Activating Community Support for Substance Users

This 12-week community support intervention is designed to activate and harness the powerful influences of drug-free family and friends to enhance recovery support and participation in community activities. Addiction Treatment Services (ATS) participants and their CSPs will be directed to participate in recovery-oriented community activities together 2 times per week and work together toward developing regular drug-free social support for the ATS participant. The group provides an opportunity for both the participant and CSP to discuss their experiences participating in the scheduled activities. For those electing not to engage in community activities, problem-solving strategies will be used to remove obstacles to participation, with other group members providing support and encouragement.

This 12-week educational group is designed as an attention-control group. Group topics include: 1) definition of substance dependence, 2) the disease model, 3) medical aspects, 4) mood, 5) personality, 6) self-esteem, 7) relapse prevention, 8) HIV/AIDS, 9) anger, 10) negative thinking, 11) nutrition, and 12) assertiveness. Participants will be assigned 2 homework assignments each week based on the topic.