Title: Understanding and responding to those bereaved through their family members' substance misuse
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: By investigating experiences and concerns of family members bereaved by substance misuse, this two-phase study will develop, test and validate guidelines to assist practitioners in supporting this group. At a time when substance misuse related deaths are increasing and support for bereaved families lacking, it will address a significant gap in understanding and addressing the needs of this group. This will be achieved through in-depth interviews with bereaved family members and consultation with policy-makers and practitioners in South West England and the West of Scotland. Based in the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath, the study will involve collaboration with researchers from the Universities of Stirling and Glasgow, with expertise in addiction studies, and include a bereaved family member as part of the Research Team. This collaboration will provide access to academics, policymakers, practitioners and family members to ensure that the study is conducted ethically, informed by practice and findings have maximum impact. The use of two study locations will increase representativeness. It is timely in view of a new Department of Health work programme on bereavement and increased attention being given to families in national drug and alcohol strategies. Whilst much is known about the impact of substance misuse on families across the globe, little research has explored the experiences of family members whose relative has died through substance misuse, The only UK studies to focus on bereavement through drug use, have highlighted the lack of guidance for practitioners (Guy, 2004). A recent report suggested 1.5 million adult family members in the UK are affected by the illegal drug misuse of a relative. Though alcohol was not included, the numbers of families affected are believed to be even higher because alcohol misuse is a greater problem. Across the UK in 2008 there were 9,031 identified alcohol-related deaths (ONS, 2010) and 3,442 identified drug-related deaths reported to coroners (NPSAD, 2009). Death rates tend to be higher in drug and alcohol misusing populations than the general population, more likely to be sudden, related to overdose or suicide and associated with shorter life expectancies. Many family members will have been seriously affected by their relative's substance misuse, including worrying that their relative may die. Many will ultimately have suffered bereavement. Studies of those bereaved by other marginalised deaths, such as murder, suicide or AIDS, have highlighted that grief may be compounded by social and moral stigma and coping with disturbing memories. With ethical approval from the Universities of Bath, Stirling and Glasgow, up to 50 bereaved family members from each study site: South West England and the West of Scotland, will be recruited from a range of sources to obtain a varied sample that will enable comparisons to be made within and between the two sites. Those who participate will be interviewed at length and on their own, with interviews undertaken sensitively and support services made available if needed. Interviewing will encourage participants to introduce their own topics of concern so as to develop theory that reflects their own experiences and meanings. Data will be analysed alongside subsequent interviewing, so that interviewing and analysis inform each other, a particularly effective approach in areas where little research exists. In addition to theory development, findings will inform development, testing and validating of new practice guidelines in consultation with policy-makers, practitioners and bereaved people. Findings will raise awareness of issues faced by this important but neglected group of bereaved individuals and promote evidence-based practice through being widely disseminated via conferences and publications and shared with a range of interested people and organisations, including research participants and other bereaved family members.


Research activity codes: 7.1 INDIVIDUAL CARE NEEDS;8.1 ORGANISATION AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH