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

Clare M Rushton; Peter J Kelly; Tamsin Thomas; Alison K Beck; Camilla Townsend; Amanda L Baker; Victoria Manning; Angela Argent; Frank P Deane; Leanne Hides; Brian Hitsman; Richard Velleman; Gill Velleman; Briony Larance

doi:10.1016/j.josat.2024.209355

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

J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2024 Jun:161:209355. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209355. Epub 2024 Mar 26.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia. Electronic address: cr566@uowmail.edu.au.
² School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
³ School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
⁴ Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
⁵ SMART Recovery Australia, Sydney, Australia.
⁶ Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, Lives Lived Well Group, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
⁷ 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.
⁸ Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK; Addictions and Related Research Group, Sangath, Goa, India.
⁹ Addictions and Related Research Group, Sangath, Goa, India.

PMID: 38548059
DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209355

Abstract

Introduction: 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.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions: 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.

Keywords: Addiction; Family; Methamphetamine; SMART recovery; Substance use; Video-conferencing.

MeSH terms

Adult
Amphetamine-Related Disorders* / psychology
Australia
Family* / psychology
Feasibility Studies*
Female
Friends* / psychology
Humans
Male
Methamphetamine* / administration & dosage
Methamphetamine* / adverse effects
Middle Aged
Pilot Projects
Quality of Life
Videoconferencing*

Substances

Methamphetamine