DrugFAM is pleased to announce that our founder Elizabeth Burton-Phillips has been awarded an MBE in The 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for ‘services to people who experience drug addiction and their families’
The award is given by the Queen to an individual for outstanding service to the community. Elizabeth Burton-Phillips has been given the MBE in recognition of her unwavering and tireless contributions to raise awareness of the impact of drug and alcohol addiction on families; influencing policy and practice so the needs of families are better recognised and met.
Elizabeth founded the charity DrugFAM in 2006 which provides a lifeline to families, friends and partners affected by someone else’s addiction including those bereaved by addiction.
Elizabeth is the author of ‘Mum, can you lend me twenty quid? What drugs did to my family’ which was first published in 2007. Her personal memoir has now been read by many thousands of people across the world as it has been translated into 5 languages. The book describes how an ordinary family was devastated by drug addiction which led one of Elizabeth’s twin sons, Nick, to end his life in 2004, aged just 27. In 2012, “Mum, can you lend me £20?” was adapted into a Theatre in Education stage play for schools, prisons, rehabs, drug services and the community; celebrating the 100th performance at the Palace of Westminster in October 2015.
There will be an updated publication released by Piatkus/Little Brown Book Group on 7 December 2017 which will embrace the achievements of the charity over the last ten years.
Elizabeth was co-opted on to the government’s Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs New Recovery Committee in 2012. She has contributed to research by the Universities of Bath and Sterling which has produced new guidelines for professionals working with those bereaved by substance use. She has continues to deliver lectures and key note speeches to clinicians, practitioners and other stakeholders at schools, prisons, and conference events across the globe.
Elizabeth was recognised as a Woman of Achievement at the annual Women of the Year Lunch Awards from 2009-2012 and her courage and determination to support families continues to be acknowledged around the world.
Speaking about the award Elizabeth said:
‘I am truly humbled to accept this award from Her Majesty The Queen. The MBE will, without question, strengthen my resolve and determination to continue to do all I can to support families impacted by this disease and to bring about positive change for the stigma of addiction’.
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