Alcohol can have a profound impact on a person's life, affecting relationships, physical and mental health, and overall wellbeing. Explore Research in Practice resources to support Alcohol Awareness Week.
For many people, moderate alcohol consumption can have a number of social, psychological, and physiological benefits. However, drinking excessively can have immediate and long-lasting effects on health, and women who are pregnant or anyone who may be pregnant should avoid alcohol completely.
The harmful use of alcohol is an issue for many individuals and families who draw on care and support. Health and social care practitioners play a key role in working effectively with people who use alcohol or drugs harmfully.
People who use alcohol or drugs may be experiencing multiple stressors in their life, such as poor mental or physical health, poverty, housing needs, discrimination or limited social networks. It is important to explore these issues and remain aware of their potential impact while providing support.
Understanding fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Current guidance states that there is no safe level of alcohol during pregnancy. Yet, nearly 80% of pregnant women or people report drinking in the first trimester. Reasons for this include a lack of awareness of the affects, misinformation, stress, trauma, addiction, or unplanned pregnancy.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that occurs in the fetus due to prenatal alcohol exposure. It can cause brain and central nervous system differences such as in attention, memory, language, motor skills and behaviour.
FASD is one of the most under-recognised and under supported neurodevelopmental conditions in the UK. Explore a Frontline Briefing that helps practitioners understand FASD, its impact on families, and how to better support affected children and young people.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder – identifying and responding in practice with families: Frontline Briefing
Explore how child and family social care practitioners play a pivotal role in prevention, recognising signs of FASD, supporting diagnosis, and advocating for support.
Alcohol use and self-neglect
Situations in which alcohol or drug use becomes problematic may lead to self-neglecting behaviours. Intervention to promote the person’s wellbeing and protect them from harm may become necessary. Explore a Practice Guide that aims to equip readers with the legal, ethical, and practical tools to support people whose alcohol or drug use causes harm and may amount to self-neglect under the Care Act 2014.
Supporting people who use alcohol or drugs: Practice Guidance
Understanding how alcohol or drug use can affect decision-making and executive functioning is a key area of practice for social care professionals assessing mental capacity. Explore trauma-informed, stigma-aware approaches to supporting people whose substance use may impact decision-making.
The guide is part of a suite of seven specialist resources covering areas of practice where social care professionals may need to consider mental capacity.
Although the legal framework for identifying a deprivation of liberty has changed following the Supreme Court judgment in A Reference by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland [2026] UKSC 16, the principles and practice considerations explored in this guide remain highly relevant.
We are currently updating the resource to reflect the legal implications of this judgment. In the meantime, readers should consider the content alongside the updated legal position established by the ruling.
Alcohol use can carry social stigma. Patience, empathy and a nonjudgmental stance are all important qualities for practitioners who are supporting people who use alcohol harmfully.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) – identifying and responding in practice with families: Frontline Briefing (2025)
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. Recent studies suggest 2-4% of the population may have FASD, often undiagnosed. This resource helps practitioners understand FASD, its impact on families, and how to support affected children and young people.
Navigating complex mental capacity decisions in social care: Practice Guides and tools (2025)
Suite of specialist guides developed by Research in Practice to support practice in areas where assessing mental capacity can be particularly complex and designed to equip professionals with the tools, frameworks, and reflective prompts needed to make informed, legally sound, and person-centred decisions.