What is SMART Recovery?

SMART Recovery supports people in Australia and all over the world to manage
behaviours of concern

Self Management and Recovery Training (SMART)

SMART Recovery is an evidence-based recovery method grounded in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), that supports people with substance dependencies or problem behaviours to:

  • Build and maintain motivation
  • Cope with urges and cravings
  • Manage thoughts, feelings and behaviours
  • Lead a balanced life
Learn about SMART Meetings

Our Principles

  • Self-Management - People can manage their own behaviour.
  • Mutual Aid - People learn best from each other.
  • Choice - People choose their own goals, skills and tools.
  • Person Centred - People with lived experience are central in guiding what we do.
  • Evidence Led - All our programs are based on scientific evidence and we encourage their on-going evaluation.

History of
SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery was established in 1994 in the USA to meet the increasing demand of health professionals and their patients for a secular and science-based alternative to the widespread 12-Step addiction recovery program.

Such was its popularity that SMART Recovery grew from 42 group meetings at the beginning to more than 2000 in North America alone today and now proliferating worldwide in 23 countries and counting.

Since 1994
23+ countries
2,500+ groups globally

SMART Recovery in Australia

SMART Recovery commenced in Australia in 2004. It was piloted and trialled at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital to offer the community another recovery treatment option grounded in science. The pilot program’s success allowed SMART Recovery Australia to become an independent non-profit organisation in 2007. It also enabled SMART Recovery Australia to expand an evidence based program that works to all addictions, not just alcohol and other drugs. Today SMART Recovery Australia partners with over 75 organisations, running 250 groups and delivering 13,000 individual meetings to over 130,000 Australians.

Learn more about SMART Recovery Australia
What is SMART Recovery