In some cases, concerns about drug or alcohol use can be a significant factor when making decisions about child contact arrangements. While child contact centres are not responsible for providing drug or alcohol testing services, information from an appropriately qualified testing provider can sometimes help professionals, courts and families make informed decisions about risk, safety and progress. Drug and alcohol testing may be used alongside other assessments and interventions to provide evidence of substance use, abstinence, or ongoing recovery where this is relevant to a family’s circumstances. This can support risk assessments, inform care planning, and provide reassurance when contact arrangements are being reviewed. Contact centres frequently work alongside other specialist services, including drug and alcohol services, as part of a wider multi-agency approach to supporting safer family relationships.
When considering any drug or alcohol testing provider, it is important that the testing process is robust, transparent and capable of standing up to professional and legal scrutiny. One of the key safeguards is the provider’s chain of custody procedures. Chain of custody refers to the documented process that tracks a sample from collection through to laboratory analysis and reporting, providing an auditable record of who handled the sample at each stage. This helps ensure that samples are correctly identified, securely transported and protected from contamination, substitution or tampering.
Reliable chain of custody arrangements are particularly important in family law cases, where testing results may be considered by social workers, Cafcass practitioners, solicitors and the courts. A clear and documented process helps provide confidence that the results reported relate to the correct individual and accurately reflect the evidence being presented. This supports informed decision-making where children’s welfare and family relationships are concerned.
NACCC does not endorse any specific provider, product or testing method. However, we have developed a positive working relationship with Lextox, a UK provider specialising in family law, drug and alcohol testing.
Through this relationship, we have gained a greater understanding of the role that high-quality testing and abstinence monitoring can play in safeguarding, risk assessment and family court proceedings. Lextox provides abstinence monitoring programmes where these are instructed through legal representatives or professionals as part of ongoing case management. One published case study describes how long-term abstinence monitoring helped a family demonstrate sustained abstinence, contributing to a child remaining in the care of their parents and avoiding further court intervention.
Ongoing drug and alcohol monitoring is a way of helping to prove abstinence over a set period of time. While hair testing can establish historic use, monitoring tools such as DrugPatch and Breath Test provide forward monitoring. Once historic use has been established, abstinence monitoring works best when an individual is engaged and ready to start their abstinence journey. Ideally, they will have tested negative on a hair test, proving their commitment, before beginning their programme.
DrugPatch is a non-invasive patch worn on the outer upper arm for up to seven days at a time, typically on a 4-week, 8-week or 12-week programme. It continually monitors sweat for the use of drugs, and once the patch is removed, it is sent to a laboratory for testing. Breath Test is a portable breathalyser device which tests breath samples for traces of alcohol. Once a test is completed, the results are immediately sent to the service user’s legal representative for real-time monitoring. Breath Test programmes typically run for 30, 60 or 90 days.
Not all families who benefit from drug or alcohol testing are involved with the courts, children’s services, Cafcass or other professionals. In some cases, separated parents may be making arrangements privately and agree that testing could help build trust, reduce conflict and support safe contact arrangements. Lextox offers an independent laboratory hair testing service (only) for individuals who do not have legal representation, providing access to drug and alcohol testing through accredited laboratory analysis. Analysis should be undertaken by an appropriately accredited laboratory using validated methods.
There may be occasions where one parent has concerns about a history of substance misuse, recent recovery from addiction, or allegations of drug or alcohol use that are affecting discussions about child contact. In these circumstances, voluntary testing can sometimes provide objective information that helps parents move forward, rebuild confidence and focus on the needs of their child. Some families may choose to incorporate testing into wider agreements about contact arrangements, particularly where there is a desire to demonstrate ongoing abstinence, providing objective information, or reduce the likelihood of ongoing disputes. Such arrangements should always be voluntary and focused on promoting the welfare of the child.
It is important to recognise that drug and alcohol testing, including abstinence monitoring, is only one part of a wider assessment process. No testing method can provide a complete picture of an individual’s circumstances, behaviour or parenting capacity. Results should always be considered alongside professional assessments, safeguarding information, observations, family circumstances and, where appropriate, the wishes and feelings of the child.
Whilst laboratory-based testing and monitoring can help identify substance use or demonstrate periods of abstinence, results must be interpreted within the context of the individual case. A negative result does not remove all risk, and a positive result should not automatically determine outcomes without consideration of the wider circumstances. Testing can provide valuable information, but it cannot by itself determine parenting capacity, identify every safeguarding concern, or guarantee future behaviour. Decisions about child contact and family arrangements should always be based on a holistic assessment, with the child’s welfare remaining the paramount consideration.
Families, solicitors, local authorities, Cafcass practitioners and child contact centres seeking more information about abstinence monitoring can learn more through the following resources:
Any decisions relating to Family Time should always be based on the individual circumstances of the child and family, with the child’s welfare remaining the paramount consideration. Drug and alcohol testing is only one part of a wider assessment process and should be considered alongside professional judgement, safeguarding information and any relevant court directions.