This review examines the available research about both the impact of problem drug use and interventions designed to reduce that impact. It starts by looking at definitions, the extent of problem drug use, and its impact across important aspects of children’s lives. These are linked to the dimensions that practitioners will be familiar with through their use of the Assessment Framework for Children in Need (C1)*. Messages for practice are then drawn from both the impact and intervention studies. The studies are those already published in the UK and Ireland, and conducted over the past ten years or so. Some intervention studies from the USA have been included because of the lack of such material in UK and Irish research.

The review is intended for social care workers involved with adults – using or affected by drugs – and their children and young relatives. Beyond social services, it is intended for probation workers, health visitors and midwives, teachers and those delivering drug services. Beyond front-line staff and their managers, it is intended for use by Primary Care Trust commissioners and others planning or conducting service reviews, in single or multi-agency work.