NEW FIGURES show the average monthly number of referrals made by the NSPCC Helpline about parental substance misuse in the South West have more than doubled on pre-lockdown levels.

Referrals are made to external agencies such as the police and children’s services when concerns reported to the helpline are considered to be serious enough to warrant further investigation.

Nationally, the number of people calling the NSPCC Helpline with concerns about parents’ use of drugs and alcohol has increased by 66 per cent since the start of the pandemic.

Head of NSPCC Helpline Kam Thandi said: “Parental substance misuse can have a seriously detrimental impact on the whole family. The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have created a perfect storm for families affected by this problem.

“At the NSPCC Helpline, we’ve not only seen a rise in contacts and referrals but we’re also seeing families who weren’t previously known to children’s services requiring help and support for substance misuse.

“The pressures on families at the moment are unprecedented and it is no surprise that our helpline is hearing that parents and carers are struggling with substance misuse.

"To keep our children safe it’s vital that those who are relying on drugs and alcohol, to the extent that the care of their children is being compromised, must seek help."

In the period before the first national lockdown, there was an average of 709 contacts a month from adults worried a child was being placed at risk by their parent or carer’s use of drink and/or drugs.

In the 10 months since then, this increased to an average of 1,178 contacts a month.

There were on average 43 referrals to agencies per month last year before the first lockdown, and this increased to an average of 90 referrals per month between April 2020 and January 2021.

In total, over the 10-month period there were 899 referrals made in the South West.

The NSPCC’s concerns are being backed by Adfam, a charity which provides support to families affected by drug, alcohol or gambling addiction.

Chief executive of Adfam Vivienne Evans said: “We are seeing that the usual daily challenges associated with a parent or family member’s alcohol or drug problem – fear, domestic abuse, isolation, loneliness, and mental stress – are being exacerbated by the lockdown measures.

“A staggering 88 per cent of the families that we surveyed in our ‘Families in Lockdown’ survey told us that the first lockdown negatively impacted a family member’s alcohol, drug or gambling problem.

“As drug and alcohol misuse is so stigmatised, we know that many young people are scared to seek support, and for many children affected by parental substance use, the lockdown impedes them from the safety of the school environment.”

The NSPCC is calling on anyone who is concerned a child is at risk due to parental substance misuse to contact their helpline.

Call 0808 800 5000 or visit adfam.org.uk for help.