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Family, carers and supporters invited to take part in research​ | SMART Recovery Australia

Written by smart recovery | Mar 01, 2021
SMART Family & Friends program

Family, carers and supporters invited to take part in research​

Does someone you support engage in an addictive behaviour?

SMART Recovery Australia is looking for family members, carers, and supporters of a person using methamphetamine to participate in a study looking at the effectiveness of the SMART Family & Friends program. 

About the SMART Family & Friends program

SMART Family & Friends (Formerly known as BeSMART) is intended to assist anyone affected by the addictive behaviour of someone close to them. Our online and in-person SMART Family & Friends groups are run by trained facilitators who often have their own experiences as a family member affected by a loved one’s relationship with alcohol, drugs, gambling or other problematic behaviours. We provide strategies to stay safe, seek support, problem solve and set goals.

The program was developed 10 years ago, based on SMART’s (Self-Management and Recovery Training) 4-point program, a strengths-based mutual aid program for people struggling with problem behaviours of all kinds.

About the study

The study is a collaboration between SMART Recovery Australia and the University of Wollongong, funded by a grant from the National Centre of Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED). the project will evaluate how suitable and helpful the SMART Family and Friends program is for family members, friends and supporters impacted by methamphetamine use.

This research has been reviewed and approved by the Social Sciences Human Research Ethics Committee, Ethics Number: 2020/019.

What you will need to do

  • Register your interest via online form (below) and a researcher will contact you
  • Attend 8 x SMART Family and Friends online support group sessions
  • The sessions will be delivered via Zoom (no requirement to attend in person)
  • The sessions will run weekly on Tuesdays from 12pm – 2pm, starting date in March TBC​
  • Complete 3 x telephone questionnaires with a researcher – before the group commences, 1-week and 1-month after the group finishes
  • For further information please read Participant Information & Consent Form. If you register interest the researcher will also go through this with you when they make contact

Eligibility requirements:

  • Participants must be over the age of 18
  • Participants must be a family member, carer, or supporter of a person who is using methamphetamine
  • Participants must be able to attend all 8 online sessions
  • Participants must have access to a telephone in order to complete follow up surveys. 

Register to take part

Note:

  • All information collected which identifies you, such as your name and contact details, is strictly confidential to the project team. Involvement in this study is voluntary. If you decide to participate, you can withdraw from the study at any time. 
  • 10 participants will be required for each group. If the opening 8-week block is at capacity, participants will be asked to join an alternative group at a later date
  • There will be 5 groups running between March and September. If you’re unable to commit to the first group please register your interest for a later group

For more information, please contact Camilla Weeks:

m: 0408 379 700

e: cweeks@uow.edu.au

Participant Information & Consent Form
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