SMART Recovery Program Evaluation

This assignment requires a critical evaluation of research studies on the SMART Recovery program. Students must analyze the effectiveness and impact of this mutual-help program on individuals seeking addiction recovery. Specific areas to consider include participant experiences, program structure, and outcomes compared to other treatment approaches.

1
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Student’s Name
Course Name
Lecturer
University
Date

2
Executive Summary
The paper provides an analysis of SMART (Self-management and Recovery Training), a health
program for helping people with drug dependency problems. Focus is placed on the techniques
and activities used in the program to help the participants. Major areas of the assessment include
ethical issues considered, risk management, and quality and safety standards. The report shows
that the program has incorporated various ethical factors associated with health care programs.
The program is built on overarching principles that are applied in the healthcare industry.
Various risk issues such as patient safety, regulations, policies, legislation, policy and medical
errors are considered in the program which aims at benefiting the community. An evaluation
conducted based on National Safety, and Quality Health Service Standards also indicated that the
program’s activities conform to the industry standards.
Description
Substance abuse is a growing societal problem in Australia that has raised concerns among
healthcare workers. With the number of drug abusers in the country increasing, dependence on
drugs among the youth has grown dramatically. In 2015, National Drug Strategy Household
Survey reported that over 15% of Australians had used illicit drugs in the last 12 months
(Stanesby, 2017). Some parts of the country such as South Australia have more drug abusers
than others. Some of the most commonly used illicit drugs in the country include cannabis,
alcohol, amphetamine, and ecstasy. The number of males using illicit drugs was higher than that
of females. Substance use was reported to be higher among people aged 18 to 29 years than in
other age groups (Daley, 2016). Drug abuse among the youth in Australia is a major health
problem due to its health effects. Several drug-related deaths have been reported indicating the
growing issue of drug dependence among Australians.

3
Several drug rehabilitation programs have been established in the country to help people with
drug problems. One key program is SMART (Self-management and Recovery Training)
program. The program was implemented to help people with addictive problems such as drug
dependence, sex addiction, gambling, etc. (Recovery, 2011). SMART recovery program is
designed to be a mutual-aid program that provides a conducive place where people can connect
and try to assess and change their addictive behaviors which are harming them and their
families/friends. Group participation is a fundamental component of the program in which
participants can help themselves and assist others with addiction problems. The program is
helpful for changing various addictive behaviors such as problematic drinking, substance abuse,
sex, internet addiction, and other associated behaviors (anger, depression, and anxiety). The
SMART recovery program is solution-oriented and incorporates evidence-based tools and
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to help people to change their addictive
behaviors.
The program involves various activities and techniques which are designed to enable participants
to change their behavior and enhance their health outcomes (Horvath, 2012). The first activity
involves identifying the benefits and drawbacks of the problematic behavior. Counsellors and
health professionals work with participants in groups to help them assess how their behavior
affects them. This includes defining how the participants gain value from the habit as well as
evaluating how it harms them. In the second activity, participants have to recognize triggers that
influence them to abuse drugs, engage in particular activities, etc. Identifying these triggers is
important as it helps the participants to know factors that contribute to their addictive behaviors.
Next, the participants have to evaluate the consequences of their behavior. This involves
determining the impacts of the addictive behavior on their health and people around them. This

4
gives the participants a clear overview of the consequences of their behavior which serves as an
incentive for change.
Having determined the triggers and impacts of their behavior, health professionals help
participants to craft a plan to cope with craving and urges. In this step, the participants develop
strategies they will apply in their daily lives to ensure they stay away from substance use. Some
of the strategies include staying away from bad company, getting rid of drug paraphernalia, etc.
Next, the participants develop achievable goals that they have to realize in the course of their
recovery. These goals may include reducing the number of cigarettes smoked on a daily basis,
reducing alcohol intake, etc. The goals enable the participants to focus on changing their
addictive behaviors. Health professionals involved in the program use the goals to track the
progress of the participants (Litwicki, 2014).
SMART Recovery programs involve 90-minute meetings held once a week (Adamson, 2011).
The meetings are run by a facilitator who is a health care professional and is trained to run the
recovery program. An emphasis in the meeting is placed on the addictive behavior instead of the
substance abused. By focusing on the behavior, the program can benefit people with a
dependence on various drugs such as cannabis, alcohol, heroin, meth, etc. As such, the program
is effective as an aftercare health program aimed at preventing participants from relapsing. In
the program, participants identify behavior change goals and develop a weekly plan. The
meetings concentrate on the present instead of the past in order to help participants to make
decisions that will improve their health in the future (Kelly, 2015). Additionally, health
professionals involved in the program help the participants to learn how to apply evidence-based
tools in order to change their addictive behaviors.

5
Implementation of SMART recovery program requires several resources which have to be
coordinated to realize the expected outcomes. Critical resources include health professionals with
expertise in the addiction field, conducive meeting place, training materials, and meeting
schedule. Since the program is based on scientific evidence, it can only be facilitated by a health
expert who has knowledge on addiction treatment methods, motivation enhancement strategies,
and cognitive behavioral therapy. The facilitator requires training materials that can be leveraged
to enhance the education experience. Capital is required to hire a venue where meetings can be
conducted. Also, a schedule is essential to enable the meeting to be conducted in time.
Ethical Considerations
As a health program designed to help the community, SMART recovery aligns with ethical
guidelines established in the healthcare industry. With respect to principles guiding health
programs, the program operates under several principles which include:
• Serving as a resource to the community
• Respecting dignity and worth of every participant
• Acting with integrity
Health professionals who facilitate the program promote gaining independence from addictive
behaviors in accordance with the principles guiding the program (Recovery, 2016). The
facilitators strive to treat each participant with respect and consider individual differences as well
a cultural diversity. They also act with integrity by conducting themselves in a manner that aligns
with the principles of SMART Recovery program.

6
In the program, facilitators respect participants by protecting their confidentiality and supporting
their self-determination. Facilitators respect participants’ confidentiality and their right to
privacy at all times in all kind of communication They are restricted from disclosing private or
confidential information about a participant that is not related to the SMART recovery program,
or that may risk the privacy of the participant. If a participant in the programs is at risk of harm
to others or self, the facilitator can contact the program coordinators, a local intervention agency,
medical health facility or local police authority. The facilitator can contact local security
agencies with regards disclosures related to abuse.
Program facilitators respect the right of participants for self-determination and help them to
identify and explore their goals regarding addictive behaviors. They work with participants
within the context of the program to assist them to change their behavior and adopt a positive
lifestyle that enhances their health outcomes (Beck, 2016). In cases where the objectives of a
participant fail to align with the program or are outside its scope, they are encouraged to seek
help from appropriate options. This aligns with the principle of respect an individual’s right to
act freely.
With respect to acting fairly, the program focuses on respects social diversity issues such as
political beliefs, religion, sex, race, nationality, physical ability, sexual orientation, marital status,
sexual orientation, etc. Program facilitators are also required to avoid exploiting a relationship
with participants to further their political, religious, or business interests. To ensure every
participant is treated equally, facilitators are required to avoid conflicts of interest.
Preventing harm to the participants is a key principle that is considered in the program.
Facilitators are prohibited from engaging in any form of physical, emotional, or verbal
harassment. They are also restricted from exploiting their relationship with participants for

7
sexual activity or sexually harass participants including requests for sexual favors, sexual
advances, etc. Thus, participants in the SMART Recovery program are protected from any form
of harassment which can harm them psychologically or physically.
The program is designed to be a community resource that helps the society to alleviate the
problem of drug dependence. Facilitators are encouraged to learn all concepts of the program and
apply them in the meetings within self-help and group settings to enhance learning (O’Sullivan,
2015). This is vital in helping participants to gain and maintain independence from problematic
drug behaviors which enhance their health. In the program, health professionals work with other
program coordinators in order to help participants to gain value from the program in terms of
ending drug dependence problems (Humphreys, 2007). Facilitators act within the scope of their
experience and focus on achieving the objectives of the SMART Recovery program. This
implies that facilitators will use their expertise in healthcare to tackle the addiction problem. As
such, most committed participants succeed in eliminating drug dependency. Additionally,
facilitators continuously seek solutions to help participants from relapsing. Overall, the program
helps the community by providing effective solutions that reduce drug dependency problem.
Risk identification and Management
SMART Recovery program considers various risks that can undermine its implementation and
success. With regards to patient safety, facilitators in the program have to be professionals with
expertise in addiction behavior and cognitive-behavioral therapy. They are expected to have in-
depth knowledge of concepts of SMART recovery and apply them in the meetings to encourage
learning and development in eliminating addictive behaviors. The skills and expertise of the
facilitators is a key factor that mitigates risks to patient safety as the program coordinators have
the skills necessary to handle the participants and achieve the expected outcomes (MacGregor,

8
2010). The program facilitators operate within the scope of their experience which is vital in
providing quality services and minimize risks posed to patient safety due to inexperience or lack
of skills. Additionally, facilitators coordinate with other leaders to resolve issues that may arise
in the program. Coordination among program facilitators implies participants receive maximum
attention which is key in maintaining their safety.
SMART Recovery program is implemented in a manner that aligns with federal and state
regulations. Emphasis is placed on aligning with the regulations that can directly affect the
program. The program’s services are designed to be in adherence with laws governing the
industry. Regulations considered include data confidentiality which restricts disclosure of patient
information. Program facilitators are qualified as expected in the industry-related laws, and the
program is implemented in a manner that respects the rights of participants accorded in the
constitution.
SMART Recovery program is based on scientific evidence. The program relies on cognitive
behavioral therapy and tested motivational enhancement techniques that reduce the risk of
medical errors. Given that the program focuses on behavior, the risk of potential medical error is
relatively low. However, the committee managing the SMART recovery program continuously
stays updated on latest addiction treatment methods. This knowledge is applied in developing
robust treatment concepts that are effective in helping people with addiction problems.
Given the various policies have been established to serve as benchmarks for rehabilitation
programs, it is critical for the SMART recovery program to adhere to all of them. The program’s
activities are developed based on existing healthcare policies that guide treatment of addiction
problems (Kelly, 2012). Besides operating under the principles set under the program, facilitators
also conduct themselves in a manner that aligns with the ethical framework established for health

9
care professions. The program is committed to evolving as policies evolve. Activities and
techniques used in the program are flexible and can be adjusted when the need arises especially
when policies changes. The flexibility of the program eliminates the risk of policy non-adherence
which can adversely affect its implementation.
There are various legislations established that have a significant influence on health care.
Examples of such legislations include HIPAA. Health care organizations and programs are
required to adhere to these legislations. SMART Recovery is modeled based on the healthcare
legislations in place (Meyer, 2007). Focus is placed on ensuring that the program’s activities and
techniques follow the health legislations to ensure effective implementation of the program.
Quality and Safety
SMART Recovery program is designed to align with the quality and safety standards. With
regards to clinical governance standard, the program incorporates safety principles which are
integrated into the core activities to enable the facilitators to continuously manage and enhance
the safety of patients and quality of the services. Also, program facilitators have to be health care
experts who are trained in the concepts of the program in order to offer safe and quality health
services to the participants (Kidd, 2011).
The program partners with consumers standard as it is based on a coordination model that
involves facilitators and participants. In the program, the facilitator partners with patients to
support delivery of services. The facilitators also regularly communicate with the participants to
forge effective partnerships that can improve outcomes.
Medication safety standards are integrated into the program and its activities. Facilitators are
required to document participant’s information when commencing the program. With this

10
information, facilitators can track the progress of the participants as they recover from drug
dependency (Zemore, 2008). The program’s techniques are reviewed and information provided
to participants about how they can end drug dependency which is key in maintaining continuity
of medication management.
The program also incorporates comprehensive care standard by applying assessment processes
when collaborating with participants to develop a goal-driven plan for alleviating drug addiction
(Best, 2012). Emphasis is also placed on minimizing patient harm by identifying participants at
risk of relapse and creating personalized strategies to prevent them from relapsing.
Summary and Conclusion
As discussed, SMART Recovery is a program implemented to help people to overcome addictive
behaviors. The program involves mutual interaction between coordinators and participants in a
conducive place where they can forge relationships and get to help each other. It is designed as a
resource to the community that helps to reduce drug dependency which is a major problem
affecting the society especially the youth. Program facilitators are health experts and are trained
in order to have an in-depth understanding of the core concepts of the program which is key in
enhancing outcomes.
The program incorporates an ethical framework modeled in the healthcare industry. Various
principles are established to guide the implementation of the program. These principles entail
serving the community, respecting participants, and acting with integrity. Health professionals
involved in the program adopt these principles to help participants to overcome their problematic
addiction behaviors. Cultural diversity and individual differences are recognized and addressed

11
well to ensure every participant feels welcome. Additionally, the program considers various
risks that can undermine its effectiveness and is designed to align with regulations implemented.

12
References
Adamson, D.M. and Ahmed, A.G., 2011. Addiction and Co-occurring Disorders from a SMART
Recovery Perspective: A Manual for Group Therapists. SMART Recovery.
Best, D.W. and Lubman, D.I., 2012. The recovery paradigm: A model of hope and change for
alcohol and drug addiction. Australian family physician, 41(8), p.593.
Beck, A.K., Baker, A., Kelly, P.J., Deane, F.P., Shakeshaft, A., Hunt, D., Forbes, E. and Kelly,
J.F., 2016. Protocol for a systematic review of evaluation research for adults who have
participated in the ‘SMART recovery’mutual support programme. BMJ open, 6(5), p.e009934.
Daley, K., 2016. Introduction. In Youth and Substance Abuse (pp. 1-44). Springer International
Publishing.
Humphreys, K. and Moos, R.H., 2007. Encouraging posttreatment self‐help group involvement
to reduce demand for continuing care services: two‐year clinical and utilization
outcomes. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 31(1), pp.64-68.
Horvath, A. T., & Yeterian, J.,2012. SMART recovery: Self-empowering, science-based
addiction recovery support. Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery, 7(2-4), 102-117.
Kelly, J.F. and White, W.L., 2012. Broadening the base of addiction mutual-help
organizations. Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery, 7(2-4), pp.82-101.
Kelly, P.J., Deane, F.P. and Baker, A.L., 2015. Group cohesion and between session homework
activities predict self-reported cognitive–behavioral skill use amongst participants of SMART
recovery groups. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 51, pp.53-58.

13
Kidd, M., 2011. A Firsthand Account of Service User Groups in the United Kingdom: An
Evaluation of Their Purpose, Effectiveness, and Place Within the Recovery Movement. Journal
of Groups in Addiction & Recovery, 6(1-2), pp.164-175.
Litwicki, T. and White, W.L., 2014. A conceptual review of the integration of professional
practices within mutual-aid organizations. Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery, 9(3),
pp.237-256.
MacGregor, S. and Herring, R., 2010. The Alcohol Concern SMART recovery pilot project: final
evaluation report.
Meyer, H.W., 2007. Constitutional and other legal issues in drug court. NADCP. Retrieved
December, 20, p.2007.
O’Sullivan, D., Blum, J.B., Watts, J. and Bates, J.K., 2015. SMART Recovery: Continuing care
considerings for rehabilitation counselors. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 58(4), pp.203-
216.
Recovery, S. M. A. R. T.,2011. Introduction to SMART Recovery. Retrieved February, 23,
2011.
Recovery, S.M.A.R.T., 2016. SMART Recovery: Self management for addiction recovery.
Stanesby, O., Rankin, G. and Callinan, S., 2017. Experience of harm from others’ drinking and
support for stricter alcohol policies: Analysis of the Australian National Drug Strategy
Household Survey. International Journal of Drug Policy, 45, pp.25-32.
Zemore, S.E. and Kaskutas, L.A., 2008. 12-step involvement and peer helping in day hospital
and residential programs. Substance use & misuse, 43(12-13), pp.1882-1903.