SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery (Self Management and Recovery Training) is an international non-profit organization which help to those seeking abstinence from addictive behaviors.

SMART Recovery is a "self-empowering" addiction recovery support group. It claims to be based on the "latest scientific research" and a world-wide community which includes free, self-empowering, mutual help groups. This program was started in 1994 by Joe Gerstein and is based in Mentor, Ohio, USA.

The SMART Recovery 4-Point Program^® helps people recover from all types of addiction and addictive behaviors, including: drug abuse, drug addiction, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, gambling addiction, cocaine addiction, prescription drug abuse, sexual addiction, and problem addiction to other substances and activities. SMART Recovery supports face-to-face meetings, and daily online meetings. In addition, they offer an online message board and 24/7 chat room to learn about SMART Recovery and obtain addiction recovery support.

The program uses a 4-Point Program in the recovery : Building Motivation, Coping with Urges, Problem Solving, and Lifestyle Balance. The "SMART Toolbox" is a collection of methods (or "tools") which address the 4 Points. These re discussed in SMART Recovery's main program publication, The SMART Recovery Handbook.


SMART Recovery can be used as a stand-alone primary recovery support program for those seeking help recovering from addictions, but does not insist on being exclusive. The program  is generally considered an alternative to Twelve Step programs, but SMART Recovery believes that each individual finds his/her own path to recovery, so it is also suggested as a possible supplement to twelve-step programs.

For anyone interested in further information, here is a link to the SMART Recovery website Click Here.

Criticisms

A few reservations that I have of the Smart program deserve mention. Please see these as reservations, and in no way a put-down of the program. Smart has helped many people, and I am for anything or anyone who helps us to recover.

First of all, Smart does not take a position on abstinence from a substance of abuse. It allows each person decide if they want to drink or use in a controlled fashion or abstain. There is an aspect of addiction psychology that I refer to as the "open-door" effect. If our addicted mind leaves the door to our drug or alcohol open even a crack, there is a near-certainty that we will go through that door. If we were able to drink or use "responsibly" or in a controlled fashion, we would have done so long ago and wouldn't be in need of a recovery program.

Another concern is the sparsity of the meetings. While some areas may have meetings more widely available, I live in an area with a population of 400,000 and there is not one meeting available within 50 miles. In the entire state there are meetings in two cities (five per week) and three towns (once a week). Face-to-face meetings are a major influence in our ability to deal with life, urges, cravings, and problems, and a lack of availability is a drawback. SMART uses on-line meetings as an alternative.


A red flag among researchers, doctors, and scientists is when something claims to be "based on the latest research," which is one of the claims made by the Smart program. Completely non-specific statements like "based on the latest research" are viewed by the science and medical community as a cheap marketing gimmick.

As well, when I went to do a review of the legitimate research literature on the effectiveness of SMART Recovery, there was almost none, other than newspaper articles/interviews (which do not constitute valid research) and opinion pieces. Almost all the information on its effectiveness is from claims made on SMART websites.

If anyone out there does find legitimate medical or psychological studies published in the literature I would appreciate a message with a link to it.

Bottom line

The bottom line here is that I need you clean, sober and living life. But, simply not drinking or using is seldom adequate for our happiness. We should all have a program of recovery that helps us to rid ourselves of all the mental garbage that kept us drinking and using, to provide us with a support system of people like us, and to help us to learn how to live sober.

What matters is that we find a program that suits us, that we feel comfortable with, and where we feel at home. If SMART Recovery is that for you, then it is the right choice.