Thousands of Doncaster households misusing drugs and alcohol - and it's got worse during lockdown

The Department for Education has released new statistics on the number of parents and children living across Yorkshire and the Humber referred to and assessed by social services between 2018 and 2019.

Revealing thousands of households were already severely abusing drugs or alcohol even before the Covid-19 lockdown struck.

The report found that in 2018/19 Doncaster had 952 alcohol referrals and 1,114 referrals for drug misuse.

“This report is truly saddening as it paints such a graphic and telling picture of how some families living across Yorkshire are living”, explains Nuno Albuqeruque, Group Treatment Lead at UKAT.

“We must remember that these aren’t just numbers; they’re children, parents, and carers whose situation last year was so concerning it was passed to social services to explore and support.”

The figures show that between 2018 and 2019, 57,850 referrals were made to social care services across Yorkshire which required further assessment.

Alcohol misuse was identified at the end of 8,270 assessments, accounting for (an aggregated) 15% of cases.

Drug misuse was identified at the end of 9,440 assessments, accounting for (an aggregated) 16% of cases.

Nuno said: “Our immediate concern now is how much worse their situations may have become since the COVID-19 lockdown was enforced.

“Those who were living with domestic violence, neglect, physical abuse, and drug and alcohol abuse now have nowhere to go, nowhere to escape to.

“Unfortunately, we’d expect to see the number of referrals into social care and support services rise during this time, particularly for alcohol misuse.

“Many people are using them as coping methods and for some, this will progress into dependency and addiction and will remain with them long after the lockdown measures are relieved.

“We urge everyone living across Yorkshire & The Humber to ask for help if they feel that they need it.

“We all need to come together, be kind, and to help those most vulnerable in our communities.”

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