The United Kingdom's first family drug and alcohol court will start in January at the Inner London Family Proceedings Court, BBC News reported on Nov. 26. 

Based on the United States model, the court will provide support and assessment to families that are affected by parental drug and/or alcohol abuse. 

Judge Nick Crichton said that the model is worth trying in the UK. "For too many years I have seen children, sometimes the fifth, sixth or seventh from the same family, being taken into care because of parental misuse of alcohol and/or drugs," said Crichton. "This is not beneficial for the children and is expensive for the taxpayer."

The idea for the court came after officials realized that two-thirds of proceedings were being initiated because of parental substance abuse.

"[Families] receive help from therapists, mentors, who are parents but also former substance users who have been through similar experiences as them and have successfully managed to keep their children, as well as specialist clinical staff," said Anne Turner, assistant director, Camden (UK) Children Schools and Families.

Turner said the court will help parents decide whether they are ready to look after their children who have been taken into care.