If you need help right now:
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If someone’s physical or mental health needs immediate attention, or you are worried about your own or someone else’s safety, call 999.
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If you need urgent help but it is not an emergency, call 111.
If you need support, but it is not urgent, get in touch with your doctor who will be able to help you find support.
Most parents and carers who drink alcohol or use drugs do so safely and in moderation. But sometimes, drinking or drug use can become difficult to manage and start to affect family life.
If drinking or drug use becomes a problem it can make it harder to provide safe care for children.
It's important that parents and carers get support if they're concerned about their drinking or drug use.
When does alcohol or drug use become a concern?
Alcohol and other drug use, becomes a concern when drinking alcohol or taking drugs becomes problematic, harmful, or if a person develops a dependency.
By ‘problematic, harmful, or dependency’ we mean when someone is:
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Putting themselves or others in danger.
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Continues to drink or take drugs even if it puts them at risk of illness (both psychological or physical).
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Craves alcohol or other drugs and continues to use them even though it may be causing them health, social, or financial problems.
How can alcohol and other drug use affect children?
Substance use can have negative effects on children at different stages in their lives.
During pregnancy, drinking and drug use can put babies at risk of birth defects, premature birth, being born underweight and withdrawal symptoms.
In later years, substance use can put children at risk of:
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Physical and emotional abuse or neglect.
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Behavioural or emotional problems.
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Having to care for their parents or siblings.
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Being exposed to drugs or criminal activity.
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Poor attendance at school.
Children exposed to substance use are statistically more likely to use substances themselves (Public Health England, 2021).
Signs that drug or alcohol use might be becoming a problem
Recognising the signs of problematic drug use is an important step toward getting help. Common signs include:
Physical signs:
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Losing or gaining weight quickly.
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Not taking care of your personal hygiene or appearance as you would normally.
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Getting ill more often.
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Changes in sleep patterns – struggling to sleep or sleeping far more than usual.
Changes in behaviour:
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Being more secretive Increased secrecy or lying about things to friends and family.
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Losing interest in hobbies, studying work or usual routines.
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Sudden mood changes, irritability, or aggression.
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Making decisions that could put you or someone else at risk, such as unsafe sex or driving under the influence.
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Difficulty concentrating or remembering things.
Social and daily life signs
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Withdrawing from family and friends.
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Struggling to keep up at school or work.
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Money worries including borrowing or stealing money.
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Spending time with new friends who use.
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Getting into trouble with the police.
Emotional signs
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Starting to feel anxious, low or suspicious of others.
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Craving substances or struggling to cut down or stop.
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Using substances to cope with stress or difficult feelings.
Places to go for further information and support with alcohol and drug misuse
Regardless of your age or situation, support is available for you.
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Addiction Family Support supports people across the UK impacted by a loved one’s harmful use of alcohol, drugs or gambling. They have a helpline 03008883853 and you can also access support via email on the Addiction Family Support website.
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Adfam is a charity in England that support people affected by someone else’s drinking, drug use or gambling. Find out more about Adfam’s services on their website.
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ASCERT are a charity that provide services across Northern Ireland aimed at reducing alcohol and drug related harm. You can find information, resources and details of services for young people and adults on the ASCERT website.
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Crew is a harm reduction and outreach charity based in Scotland. You can talk to them via text on 07860047501 or visit the Crew website.
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DAN 24/7 is a free and bilingual telephone helpline providing a single point of contact for anyone in Wales wanting further information and/or help relating to drugs and/or alcohol. Their website has bilingual information and the helpline can help you access services you might need.
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Drugs and Alcohol NI is supported by Public Health Agency (PHA). You can find information about alcohol and drugs as well as details of services near you in you’re in Northern Ireland on the Drugs and Alcohol NI website.
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FRANK is a website that has honest information about drugs, as well as details of local and national services in England, and where to go to if you need help. Find out more about these services by visiting the FRANK website.
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Know the Score is a Scottish Government campaign which aims to provide accurate and factual information about drugs and the consequences of their use. The Know the Score website has information about local services in Scotland. They also provide free and confidential support via a helpline 08005875879 and webchat which are open Monday – Friday 9am-9pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm.
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Nacoa provide information, advice and support for everyone affected by a parent’s drinking, from children to adults. They have a free helpline you can phone on 0800 358 3456 or email [email protected], which is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 7pm.You can contact them wherever you are in the UK.
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WithYou is a drug, alcohol and mental health charity who run services in England and Scotland. They provide free and confidential support to adults and young people facing challenges with drugs, alcohol and mental health. They have over 80 services and a free online chat function where you can access support. Find out more about these services by visiting the WithYou website.
What should I do if I’m worried about a child?
If you are concerned that a child may be at imminent risk, always call 999 immediately.
If you are concerned that a young person could be at non-immediate risk, there are services you can contact for support:
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The NSPCC have a dedicated helpline you can contact if you are worried about a child. You can contact the NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000 or emailing [email protected].
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Childline offers free, confidential advice and support to all children, whatever their worry. Contact Childline online or on their freephone on 0800 1111
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If you think a child is at risk because of their parents or carers drug or alcohol use you can contact the social care team at their local council.
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If you’re in England find out how to report concerns to a local council.
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Find out about reporting a concern in Scotland.
If you are worried about a child, it is important that you share that concern. The information you have may help professionals to build a better picture about what might be happening.
How we support families at Barnardo’s
We support children, young people and their families with problems arising from alcohol and other drug use. There is also support available if you are a parent or career who is struggling.
Children affected by domestic abuse
Domestic abuse can have a devastating impact on entire families. If you think a child is being affected by domestic abuse there are steps you can take to help them feel safe and supported, and services that can guide you through what to do next.
Building healthier family relationships
People have different opinions, emotions, and ways of handling stress, so it's natural that disagreements happen. What matters most is how these conflicts are managed. This page explains what parental conflict is, what causes it, and how to reduce it in your family
Self-harm: what parents and carers need to know
If your child is self-harming, or you’re worried they might be, it’s completely natural to feel frightened, upset, or unsure about what to do. We’ve got advice on warning signs you should look out for, how you can support someone, and where to find professional help.
All of the information on this page was created with practising health professionals. This page was reviewed in December 2025. We will next review the page in 2028.