Elizabeth Burton-Phillips

When Elizabeth Burton-Phillips lost one of her twin sons to heroin addiction the experience led her to campaign to raise awareness about the way drug addiction damages family life, and to help other families cope with these problems.

In 2006 Elizabeth founded DrugFAM, a charity which now helps thousands of people affected by drug use, including those who suffer bereavement through addiction.

In 2012 her book Mum, Can You Lend Me Twenty Quid? was adapted into a Theatre in Education stage play for schools, police training and prisons. In October 2015 the play celebrated its hundredth performance at the Palace of Westminster.

She has served as an advisor to the UK government and many other organisations. She has been invited to speak at hundreds of senior events in the UK and overseas. The Woman of the Year Lunch Awards nominated her for the award of Woman of Achievement consecutively from 2009-2012.

In 2017 Elizabeth was awarded an MBE for services to people who experience drug addiction and their families.

Elizabeth speaks powerfully about addiction issues and how best to help families grappling with these intensely difficult problems. She receives thousands of letters:

“Reading your book has been an inspiration to me … you have shown me that, as a mother, I am not alone with this problem”.