities approach addiction: increasing focus on co-occurring mental health conditions, sometimes called ‘dual diagnosis’ or ‘co-occurring disorders’.

Are you in Wiltshire, feeling overwhelmed because someone you love is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction? You’re not alone and Families Out Loud is here to help, right in your area.

Summer is here and in the UK that often means school breaks, free time, barbecues and pressure to drink or try drugs.

Addiction research continues to shed light on the unique challenges faced by young people and their families

Rev your engines! Introducing the first Families Out Loud Classic Car Show in Melksham on 27 July, promising fun, community spirit, and family time all in aid of supporting families affected by addiction.

Alcohol addiction doesn’t just affect the person drinking—it affects everyone around them. When someone in your family has a problem with alcohol, it can lead to worry, confusion, hurt, and sometimes even fear. You may be trying to hold everything together while quietly falling apart yourself.

When someone you love is struggling with addiction, it can feel as though your entire world has been turned upside down. The constant worry, sleepless nights, and emotional rollercoaster can leave you feeling drained, confused, and completely alone. It’s important to remember that while you may not be able to change their behaviour, you can take steps to protect your own wellbeing.

In recent years, the UK has seen a rise in the implementation of Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDACs), a progressive initiative aimed at supporting parents struggling with substance misuse while prioritising the welfare of their children.

When a loved one struggles with drug or alcohol addiction, it doesn’t just affect them—it impacts the whole family.

Have you ever felt absolutely ravenous, even when you thought you’d eaten enough? Or found yourself eating for comfort, unsure whether it was true hunger or something deeper? That might be ghrelin at play – a clever little hormone with a big influence on our relationship with food and, surprisingly, our emotional wellbeing.

Families Out Loud was recently awarded a generous £10,000 grant from Chippenham Borough Lands Charity. Our trustee and co-founder Susy Lenihan, pictured above, left, received the cheque at an event earlier this month.

Addiction thrives in silence. Many families struggling with a loved one’s drug or alcohol addiction feel ashamed, isolated, and afraid to talk about what’s really happening behind closed doors. But silence doesn’t protect anyone—it only deepens the pain.

Easter is often seen as a time of renewal, family gatherings, and hope. But for families affected by addiction, it can bring a complex mix of emotions—grief, anxiety, frustration, and sometimes even guilt. If your loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, Easter might not look like the picture-perfect celebration you once imagined. Instead, it can be a painful reminder of what has been lost, or a time when difficult family dynamics come to the surface.

Mother’s Day in the UK is a time to celebrate mums and all they do for us. It’s a day for flowers, breakfast in bed, and heartfelt “thank yous.” But for mothers with a child struggling with addiction, this day can bring a mix of emotions—love, sadness, hope, and sometimes, heartache.

If you think your teen is using or may use drugs or alcohol – firstly, don’t panic! Most young people don’t do drugs, and most of those who do won’t continue using them. One-off or even occasional use does not mean addiction. But, of course, we’d rather they didn’t do drugs or drink at all. There are many reasons why teens use substances, but try comparing it to why you do something—like when you’re choosing what to eat.

Hannah Perry sits down with the Families Out Loud marketing team to discuss her personal history with drug and alcohol addiction and recovery.