Recovery Tools
Recovery Tools
Recovery Tools
The development of this presentation was funded by the Australian Government, Department of Health
WHO WE ARE
Reach:
• Established in 1994, now approx. 3000 meetings in 31 countries
• Over 200 meetings across Australia (primarily embedded within treatment provider services)
KEY STRATEGIC FOCUS
Demonstrate how SMART Listen and understand your Discuss how integrating
Recovery can be applied in service needs and SMART Recovery can
the treatment setting objectives support your objectives
AGENDA
01 Sector challenges
03 How we partner
SECTOR CHALLENGES
DIFFICULTIES THAT
CLIENTS HAVE IN
ACCESSING TREATMENT
Source: Bryant, J., Horwitz, R., Gray, R., Lafferty, L., Jops, P, Blunden, H.
Brener, L. (2020). Barriers and enablers associated with access and equity in
alcohol and other drug treatment in NSW. Report. Sydney: Centre for Social
Research in Health, UNSW Sydney.
IMMEDIATE CONNECTION AND SUPPORT
MEETING STRUCTURE:
Check in - ‘How was your last week?’ / Practical, goal driven and logical
‘What do you want to work on this week?’ Participant6
Discussion - ‘What worked / didn't work
in the last week?’, discuss which tools
might be useful, set individual goal / plan
for the following week, helping / learning
from the group Staff and clients have consistency
of what to expect whenever a
Check out - ‘What did you get out of the SMART group is run
meeting?’ Repeat plan for the next week
Brendan, Uniting
Challenge 2
SUSTAINING
ENGAGEMENT
WITH TREATMENT
Source: Bryant, J., Horwitz, R., Gray, R., Lafferty, L., Jops, P, Blunden, H. Brener, L. (2020).
Barriers and enablers associated with access and equity in alcohol and other drug treatment in
NSW. Report. Sydney: Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney.
A SAFE SPACE FOR GROWTH
Retention improves outcomes7. Each key driver1 aligns with our philosophy:
Lapses seen as learning opportunities and Very connecting between participants and a real focus to group
supported without judgement interactivity
SMART groups improve self esteem and It's more about the here and now, rather than dredging back up
reduce social isolation8 the past - what you change going forward vs. what you can't
Learning to make healthier choices increases It helps people build from their strengths and gain esteem
self-esteem, assertiveness and agency from small wins
Facilitator10
SMART recognises treatment journeys are It doesn’t matter what the behavior is, it doesn’t matter if it’s
alcohol or drugs, SMART Recovery will work on anything and
not linear and goals may change over time
we know it works
Adam, facilitator5
SMART can be integrated across a range of It aligns really well, it fits in really good – it's really small and achievable and it fits
treatment and support settings into the harm minimisation perspective ... It complemented our services as well
Facilitator5
MAINTAINING
POSITIVE OUTCOMES
IN THE POST-
TREATMENT PERIOD
Source: Bryant, J., Horwitz, R., Gray, R., Lafferty, L., Jops, P, Blunden, H. Brener, L. (2020).
Barriers and enablers associated with access and equity in alcohol and other drug treatment in
NSW. Report. Sydney: Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney.
SMART TOOLS FOR LIFE
SMART aftercare allows clients to have informal service connection Increases substance refusal self-efficacy (self
for maintenance of treatment gains or ‘safety-net’ if required5 belief) - a key predictor of recovery
Continued attendance helps sustains positive behaviour SMART empowers participants across multiple
change life domains
Learnt CBT / self-management skills applied in real world / Effective in attaining health, wellbeing and
support lasting change employment
For me I use it mainly just for lifestyle and SMART provides constant support and allows people to drop in and engage
wellbeing right now, but I know if I were to have without the need for formal organizational resources to be used for issues
cravings or anything or thoughts like that, I know which are more appropriately supported at a group level
I'd be able to talk about that Mandy, Holyoake
I just needed to have something to fall back Change is placed into the hands of the individual therefore the resources
on if I started to struggle. and self learning within the SMART framework become the ownership of
the person and can be applied life long
Participant5
Suzanne, Haymarket Foundation
APPLICABLE ACROSS TREATMENT
SPECTRUM
MANAGING COVID-19
SERVICE DISRUPTION
Source: Dietze, P.M. and Peacock, A. (2020). Illicit drug use and harms in Australia in the
context of COVID-19 and associated restrictions: Anticipated consequences and initial
responses. Drug Alcohol Rev., 39: 297-300. Retrieved from
https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13079:
STAY CONNECTED WHEN YOU’RE NEEDED MOST
Online SMART groups can help retain access and sustain progress
during stressful lockdown periods
94% found online groups the same / better / much better than in person6
HIGH STAFF
TURNOVER
Source: Skinner, N., McEntee, A. & Roche, A. (2020). Australia’s Alcohol and Other Drug
Workforce: National Survey Results 2019-2020. Adelaide,South Australia: National Centre for
Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA), Flinders University
ON DEMAND STAFF TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
- Wendy, Goldbridge
In person and on site facilitator training Rehabilitation Services
also available (subject to availability and
attendance quota requirements)
ONGOING SUPPORT AND
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Refresher training
Program handbooks
(facilitator and
participant)
02 Dietze, P.M. and Peacock, A. (2020). Illicit drug use and harms in Australia in the context of COVID-19 and associated restrictions: Anticipated consequences and initial responses.
Drug Alcohol Rev., 39: 297-300. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13079:
03 Skinner, N., McEntee, A. & Roche, A. (2020). Australia’s Alcohol and Other Drug Workforce: National Survey Results 2019-2020. Adelaide,South Australia: National Centre for
Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA), Flinders University
04 NIDA. 2020, September 18. Principles of Effective Treatment. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-
edition/principles-effective-treatment on 2021, August 10
05 Manning, V., Rizzo, D., Mroz, K., Savic, M. (2020). Embedding SMART Recovery in Alcohol and Other Drug treatment: A pilot study. Turning Point.
06 SMART Recovery Australia. (2020). Online SMART Recovery meeting survey. SMART Recovery Australia.
07 NIDA. 2020, September 18. Principles of Effective Treatment. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-
treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/principles-effective-treatment on 2021, August 10
08 Gray, R. M., Kelly, P. J., Beck, A. K., Baker, A. L., Deane, F. P., Neale, J., Treloar, C., Hides, L., Manning, V., Shakeshaft, A., Kelly, J., Argent, A., &
McGlaughlin, R. (2020). A qualitative exploration of SMART Recovery meetings in Australia and the role of a digital platform to support routine
outcome monitoring. Addictive Behaviors, 101, [106144]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106144
09 Kelly PJ, Deane FP, Baker AL. Group cohesion and between session homework activities predict self-reported cognitive-behavioral skill
use amongst participants of SMART Recovery groups. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2015;51:53-8, doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2014.10.008.
10 SMART Recovery Australia. (2020). Feedback: Transition to Zoom-based SMART Recovery meetings. SMART Recovery Australia.
11 SMART Recovery Australia. (2020). Feedback: Feedback: Online Facilitator Training. SMART Recovery Australia.