SMART Recovery - University of Wollongong

Program lead

Associate Professor Peter Kelly, Dr Alison Beck and Dr Briony Larance

SMART Recovery is a mutual support group that helps people impacted by addictive behaviours. Originally developed as an alternative to 12-step approaches (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous), it employs evidence-based strategies in addiction treatment (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing). SMART Recovery is one of the most widely accessed forms of mutual support. Developed in the United States, it is now delivered across 23 countries (e.g., Australia, UK, Russia, Haiti, India, Iran & South Korea). There are over 3500 SMART Recovery groups worldwide (attended by approx.1-million people each year), including 350 groups held weekly in Australia.

Our group have been proactive in supporting SMART Recovery nationally and internationally. We have helped to establish and lead both the SMART Recovery Australia Research Advisory Committee and the SMART Recovery Global Research Network. Led by Dr Alison Beck, our team also conducted the first systematic review of SMART Recovery.

Projects

SMART Track: a novel mHealth intervention to complement SMART Recovery meetings
Understanding the cultural utility of mainstream addiction recovery mutual support groups for Indigenous Australians

Lead researchers

University of Wollongong

External

Amanda Baker (University of Newcastle)
Leane Hides (University of Queensland)
Victoria Manning (Monash)
Anthony Shakeshaft (University of NSW)
Jo Neale (Kings Collage, London)
John Kelly (Harvard University, US)
Chris Oldmeadow (University of Newcastle)
Andrew Searles (University of Newcastle)
Carla Trelor (University of NSW)
Rebecca Gray (University of NSW)
Angela Argent (SMART Recovery Australia)
Ryan McGlaughlin (SMART Recovery Australia)

Partners

SMART Recovery Australia

Our team worked in collaboration with SMART Recovery Australia and creative agency GHO to launch Smart Track, an app that helps people manage and overcome addictive behaviours. The app allows users to log their urges, set goals, track their progress and access helpful resources. Like SMART Recovery meetings, the app gives users the power to design their own recovery journey through establishing personalised goals and sources of motivation. App users can also track and monitor their cravings while receiving real-time feedback and progress reports. Our team have completed an initial feasibility study of SMART Track, and the app has now been launch for use across all Australian SMART Recovery groups. The app is free to use and can be downloaded from both the Apple and Android App stores.

Indicative outcomes

Funding

NSW Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Early Intervention Innovation Fund.

Lead researchers

University of Wollongong

External

Kylie Lee (La Trobe University)
Katherine Conigrave (University of Sydney)

Partners

SMART Recovery Australia

Project description

Elizabeth Dale is a Worimi woman and member of the SMART Recovery Australia Research Advisory Committee member. Ms Dale has recently completed a series of studies focused on the cultural appropriateness of mutual support groups internationally, with a particular focus on SMART Recovery Australia. This work was completed as part of her doctoral thesis titled: “Understanding the Cultural Utility of Mainstream Addiction Recovery Mutual Support Groups for Indigenous peoples’: A Case Study of SMART Recovery through an Indigenous Australian lens".

Indicative outcomes

A multi-methods yarn about SMART Recovery: First insights from Australian Aboriginal facilitators and group members. Drug and Alcohol Review. Accepted 3 January, 2021.
A Delphi yarn: Applying Indigenous knowledges to enhance the cultural utility of SMART Recovery Australia. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice.
Systematic review of addiction recovery mutual support groups and Indigenous people of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States of America and Hawaii.

Funding

NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Indigenous Health and Alcohol