Suffering among addicts' famies is being ignored, experts say

Experts at Glasgow University found that parents suffer stress and illness, while younger brothers and sisters are more likely to try drugs.

The study found addicts often stole from their families to pay for drugs.

Relatives also suffered stress and relationships broke down between brothers and sisters.

The study, for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, found abuse could lead to bitter family rows and would result in parents spending less time caring for other children.

Interviews with more than 60 drug users in Glasgow showed that concentrating on drug users meant the harm being done to addicts' families was being overshadowed.

The problem drug use of a close family member affects the health of parents, brothers and sisters Dr Marina Barnard Glasgow University

Research leader Dr Marina Barnard said it had been obvious for many years that young people would be drawn into heroin and cocaine by older brothers or sisters.

But policy-makers and prevention agencies did not pay enough attention to the risks.

The dossier highlighted the "devastating impact" on the family of a user's heroin or crack-cocaine addiction.

Researchers revealed that parents - on discovering a drugs problem - experienced confusion, panic, shame, shock and stress.

Dr Barnard added: "Some younger brothers and sisters in this study saw their siblings as sad, angry people who were being destroyed by their drug habit.

Drug addicts in Glasgow took part in the probe

"But others had either become curious enough to experiment with drugs themselves or been deliberately encouraged to try them.

"The problem of drug use in a close family member creates enduring stress, anxiety and conflict that have long-term consequences and severely affects the health and well-being of parents, brothers and sisters.

"Yet this study underlines the real difficulties in trying to help families, given that they tend to focus on the drug-affected child, rather than the negative effects on themselves.

"Policy-makers must give careful thought to ways in which better family support can most effectively mesh with existing treatment and prevention services."

Dr Barnard added that more efforts could be made to help families when they first find out about the drug use, before the problems become intractable.