Much of the conflict and division in our in our society is due to drug and alcohol abuse and other related issues including violence in families, community safety, child protection and housing. Communities often cry out for more policing and new laws to address these issues. However, there is a limit to the effectiveness of legal strategies. The Blacktown Alcohol and Other drugs Family Services (BADFS) seeks to create social capital as a means of addressing family and substance use issues.

Eva Cox refers to social capital as “the processes between people which establish networks, norms and social trust and facilitate co-ordination for mutual benefit. Accumulated social trust allows groups and organisations, and even nations, to develop the tolerance sometimes needed to deal with conflicts and different interests.” (Cox. E.’ 1995)