SMART Recovery

Abstract

Peer support groups are the most utilized form of treatment for individuals recovering from substance abuse and substance dependence. This study examined an understudied peer support program (Self-Management and Recovery Training [SMART] Recovery), which is distinct from traditional 12-step models. Although treatment planning for substance use disorders is not the primary focus of vocational rehabilitation (VR), persons with disabilities are at increased risk for these disorders. Due to the bio-psycho-social nature of substance use disorders, VR counselors must consider ethical treatment recommendations for clients who demonstrate need for supplemental treatment. This descriptive-survey study investigated two samples of member and facilitator characteristics, motivations, and recovery goals among the SMART Recovery community. Implications for VR counselors making best practice recommendations for clients with substance use disorders are discussed.

Refusal Self‐Efficacy Among SMART Recovery Members by Affiliation Length and Meeting Frequency

“…Therefore, we conducted subsequent analyses using the Mann-Whitney U test because it is commonly endorsed as an alternative to the t test for independent, nonnormal distributions and violations of the homogeneity of variance assumption (Glass & Hopkins, 1996). Assumptions underlying the application of the Mann-Whitney U test were verified, given that the distributions of BSCQ scores for each group were similar (Myers, Well, & Lorch, 2010). Although group sizes were uneven, we did not discard data from the larger group, because these data contribute to sampling variability and their removal is not recommended for nonparametric tests (Glass & Hopkins, 1996;Myers et al, 2010).…”

“…Assumptions underlying the application of the Mann-Whitney U test were verified, given that the distributions of BSCQ scores for each group were similar (Myers, Well, & Lorch, 2010). Although group sizes were uneven, we did not discard data from the larger group, because these data contribute to sampling variability and their removal is not recommended for nonparametric tests (Glass & Hopkins, 1996;Myers et al, 2010). We removed one outlier case from the high frequency group and one outlier case from the moderate frequency group prior to conducting analyses for Research Question 2, which yielded a final sample of 103 for the second analysis.…”

“…We conducted a Welch's F test to determine the incremental effect of SMART Recovery meeting attendance in relation to BSCQ scores. The Welch's F test is the recommended alternative to the traditional one-way analysis of variance when data fail to meet the homogeneity of variance assumption, scores are not extremely skewed, and group sizes are moderate (Myers et al, 2010). We conducted a post hoc power analysis using G*Power (Version 3.1.6; Faul, Erdfelder, Buchner, & Lang, 2009) with a sample size of 103, three groups, and an alpha level of .10; the analysis revealed that a statistical power of .74 (1 -β = .74) was needed for the detection of a medium effect.…”

Individuals With Visual Disabilities and Substance Use Disorders: Recommendations for Counselors

“…Alcoholics Anonymous is the most well-known and available peer support, 12-step program in the United States; the only requirement to join is to have a desire to stop using (Branscum, 2010). However, the Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART; www.smartrecovery.org) peer support recovery program has been proven to be ideal for clients with disabilities and supports rehabilitation counseling practices (O'Sullivan, Blum, Watts, & Bates, 2015). SMART emphasizes individual empowerment with cognitive-behavioral and rational-emotive techniques to nurture change in abuse patterns.…”

“…SMART emphasizes individual empowerment with cognitive-behavioral and rational-emotive techniques to nurture change in abuse patterns. Through facilitated support, SMART affirms independent and autonomous living and considers each person's unique needs when adjusting to a disability (O'Sullivan et al, 2015). Thus, when exploring options with clients, counselors must consider peer support groups, given that social support has been shown to be critical for long-term recovery rates (O'Sullivan et al, 2015) and a common issue for clients with visual disabilities (Brooks et al, 2014;Nyman et al, 2012).…”