For families and friends to take the big step to ask a stranger for help, most have reached the point where they feel unable to manage their lives and wellbeing. Consequently many don't get to their first meeting. That's a leap into the unknown, it certainly was the last thing we tried. Whilst this is disappointing, by sharing these links, we've actually already pointed them in the right direction and done the best we can for them at this stage of their journey.
Free Guides for family and friends
2016
All chapters can be downloaded as pdfs
There is also a partner's version at the same link.
BreakThrough is Australia's equivalent to the CMC.
They continuously update their family resources!
Partnership to End Addiction
Free guides
Parent e-Books & Guides
Scottish Families Little Book of CRAFT
Free PDF guide from Scottish Families Affected By Drugs
Little Book of CRAFT
Recommended Books to buy
(Extra points if you get your loved one to buy one for you!)
2014
This is the book our group attendees wave enthusiastically in front of their webcams at our meetings!
CRAFT based and a rich resource of evidence-based science and kindness.
2022
The CMCFFC have now added MI and ACT to the CRAFT approach!
This newly developed framework and training means families have everything needed to start up their own
independent meetings! Families can move on from playing second fiddle to the recovery meetings.
2004
CRAFT stands for Community Reinforcement And Family Training.
This book's original title was Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening, but the publishers changed it.
This is a must read for families from the creators of CRAFT!
2021
Chapters 1 to 3 can be downloaded as pdfs
Exercise sheets
The Invitation To Change approach in a nutshell!
(ITC meeting participants can freely download the remaining chapters)
2019
A step-by-step process for developing your skillfulness in empathic listening to promote positive change.
2023
For a deeper dive into Motivational Interviewing, the more user-friendly, fully rewritten fourth edition.
2019
For a deeper dive into Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) from it's founder Dr Steven C. Hayes.
A Liberated Mind is the summary of Steven's life's work over the last 35 years.
The Blue Polar Bear: Storybook about parental dual diagnosis
A beautifully illustrated book for children 5-7 years.
The SMART Recovery Family and Friends Manuals (2013 USA/UK, 2019 AU)
This was our first introduction to CRAFT after struggling with the 12 steps. SMART have added their REBT tools into the CRAFT mix for families.
The UK one is just a spell-checked version of the USA book, both well overdue for an update! The Australian book is more up to date (2019) and their own creation.
UK
USA
Australia
The Compassion Antidote (Cathy Taughinbaugh 2022)
Cathy Taughinbaugh is well respected in the CRAFT and ITC world.
I haven't read this yet please share your thoughts if you have.
UK
USA
The Freedom Model for the Family
The Freedom Model for the Family is an approach for families dealing with a loved one who is struggling from
addiction. It was written by the authors of The Freedom Model for Addictions and uses the same principles
in a way that families can apply them.
UK
USA
AU
Further articles to read
CMC : Foundation for Change (CMCFFC)
Understanding Addictive Behaviour
Why does my loved one use substances?
The deadly myth of "rock bottom"
The world is a better teacher than we can ever be!
Grief ResourcesA list of resources, recommended by members of the CMCFFC Level 1 community who have experienced loss. They hope this index can be a valuable resource for those who have experienced a loss or who know someone who has.
Stigma
The world has progressed a great deal since the 1930s, except in the disrespectful and stigmatising language used to label people with Substance Use Disorders. The same is also true for their family members. The labels in this first video are used far too frequently, even by professionals and, of course, the media.
Canadian Stigma Learning Module
"If we want addiction destigmatized, we need a language that's unified.
The words we use matter. Caution needs to be taken, especially when the disorders concerned
are heavily stigmatized as substance use disorders are." (RRI)
Recovery Research Institute's Addictionary
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
MI: Assumptions and Principles - A Broad Framework
MI: Open Questions, Affirmation, Reflective Listening, and Summary Reflections (OARS)
MI: Eliciting Change Talk and Giving Advice
What Are the 4 Processes of Motivational Interviewing?
Modelling change ourselves
Useful Websites
CMC : Foundation for Change (CMCFFC)
The CMC Invitation to Change Approach (ITC)Although we are trained volunteers, we don't think you have to be perfect to start up a support group. Our groups today are much better than they were two years ago and in two years' time, we will have learned new tools and weeded out the ones that we have found are less effective. The mistake is to stand still and think you've got it right. How do you learn something new? Listen to experienced professionals sharing their expertise online. For example, when we discuss "behavioural outbursts" in our groups, we are just sharing what we have learned from the CMC videos and books.
November 2021 update.
Tina and Dave were invited by the team at the CMC
to train to deliver their brand new ITC approach.
We still can't believe we were so lucky. We have even competed the training six months before the book is due for release!
Everyone at the Centre were lovely to us and it was great to be with 70 other amazing students doing break out exercises.
If you volunteer for an organisation that are able to fund this training we highly recommend it.
Group Facilitator Training
Your Ally Foundation
Your Ally Foundation
"At Your Ally Foundation (YAF), we are dedicated to bridging the gap and providing unwavering support to primary caregivers,
families, friends ,policy makers, educators, leaders in community organizations and the recovery community in
Uganda, Zambia and African Diaspora".
"YAF is proud to offer participants to the transformative CMC: FFC training in the Invitation to Change Approach (ITC)".
Helping Families Help
Helping Families Help
We're here to help YOU help your addicted loved one!
We help family members do two things:
Introduce you to CRAFT: an evidence-based method for motivating your loved one towards recovery while taking care
of yourself in the process.
Connect you with longer-term CRAFT-based resources and supports to continue to learn and practice these skills
and perspectives through time.
Family Drug Support Australia
Family Drug Support Australia
Families & friends
Families and friends can play a critical role in the recovery of people who might be experiencing problems with
crystal methamphetamine ('ice') or other drugs.
Cracks in the Ice
Family Drug Support Australia
Family Support Meetings
Non-religious, open meetings for family members affected by drugs and alcohol. Open to anyone and providing
opportunities to talk and listen to others in a non-judgemental, safe environment.
British Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services
BC MH SUS
"BCMHSUS is proud to introduce the new online hub to centralize new & emerging knowledge, best practices,
evidence-based learning and informational learning resources for service providers and individuals
with lived experience of complex mental health and substance use challenges."
Register for free webinars like Project ECHO and
Learning Rounds.
ISSUP
ISSUP
International Society Of Substance Use Professionals.
Regular Membership is for interested, non-professional applicants (can include volunteers, family members, community organisers,
or non-accredited members).
AFINet
AFINet
Addiction and the Family International Network.
"Family members and others who are affected by addiction have received far less attention than they deserve.
Their experiences need to be better publicised and their voices better heard.
They have a vital role to play in understanding and responding to addiction and have a right to receive
appropriate services themselves."
Membership is free and the benefits
include access to all resources and the majority of 5-Step Method resources, reduced fees for AFINet
conferences and access to all members to share experiences and ideas.
ADFAM
UK Adfam
Adfam have been a real help to families across the UK for a number of years.
Their website has recently been massively improved! They don't host UK wide online support groups, so
we very much appreciate the inclusion of our group on their other support page.
Safety and Wellbeing
Ours, and our loved one's safety, must come first. Harm reduction saves lives!
Total abstinence then becomes an option.
Mental Health
Free Resources
We have found the Personal Bill of Rights really helpful for our self-compassion. We often forget we have rights too.
Personal Bill of Rights
This is a great evidence based tool for anxiety and other conditions.
NHS five steps to well-being
In summary
Connect with other people
Be physically active
Learn new skills
Give to others
Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)
There is a great collection of PDF leaflets at these sites!
NHS Self Help Leaflets
Free Guide To Living With Worry And Anxiety Amidst Global Uncertainty
Mental Health First Aid
I have found this two day training really helpful. You may be able to get your workplace to fund it. (UK) - (USA) - (Australia)
HeadsUpGuys'
Free courses designed to equip men with skills to:
Manage and regulate thoughts and emotions and navigate common life challenges
HEADSupGUYS.org
Substances
We are not qualified to give advice about particular drugs but these guys are:
Abuse
Family and Friends Facebook Groups
CMC:Foundation for Change Page
Addiction and the Family International Network (AFINet)
Moms for All Paths to Recovery Group (Dads welcome)
Thrive! Family Addiction Support informed by CRAFT and Invitation to Change Group
Parents of Children Struggling With Substance Use + CRAFT & ITC
Stigma Free Podcasts
CMC : Foundation for Change (CMCFFC)
Rethinking Rock Bottom
"Dismantling the stigma of substance use disorder - and replacing it with science and kindness -
one conversation at a time" A great new series of podcasts from CMCFFC
Welcome To Rethinking Rock Bottom
We were humbled to be invited to share our story for episode 4
Hitting the Pause Button - Dave and Tina
Beyond Addiction book Review 29:27
"The Hopestream podcast offers empathy and reliable information for parents of teens and young adults struggling with
substance misuse, addiction, and mental health"
Brenda Zane - Hopestream podcasts
Australian Podcasts
The Alchemy Series - Mark Powell on Drug and Alcohol Addiction Addiction Makes Three The Podcast, with Amanda Lockyer
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Inside Mental Health Podcast: What is Motivational Interviewing?
Stigma Free Videos
Healthwatch Dudley (UK)
In Conversation with Alternat+ves
"We sat down with Alternat+ves and the NHS Black Country ICB to discuss their personal and professional experiences of people accessing mental health services whilst struggling with addictions. We also discussed support for the loved ones of people who are struggling with addiction."
CMC : Foundation for Change (CMCFFC)
Intro to CMC:Foundation for Change (5 minutes)
How do we help Affected Family Members? : Invitation To Change (ITC)
Presenter: Jeff Foote
AFINet conference 2023 (7 minutes)
Changing our language is so easy, why can't the "professionals" do it?
Change the conversation (3 minutes)
How families are treated by the drug and alcohol services.
One size doesn't fit all
Family Drug Support Australia
This is what a modern face to face support meeting looks like, in twelve short clips.
Family Drug Support videos
Adfam
14 short videos. Peter will take you through a range of different themes and topics, providing valuable information and guidance
on how to cope with your loved one?s substance use.
Family support videos by Peter Cartwright
CRAFT (Community Reinforcement And Family Training)
Dr. Bob Meyers describes CRAFT
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
MI is the best tool we have found for dealing with ambivalence to change, both for us and our loved ones.
It’s not about the nail (1 minute)
Kathleen Sciacca introduces MI (9 minutes)
The Ineffective Physician: Non-Motivational Approach (5 minutes)
The Effective Physician: Motivational Interviewing Demonstration (7 minutes)
Excellent Psychwire Free Resources on Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing 101 with Dr. Ken Carpenter
ITC Seminar Series (93 minutes)
We highly recommend these four (1 hour) episodes of MI training by Igor (pronounced Egor) Koutsenok.
It's on the International Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals website.
ISSUP.
First apply for free regular membership, then the videos can be found here
MI Course Recordings
Acceptance and Commitment Theraphy (ACT)
Other helpful videos
Why are we blamed for helping our loved ones? (3 minutes)
ACE’s (adverse childhood experiences)
The Negativity Bias and how to beat it
Why do our brains get addicted? 16 minutes
Untreated & Unheard: The Addiction Crisis in America. Partnership to End Addiction 73 minutes
Breaking the stigma around Medically Assted Treatment (MAT) 4:43
Beyond Stigma: Treating Pain in Opioid Use Disorder 5:12