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Alcohol, Drugs and the Family
Social Support Scale
The questionnaire asks about what has happened to you in the last 3 months. The words friends/relations
means anyone that you have met in that time, and relative means the person with the drinking and/or drug
taking problem. Please tick one answer to each question.
© ADF R&D Group 2009. All rights reserved.
Never Once
or Twice
Sometimes Often
1. Friends/relations have understood what it is like for me to live
with my relative’s drinking or drug taking.
2. Friends/relations have helped to cheer me up.
3. Health/social care workers have given me helpful information
about problem drinking or drug taking.
4. I have friends/relations whom I trust.
5. Friends/relations have listened to me when I have talked
about my feelings.
6. Friends/relations have backed the decisions that I have taken
towards my relative and their drinking or drug taking.
7. Friends/relations have put themselves out for me when
I needed practical help (i.e. aid or assistance).
8. Friends/relations have advised me to focus on myself
and my own needs.
9. Friends/relations have questioned my efforts to stand up to
my relative’s problem drinking or drug taking.
10. Friends/relations have been too critical of my relative.
11. Friends/relations have given me space to talk about my problems.
12. Friends/relations have said that my relative should leave home.
13. Friends/relations have said things about my relative that
I do NOT agree with.
14. Friends/relations have avoided me because of my
relative’s drinking or drug taking.
15. Health/social care workers have made themselves available for me.
16. Fiends/relations have blamed me for my relative's behaviour.
17. Friends/relations have said that my relative
does NOT deserve help.
18. I have identified with the information within books/booklets
about people living with a problem drinker or drug taker.
19. Friends/relations have told my relative off on my behalf.
20. Friends/relations have advised me to leave my relative.
21. Friends/relations have been there for me.
22. Friends/relations have provided support for the way I cope
with my relative.
23. Friends/relations have talked to me about my relative and
listened to what I have to say.
24. Friends/relations have said nasty things about my relative.
25. I have confided in my health/social care worker
about my situation.