When Addiction Reaches Beyond the Individual: Why Families Need Support More Than Ever

Addiction is often discussed in terms of the person using the substance. But increasingly, research and campaigns are showing something critical: the ripple effect hits families, friends and loved ones too and it’s time we recognised their need for support. Read on to discover how addiction reaches beyond the individual.

A recent UK survey found that 1 in 6 adults (17 %) said someone in their family is currently living with addiction. Yet among those, nearly two-thirds (62 %) reported that they themselves had received no professional help. Source: Priory That means millions of families are quietly living alongside addiction without the support they need.

Meanwhile, data from England reveals that between April 2023 and March 2024, 310,863 adults were in contact with drug or alcohol treatment services, the highest number since 2009-10, according to the Essex Recovery Foundation. What this tells us is two-fold: more people are seeking help, and therefore more families are being drawn into that orbit of care, burden, and transformation.

Why does this matter for families?

When someone has an addiction, the effects spread. Families often face:

• Emotional strain: Guilt, fear, anger, hope, disappointment, repeated cycles.

• Practical burdens: Financial stress, caring responsibilities, navigating services.

• Isolation and stigma: Many feel unable to speak openly about how addiction is affecting their household.

And because family members are not the focus of many addiction services, their needs often go unmet. That’s a gap that organisations like Families Out Loud exist to fill.

What’s changing in the landscape and how this benefits families

There are some emerging trends that offer hope:

• An increased recognition of co-occurring needs, such as mental health conditions alongside addiction, meaning services are slowly adapting.

• Growth in family-centred recovery models: Research shows that when families are actively involved in recovery (not just bystanders) outcomes improve significantly. For example, family-centred approaches have shown up to 35 % better outcomes in some studies.

• Investment in innovation and research around addiction treatment and services, which indirectly benefits families by improving support frameworks.

What this means for you as a family member

If you’re living with or supporting someone with addiction, here are some key take-aways:

• You are not alone. One in six families are dealing with this. Your feelings are valid.

• You also deserve support. Whether that’s a peer group, counselling, or simply someone to talk to who understands.

• Early engagement matters. Family involvement can make a real difference in the recovery journey .

• It’s okay to seek help for yourself. You don’t have to wait for or fix the other person you can begin by caring for yourself.

How Families Out Loud can help

At FOL, we believe that supporting families is integral to recovery. We offer:

• Peer support groups where you can share experiences with people who get it.

• One-to-one counselling focused on your experience, boundaries, resilience and hope.

• Guidance and signposting for navigating services, relationships, self-care and understanding addiction.

If you’ve been putting your own wellbeing on hold while you support someone else, today is a good day to take the first step back to yourself. You deserve understanding, support and hope.