Alcohol and drugs

Alcohol and drugs affects some children, young people and their families. This might be because a parent or carer regularly drinks alcohol or takes drugs, or because a child or young person does. When someone is struggling not to drink alcohol or take drugs, there is plenty of help available for them.

In the UK, is legal for people to drink alcohol when they turn 18-years old and the government recommends that people only drink a certain amount of alcohol a week. Although alcohol is legal, it can affect people’s health negatively and it is important that children, young people and adults understand this. When parents and carers struggle to limit how much alcohol they drink, this can really affect the children and young people living with them.

In the UK, there are a group of drugs that are illegal and if someone is found with these drugs or selling these drugs, they might be arrested by the police and fined, or sent to prison. Sometimes people take illegal drugs because of how they make them feel and then become addicted. Living with someone who is addicted to drugs can be really difficult and sometimes even dangerous for children and young people.

If you would like to learn more about the effect of alcohol and different types of drugs, you can visit these websites:

 

Are you a child or young person who is worried about an adult’s alcohol and/or drug use?

 

Are you a child or young person worried about your own alcohol or drug use?

 

If you would like to speak to a social worker in your area, you can contact them via email or on the phone:

Hammersmith & Fulham: [email protected] or 020 8753 6600
Kensington and Chelsea: [email protected] or 020 7361 3013
Westminster: [email protected] or 020 7641 4000

In an emergency, call 999.