Adfam

• 2nd & 3rd December 2026, 9.30am - 3.30pm (both days)
• Cost: £175
• Info: This advanced two-day course deepens understanding of how parental substance use affects children and families. It supports practitioners to recognise risk, understand trauma and strengthen protective factors that improve outcomes for children.

This course explores Hidden Harm, the often unseen impact of parental substance use on children and young people. It supports professionals and volunteers to recognise both the immediate and long-term effects on children, even when families appear to be coping.

Families affected by substance use often experience cycles of stress, worry, guilt, anger, and helplessness. These emotional responses are entirely understandable, yet over time they can become patterns that affect wellbeing, relationships, and decision-making.

This course focuses on the experiences of kinship carers, family members and friends who step in to care for children when parents are unable to do so, often due to substance use or other complex challenges.

Practitioners working with families affected by substance use, trauma, conflict, and bereavement are regularly exposed to high levels of emotional intensity and complexity. Without structured reflection and support, this can lead to burnout, vicarious trauma, and workforce fatigue.

This training course delivers essential insights into the issues surrounding parental substance misuse and safeguarding along with skills for working with parents who are using drugs or alcohol problematically. It is designed for anyone who’s work brings them into contact with parents who have issues with substance use.

Join our training course exploring the effects of trauma on families affected by substance use

Online training - Trauma in families affected by substance use

This one day training will equip practitioners to work more effectively with families affected by substance use where there is trauma. Participants will learn the neuroscience of trauma and practical strategies to support families.

Adfam organises forum events for practitioners and professionals with an interest in supporting families affected by substance use or gambling.

At each forum we focus on a unique topic relating to families and substance use, inviting a guest speaker with expertise in that topic, followed by a Q&A and wider discussion.