SMART Family and Friends: Feasibility and outcomes of a video-conference delivered intervention for families impacted by another's methamphetamine use.

Journal: Journal of substance use and addiction treatment

Volume: 161

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia. Electronic address: cr@uowmail.edu.au. School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia. School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia. Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. SMART Recovery Australia, Sydney, Australia. Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, Lives Lived Well Group, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK; Addictions and Related Research Group, Sangath, Goa, India. Addictions and Related Research Group, Sangath, Goa, India.

Abstract summary 

Families affected by another's substance use, including methamphetamine, experience harms to their mental and physical health. Yet, research has paid little attention to support and service needs of this population. This pilot study examines the feasibility and outcomes of SMART Family and Friends, a video-conference-delivered mutual-support group targeting families affected by another's methamphetamine use.Recruitment for this study occurred between March-October 2021 via the SMART Recovery Australia website. Participants were English-speaking Australian residents, ≥18 years, affected by another's methamphetamine use, interested in participating in a manualised eight-module group delivered via video-conferencing. Feasibility was evaluated by attendance rates, participant satisfaction, fidelity ratings, and semi-structured interviews. Measures of distress, quality of life, and family functioning assessed outcomes at baseline and one-month post-treatment conclusion.Forty-three participants commenced SMART Family and Friends groups. 84 % (n = 36) completed ≥4 modules, 67 % (n = 29) completed ≥6, and 42 % (n = 18) completed all 8 modules. Participant satisfaction (M = 4.32, SD = 0.66, out of 5) and facilitator fidelity (>94 % for all modules) were high. A within-group analysis, without comparison condition demonstrated significant improvements in psychological distress (d = 0.38), family impact (d = 0.64), family strain symptoms (d = 0.48), and total family burden (d = 0.69) post-treatment. Qualitative findings illustrated the benefits and challenges of the video-conference-delivered group, as well as recommendations for improvement.Results provide initial support for the feasibility and positive outcomes of the SMART Family and Friends program. These findings demonstrate the successful provision of a mutual-support group for affected families delivered via video-conferencing, and merit further sufficiently powered randomised-control-trials to evaluate efficacy.

Authors & Co-authors:  Rushton Kelly Thomas Beck Townsend Baker Manning Argent Deane Hides Hitsman Velleman Velleman Larance

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  14
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209355
SSN : 2949-8759
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
Addiction;Family;Methamphetamine;SMART recovery;Substance use;Video-conferencing
Study Design
Study Approach
Qualitative
Country of Study
Publication Country
United States