SMART Recovery: Global mutual help with a scientific foundation
This workshop focuses on how SMART Recovery meetings are useful and appealing for individuals with both addictive and mental health problems. SMART is a free mutual help group using a self-empowering, science-based, progress-oriented, and holistic approach for any type of addictive problem. The approach can also be applied to (the frequently present) co-occurring mental health problems of participants.
SMART, established in the US in 1994, is now an international organization with meetings in 36 countries, publications in 15 languages, and approximately 2300 weekly meetings worldwide. SMART meetings are structured and open discussions which focus on SMART’s 4-Points: (building and maintaining motivation, coping with urges, addressing problematic thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and achieving greater lifestyle balance). Many participants make use of the wide range of psychological tools and techniques drawn from evidence-based addiction treatments (especially CBT and MI). These tools and techniques are generally applicable to both addictive and mental health problems.
This workshop will begin with an overview of the evidence supporting the effectiveness of SMART meetings. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that SMART enhances recovery supportive social connections, coping skills, self-efficacy and recovery motivation. Findings from the USA and Australia also indicate that SMART both complements formal treatment and offers a standalone approach to support participant recovery outcomes (including reduction in alcohol/ drug use, recidivism, and relapse).
The workshop will then summarize how SMART meetings operate, including their rules and guidelines, the role of the (volunteer or paid) facilitator, the various meeting structures, and how the meeting discussions foster a non-judgmental perspective, focused on building self-empowerment and self-efficacy in participants.
The final section will demonstrate a small meeting, using conference participants to role-play clients. The role-play will be structured to demonstrate how to address common presentations, issues that can occur as a result of interactions between participants in a meeting and how to reframe substance use and mental health problems into opportunities for growth for all participants.
SMART has the potential to support a broad range of individuals in a broad range of settings and could help bridge the gap between the need for professional services and their availability. Further research should include randomised controlled trials to determine efficacy, implementation studies on integrating SMART into various settings, and explore method to recruit, train, and retain facilitators to strengthen the sustainability and reach of SMART Recovery.
