Numbers of kids abusing drugs spike in Bristol

There has been a sharp and shocking rise in the number of children in the Bristol area being exposed to drug and alcohol abuse, according to new figures.

In the South West of England, the NSPCC received almost 650 calls from residents, contacting the charity to inform them of the potential misuse of drugs and alcohol by adults when children were either nearby or in their care. This represents a 9% increase from the period 2013-14 when 593 people in the Bristol region contacted the NSPCC for the same reason. Across the UK, there have been more than 25,000 calls about this problem.

Some of the cases reported to the NSPCC have been so severe that the charity has passed the information to the police and social services.

One caller to the charity reported, “They have a party going on in the house every weekend; I see lots of people entering and leaving the property and there is a strong smell of drugs lingering in the air when this happens. The children are inside the home when the parties are taking place and I’m becoming worried for their welfare. The mother has a drinking problem and she regularly leaves the children at home on their own too.”

The figures have been released to coincide with the beginning of Children of Alcoholics Week. The aim of the week is to raise awareness of the issues faced by children whose parents have alcohol problems.