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A comprehensive survey of two thousand adults indicated that 25% of individuals in the UK worry that a spouse, relative, or close acquaintance has a drinking problem. Additionally, one in six those surveyed reported worries about a loved one's use of substances.

Increasing Dependency Epidemic

These findings tend to highlight what several professionals refer to as a increasing "crisis" of substance misuse to alcohol or substances such as cocaine use and marijuana.

National data reveal that the NHS in the country is assisting more than 310,000 people per year for drug or alcohol problems – the most significant number from 2009-10. Drink-related mortalities are higher than ever before.

"The epidemic of drink and substance use is getting worse. The government says people are consuming less alcohol, but I don't see that," commented a specialist specialising in dependency.

The group commissioning the study has observed a 40 percent increase in recent years in the figure of individuals looking for support for substance issues, with more women than men.

Significant Study Findings

• One in ten are concerned that themselves have a drinking problem and one in twenty that themselves use drugs too often.
• 26% are anxious that a spouse, relative, or friend overindulges in drink.
• 16% are concerned about a family member's use of illegal drugs.
• Individuals that earn more than £50,000 a year are three times more prone to contain a person with an addiction problem.

Multi-generational Dependency

Furthermore, 15% of those surveyed said that dependency had affected more than one generation of their relatives. Professionals proposed that hereditary factors might help to explain that, and some people may be copying the actions of either or both of their mother and father.

A campaign titled Stop the Pattern is being launched to highlight how common multi-generational dependency is.

Official Statement

A representative for the Ministry of Health and Social Care said that the department were revitalizing National Health Service drug and alcohol care programs in the country after a long period of underfunding.

"The government has provided an further 310 million pounds in next year to improve substance and drink treatment services and help services in England, alongside the national budget. The strategy for change will move healthcare towards proactive measures, featuring through prompt assistance, to enable residents to live longer, improved lives across the United Kingdom," they said.