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Substance use

Substance use

Parental mental ill health and substance use are factors that can have a negative impact on parenting capacity and often co-exist. Children and young people may be adversely affected by their parent's mental ill health or substance use but may also experience difficulties themselves with mental ill health and substance use.

Use of alcohol or drugs can affect a parent’s ability to care for their children depending on the level and nature of the use, and this may subsequently affect their children’s welfare and development.

For information on parental substance use and working with partner agencies to assess risk, social workers can refer to the CSCP multi-agency guidance on working with parents who use substances:

For details of joint working with substance use services where parents have a substance use issue, social workers should refer to the CSSW/substance use services joint working protocol.

Last updated: 20 February 2026