Grieving Mothers Call for Safe Spaces as Drug Use Among Children Rises

Grieving mothers and addiction experts are urging the government to create more safe spaces and specialist care for children struggling with drug and alcohol dependency, warning that existing support systems are failing some of the most vulnerable young people in the country. Their calls come as new data highlights growing demand for help among under-18s, alongside stark gaps in available services.

Figures from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System show that more than half of the 16,000 children who received drug and alcohol treatment in the past year were aged 15 or younger. The data also points to a 13 per cent rise in under-18s seeking support in 2024–25, a trend that has alarmed families and frontline workers alike.

Mothers who have lost children to addiction-related harm say the system too often intervenes too late. Many describe being passed between overstretched community services while watching their children’s conditions worsen. They argue that without dedicated, state-funded residential facilities for under-18s, young people with complex needs are left in unsafe environments where recovery is far harder to achieve.

An independent analysis of community care provision found significant disparities across regions, with some areas offering limited or no specialist support for children. In many cases, families are told that residential treatment is unavailable or that their child does not meet the threshold for admission. As a result, some children are treated alongside adults or left relying on outpatient services that parents say are inadequate for severe addiction.

Experts warn that early intervention is critical. Adolescence is a period of rapid brain development, and substance misuse at a young age can have long-term consequences for mental health, education, and social stability. Clinicians say that children with addiction often also face trauma, neglect, or mental health disorders, requiring integrated care rather than fragmented support.

Families say the lack of safe residential spaces places unbearable strain on parents. Some mothers describe sleeping with their doors locked or monitoring their children through the night, fearing overdose or exploitation. Others say they were advised to involve police or child protection services, steps they felt risked criminalising their children rather than helping them recover.

The issue has also raised questions about funding priorities. While there has been renewed attention on adult addiction services in recent years, campaigners argue that children’s services remain under-resourced. They say investment has failed to keep pace with rising need, leaving local authorities to ration care and rely heavily on charities.

Government officials have acknowledged pressures on youth addiction services and say efforts are under way to improve early intervention and mental health support. However, campaigners argue that without dedicated residential facilities for under-18s, progress will remain limited. They are calling for a national strategy that recognises childhood addiction as a safeguarding and health issue, not just a behavioural problem.

For bereaved mothers, the debate is deeply personal. Many say that if appropriate care had been available sooner, their children might still be alive. They hope that sharing their stories will push policymakers to act, ensuring that children battling addiction are offered safety, dignity, and a genuine chance of recovery rather than being left to fall through the cracks.