The UWS-Oxfam Partnership fund is funding a study exploring the role of unpaid carers who support people affected by alcohol and drug use. The study is being undertaken by the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) in partnership with Carers Trust Scotland and Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs (Scottish Families). 

The study will run until May 2026 and aims to understand the challenges faced by unpaid carers, including the social and economic impacts of caring for a person using alcohol or drugs. The researchers also hope to determine the effectiveness of current support structures and identify key areas of need to inform future policy and practice.

“We know from previous studies that around 24,000 people in Scotland are caring for someone with alcohol or other drug problems and that most of those carers are women. However, we know very little about their lived experience including the effects providing this care has on their own health and wellbeing. This research will help us and our partners Carers Trust and Scottish Families to better understand the challenges they face and advocate for appropriate support and resourcing for those who work behind the scenes providing unpaid care for others.”
Dr April Shaw, UWS research team

Paul Traynor, Head of External Affairs at Carers Trust Scotland, said, “This partnership is a vital step towards addressing the significant gap in understanding the unique experiences of unpaid carers supporting someone with harmful alcohol or drug use. These unpaid carers often navigate complex situations with limited recognition or support. By working together with UWS and SFAD, we hope this research will generate meaningful evidence for these unpaid carers and shape more inclusive policies and improve the support available to this often-overlooked group.”

Justina Murray, CEO of Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, said: “There is a woeful lack of research on the experiences of those affected by someone else’s alcohol or drug use, despite an average of 11 people being harmed for each person using substances, across all relationships and social groupings. As a charity, we are encouraging our family members to recognise that they are unpaid carers, and that they are therefore entitled to all of the same rights, recognition and inclusion in care planning as other carers. This exciting new partnership project will really help us shine a light on their lives, and the changes we need to see in support and recognition for their role.”

 

This research aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), specifically Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 5: Gender Equality.