LETTERS AND COMMENT
The 2017 Farmer Review, commissioned by the Ministry of Justice, concluded that strong family ties need to be‘ a golden thread’ running through the prison system and the agencies around it.
However, for individuals whose offending is driven by substance use, success often depends on what happens beyond formal supervision and compliance checks. It means connecting people to treatment, securing stable housing, and, where possible, rebuilding family relationships. Supporting families to set healthy boundaries when needed is also crucial, especially when the person’ s behaviour puts them at risk. Understanding these dynamics could improve the effectiveness of probation interventions for both families and the individual.
BREAKING THE CYCLE Reducing reoffending among individuals struggling with substance use is challenging, but there are opportunities to improve outcomes. This includes by strengthening links between probation, treatment providers, housing and family support services, by recognising and responding to the pressures faced by relatives and by giving them clear information and guidance. Across the justice system, the aim is clear – safer communities and fewer people trapped in cycles of crime. Families can play a crucial role in helping to achieve this, yet support for families in their own right is often overlooked. When they are informed, supported and included, the chances of recovery increase.
While reoffending rates among people with drug or alcohol dependence remain stubbornly high, strengthening probation is a chance to change that. Not just by boosting workforce capacity and improving supervision, but by bringing families in from the very start and creating a more effective route to recovery. If we are serious about breaking the cycle of reoffending, families must be treated not as an afterthought, but as essential partners. Robert Stebbings is policy and communications lead at Adfam
This article is based on the views and experiences of families Adfam has come into contact with as part of our work. If you’ re part of a family experiencing the stress and uncertainty of someone’ s time in custody, here are a few trusted organisations you can turn to for guidance and support:
Adfam offers information and guidance for families affected by substance use. adfam. org. uk
Prisoners’ Families Helpline( England and Wales) offers free, confidential emotional and practical support to families affected by imprisonment. www. prisonersfamilies. org
STRAIGHT TALK
It was refreshing to read Russell Booth’ s ideas on how to improve comms in the sector by being more honest and human( Let’ s get real, DDN, March, p18) – being upfront about the reality of some of the challenges we face, and owning up when we don’ t quite manage to overcome them.‘ No diagrams, awkward jargon or ambiguous vision statements,’ he says –‘ just what we’ re trying to do, and why it’ s difficult.’ Yes, please.
Our sector is far from being alone in this, obviously – and not all organisations are guilty – but so much of the way we communicate seems to be in that robotic‘ looking to support individuals who are seeking to overcome their challenges surrounding substance use’ style. Nobody talks like this. And he’ s absolutely right that this is only likely to get worse with the ever-growing impact of‘ AI slop’, so if we really want to get the public onside we need to start communicating in a way that’ s likely to resonate with them. John Elliott, by email
MAMMOTH TASK
After reading the article Let’ s get real( DDN, March, p18), I was struck by the enormity of what CGL refers to and the mammoth task which it implies.
Having navigated a personal journey from belligerent denial to long-term purposeful living and worked as a therapist in the field of recovery, I have some understanding of the process of meaningful change in an individual’ s journey from active addiction towards sustained recovery.
Each person is an individual, with vastly differing levels of commitment, capacity for change and the willingness to access support. I concluded that‘ Change Grow Live’ is unlikely to transpire unless meaningful change occurs. Therefore I suggest‘ Come Gain Listen’ may be a more realistic heading. Ronald Bell, by email
PUBS MATTER!
Debates around alcohol harm often focus on consumption levels, pricing and regulation, but less attention is given to where drinking takes place.
Over recent years there has been a steady shift towards drinking at home, driven in part by the availability of cheap supermarket alcohol. This can lead to people drinking in isolation, with fewer natural limits and less social accountability.
By contrast, pubs provide a more structured and sociable environment. There are informal controls around behaviour, trained staff, and a setting where excessive consumption is more visible and, at times, challenged. For many people, the pub is not just a place to drink, but a place to connect. If we are serious about reducing alcohol-related harm, there is an argument that the role of pubs as safer, supervised environments should be part of the conversation, rather than overlooked. Citizen of the bar stool, by email
DYNAMIC OUTREACH
I was inspired to read about Sally, the mental health nurse who takes outreach to the streets to support sex workers( DDN, March, p20). Well done to the team for taking support where it’ s needed instead of just waiting for formal assessments and appointments. We need more of this can-do approach, finding people at their point of crisis instead of banging on about‘ hard to reach’. It shames the sector that roles like Sally’ s‘ barely exist in the UK’. Michelle Clarkson, by email
Children Heard & Seen supports children and carers dealing with parental imprisonment through one-to-one work, peer groups, creative resources, and virtual sessions. childrenheardandseen. co. uk
Nacro is a social justice charity offering advice, housing support, substance misuse recovery, and resettlement services for ex-offenders and their families. www. nacro. org. uk
DDN welcomes all your comments. Please email the editor, claire @ cjwellings. com, join conversations on our Facebook page and LinkedIn, or send letters to DDN, CJ Wellings Ltd, Romney House, School Road, Ashford, Kent TN27 0LT. Longer comments and letters may be edited for space or clarity.
/ ddnmagazine @ ddnmagazine www. drinkanddrugsnews. com
WWW. DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS. COM APRIL 2026 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • 11