National Assembly for Wales / Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru
Health and Social Care Committee / Y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol

Inquiry into alcohol and substance misuse / Ymchwiliad i gamddefnyddio alcohol a sylweddau

Evidence from Team Around the Family, Flintshire – ASM(Q) 04 / Tystiolaeth gan Tîm o Amgylch y Teulu, Sir y Fflint – ASM(Q) 04

Inquiry into alcohol and substance misuse

Survey Consultation Response

Organisation: Team Around the Family Flintshire

The Team around the Family find appropriate support for families, children and young people, depending on their needs. A number of our service users misuse alcohol and/or substances. This is a response on behalf of Flintshire Team Around the Family.

Questionnaire

01. Which client group(s) do you work with? (For example, under 18s, older persons, homeless, or female only)

We work with whole families, parents, children and young people. We also work with extended family where appropriate – grandparents etc.

02. What are the main reasons why your clients take drugs or drink excessively?  Please tick all that apply.

If you work with more than one client group or you feel that there are other reasons as to why your clients take drugs or drink excessively, please comment in the box below.

§ Peer pressure;

§ A way to deal with stress;

§ Client’s already substance reliant;

§ Mental health;

§ Relieve social anxiety;

§ Environmental factors (for example – excessive drinking and/or drugs normalised in the home/community)

§ Relationship problems;

§ Financial concerns;

§ Self-medication.

Comments

A lot of the parents that we work with who abuse substances, tend to do so due to mental health issues, as a form of self-medication and a way to cope with family stresses, e.g. financial and relationship problems. For the young people, it is more about relieving social anxiety and peer pressure. For all groups, the environment plays a significant role. For example, there are certain areas where it has become normalised to drink in the community.

03. Are there certain groups of people who are more likely to be affected by drugs and excessive drinking? If so, which groups might they be?

All groups are affected by drinking and substance misuse, but it has become more socially acceptable in certain groups. We have areas of deprivation in Flintshire and many of the adults within the local area are unemployed and are therefore in the community during the day and spending time together as a group. Drinking together in the street or at someone's house has become normalized.

04. Does a particular stage of your clients’ lives influence their likelihood of taking drugs or drinking excessively? If so, what stage might that be? (i.e. age, relationship breakdown, unemployment etc.)

Unemployment plays a major factor in increasing levels of drinking and substance misuse. It is also often used to mask relationship problems and to manage the effects of domestic abuse.

05. What barriers exist for your client(s) when trying to access support and services?

There are limited services in Flintshire to support people misusing alcohol and substances. The team supporting young people offer a valuable service, but the young people have to consent to this and there can be a stigma attached to accessing this support amongst their peer groups. Support services also tend to be based in the towns and transport can be a major barrier to those living in more rural areas. Lack of transport and the finances to pay for local transport if it is available is one of the biggest barriers to accessing the support services.

06. What barriers exist for services when trying to access support for client(s)?

Lack of services, lack of transport, difficulty in engaging service users, waiting lists.

07. What do you consider to be barriers for staff and frontline services in working with your client group(s), or substance misuse generally?

Difficulty in engagement, lack of resources, waiting lists. Lack of therapeutic services.

08. Where do you think efforts should be targeted to address the issue of alcohol and substance misuse in Wales?

Schools and youth services need to take a lead on working with young people, not just to "say no" but to look at the real, long term effects of alcohol and substance misuse and the impact it can have on their future.

09. In which local authority area do you work? If you work outside of Wales, please write your local authority area below.

Flintshire.

Contact Details

Rhiannon Edwards

Team Around the Family Coordinator

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