May 14, 2026

S5 Ep7: Breaking Down Stigmas and Supporting Families of Those with Dependency Issues With Vivienne Evans

51 minutes

Behind the scenes of many addiction treatment support organisations are devoted souls who give their lives and careers in aid of helping families who are struggling with the addiction of a loved one. Today’s guest talks about overcoming shame, setting firm boundaries and the rehab myth within a family setting.

Vivienne Evans is the Chief Executive of Adfam, the national organisation for children and families affected by someone else’s substance misuse. Adfam advocates for support for these family members, trains practitioners to work with them, and provides support services. Vivienne has a long history of leadership roles within the public and charity sectors, has a background in drug and alcohol education and prevention within young people and families, and specialises in substance misuse policy and practice.

Adfam mission statement:
Adfam is the leading families and addiction charity in England. We are here for all the millions of people affected by someone else’s drinking or drug use. These people are children, parents, friends, partners, siblings and grandparents. Coping with someone you love experiencing these problems can cause physical, mental, emotional, social and financial distress. Substance use or gambling are often just one part of the story – so many also suffer mental ill health, domestic abuse and financial problems.
They may be afraid to speak out so they are hidden in plain sight. Adfam gives them a voice. More than five million people are affected in this country and we know how tough it can be, so we want to make their lives better. Our vision at Adfam is that family members affected by substance use or gambling are heard, valued and have access to support

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

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Adfam: https://adfam.org.uk
Adfam support services: https://adfam.org.uk/find-support/
Adfam guidance around dealing with a family member or loved one’s substance use in video: https://adfam.org.uk/video-support/, and written form: https://adfam.org.uk/for-families/.

Adfam social media pages:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/adfam
https://www.facebook.com/AdfamUK
https://www.instagram.com/adfamuk

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