Aberlour's Families Voices Project Report

Despite recent falls, Scotland still has the highest rate of drug-related deaths in Europe. The data also demonstrates that there remains a strong correlation with deprivation, with mortality rates 12 times as high in the most deprived communities. 

Estimates by the Scottish Government indicate that 40-60,000 children may be impacted by alcohol and drugs use within families.  Children too often end up in care due to the impact of parental substance use. Furthermore, substance use is a direct risk factor in maternal deaths and women affected by substance use are at significant risk during the perinatal period, including from suicide. 

Studies have also shown that mothers with addiction are six times more likely to have their children removed than fathers. 

Women specific services – both community-based family support and residential rehabilitation and recovery services – are vital to reduce drugs harm affecting mothers and their children. 

Our services follow a model based on choice. Mothers are supported with their substance use in a variety of ways, each personalised to the individual. This includes Medication Assisted Treatment, such as methadone prescriptions, attending recovery and support meetings and working towards or maintaining abstinence.

The Families Voices Project

We believe services designed to support families must be shaped by the perspectives of families themselves, ensuring their voices are elevated, amplified and influence future care and support. 

Given the urgent need to improve support for mothers and their children impacted by substance use and perinatal mental health across Scotland, the Families Voices Project was established to achieve several aims:

• To work with mothers supported by Aberlour’s Mother and Child Recovery Houses and Intensive Perinatal Services to capture their views and experiences of support during their recovery journey.
• For the evidence gathered to directly inform our work to achieve our ambition of supporting many more mothers in recovery and their children to stay together, by growing and expanding our Mother and Child Recovery House model across Scotland, as well as our community-based support.

Read the full report.