AFINet was set up with support from a grant by the Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA).

The group itself was established in the UK in the early 1980’s and its core at present is as a two-centre collaboration between the Cities of Bath/Bristol and Birmingham, incorporating some of the NHS and academic institutions in these cities.

Key members of the original group were: Alex Copello, Akan Ibanga, Jim Orford, Lorna Templeton, Richard Velleman and Laura Nice, although many others have participated in and made significant contributions to the group’s research over the years. 

Research by the group has been primarily interested in two things:

• Obtaining detailed information about family members’ experiences; 
• Applying this knowledge, both to help practitioners and other health and social care workers respond to the needs of family members, and to develop a clearer perspective on theory, practice, research and policy in this area.