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A Special Offer from Guilford Press: Save 20% on The CRAFT Treatment Manual for Substance Use Problems with Promotion Code AF2E!
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Are you concerned about your loved one's opioid use?
We The Village (WTV) is currently recruiting participants for a full-scale clinical Family Support Research Study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The research study goal is to understand the impact of two different online programs on the health and well-being of family members and friends who have a loved one with an opioid use problem.
The trial will consist of two programs similar to services currently offered at WTV. The programs will require active weekly participation for 12 weeks, and follow-up assessments afterwards. Participants will gain 12-weeks of support at no cost to them.
If you or people you know might be interested in the Family Support Research Study, they can learn more at this link: www.familysupportstudy.com and complete a brief screening survey to find out if they are eligible to become a participant.
For more information, their team is also available by phone on 413.GET.HOPE (413.428.4673).
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Dr. William R. Miller on Dr. Robert J. Meyers
Dr. Meyers’ colleague, William Miller, describes him thus: Bob Meyers has made exemplary contributions to knowledge about the treatment of substance abuse and dependence, overseeing two decades of programmatic research to develop, refine, adapt, test and disseminate CRAFT. Bob is an exceptional human being and colleague. He is a superb clinical teacher who garners top marks from audiences ranging from counselors in recovery to doctoral-level health professionals. Dr. Meyers brings extraordinary energy, compassion, depth and humanity to his research, treatment and trainings.
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I am pleased to announce the recent publication of The Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach: A Clinical Guide for Treating Substance Use Disorders, by Susan H. Godley, Jane Ellen Smith, Robert J. Meyers, and Mark D. Godley.
Since 2001 when the first A-CRA manual was published by SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT),
A-CRA has been widely implemented with over 10,000 adolescents, 1,500 transitional age youth, and in 44 U.S. states and territories.
The new manual includes research to better inform
A-CRA implementation. Also included are lessons learned from the clinicians, supervisors, trainers, youth, and families who have used the model.
Soft-cover and ebook versions are available from Amazon. All proceeds from the sale of the manual will support research and training at Chestnut Health Systems to improve treatment outcomes for adolescents with substance use disorders.
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Dr Meyers is featured in an article in The Courier (Findlay - Hancock County - Northwestern Ohio)
Psychologist advises 'different ways to interact'
Please read the entire article here:
http://thecourier.com/family-news/2016/09/23/psychologist-advises-different-ways-to-interact
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Is your 18-25 year old using alcohol or other drugs? The Family Training Program, part of the Parents Translational Research Center of the Treatment Research Institute, is conducting a research study funded by the National Institutes of Health that may be able to help! Please click here for more information
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Families for Sensible Drug Policy (FSDP) www.fsdp.org is a 501c3 non-profit organization representing a global coalition of families, professionals, organizations bringing diverse communities together to empower families to advocate to reduce the harmful consequences of oppressive drug policies and increase access to effective substance use disorder treatment. Also find more information at the link to FSDP in the link section of my website. FSDP is a great supporter of CRAFT and will help develop CRAFT trainings around the USA,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/352133811658235
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A unique collaboration with The Cadence Online Company, Treatment Research Institute & Dr. Robert J. Meyers has developed a unique program for family of adolescent substance users. Follow link below.
Parent CRAFT is a research-supported online course that teaches parents how to effectively interact with their children in order to change drug and alcohol behavior. Parents CAN make a difference! www.CadenceOnline.com
* The work of Drs. Kirby and Meyers was funded in part with support from Grant No. P50DA027841 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The program contents are solely the responsibility of the Treatment Research Institute and Cadence Online and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
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Now and then there really is something new under the sun! CRAFT is a new and original method for helping “unmotivated” loved ones change harmful substance use and get the help they need. It has clearly been shown to be far more effective than traditional approaches, and yet in most areas it is simply unavailable to families who need it. Parent CRAFT is a self-teaching way to access this approach no matter where you live.
William R Miller, Ph.D.
Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry
The University of New Mexico
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New Testimonial
- The Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) will be one of the recommended methods in the latest (2015) guidelines from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare concerning treatment for substance abuse and dependence. It states that treatment providers (mainly the social services) should provide CRAFT treatment to significant others (relatives). In Sweden, the Guidelines is a really important document, based on an extensive evaluation of the scientific evidence for available treatment methods, with the purpose of increasing the use of evidence based treatment methods for dependent patients.
Anders Hammarberg, Karolinska Institute
The Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions (CASAA) celebrated its 25th anniversary, below is a picture of the Founders.
L to R: Dr. Pat Abbott, Dr. Robert J. Meyers, Dr. Philip A. May, Dr. William R. Miller, Dr. W. Gill Woodall
Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) is now listed in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP). The summary for this intervention can be viewed here.
Robert J. Meyers PHD & Assoc Receives 2014 Best of Albuquerque Award
Albuquerque Award Program Honors the Achievement
ALBUQUERQUE April 23, 2014 -- Robert J Meyers PHD & Assoc has been selected for the 2014 Best of Albuquerque Award in the Educational Consultants category by the Albuquerque Award Program.
Each year, the Albuquerque Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Albuquerque area a great place to live, work and play.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2014 Albuquerque Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Albuquerque Award Program and data provided by third parties.
New Books:
Promotional video for Coming Home: A Warrior's Guide
Please click the images for more information.
New Spanish version of Get Your Loved One Sober will be available soon.
New Publication:
- Meyers, R. J., Smith, J. E., Serna, B., & Belon, K. E. (2013). Community reinforcement approaches: CRA and CRAFT. In P. Miller’s (Ed.) Interventions for addiction: Comprehensive addictive behaviors and disorders, Academic Press: San Diego, CA.
Adult and adolescent versions of the Community Reinforcement Approach are used by over 125 organizations in 37 states and several other countries. Dr. Meyers will be leading a CRA training for both adults and adolescents (A-CRA) January 13 – 15, 2014. This training will be hosted by Chestnut Health Systems in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. Please contact Kelli Wright (kwright@chestnut.org) for information on workshop fees and lodging.
This new book is an update of the 1995 book " A Clinical Guide to Alcohol Treatment: The Community Reinforcement." An English version will be out in early 2014.
New Dutch version of Get Your Loved One Sober and Japanese version of Motivating Substance Abusers to Enter Treatment : Working with Family Members
Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening by Robert J. Meyers and Brenda L. Wolfe has received the Association of Behavior and Cognitive Therapy Self Help Book Seal of Merit Award. This program is an effort by the Association to educate the general public on the benefits of empirically supported treatment. To earn the ABCT Self-Help Book Seal of Merit, a book must meet the following criteria:
- employ cognitive and/or behavioral principles
- discuss cognitive and/or behavioral principles or theories explicitly in text
- have documented empirical support that lends support for the methods presented
- include no suggestions or methods that are contraindicated by scientific evidence
- present treatment methods that have consistent evidence for their effectiveness (books describing methods without a consistent track record of empirical support, or mixed evidence, would not be eligible)
- be consistent with best practices
Recent Testimonials:
- As the Co-ordinator of the Blancardstown Drugs Task Force I am responsible for development and implementation of drug strategy in this part of Ireland, and we have placed an emphasis on Evidence Based Approaches for the treatment of substance use disorders. The most significant action we have taken began in 2010 when we invited Dr. Robert J. Meyers to begin to train frontline addiction specialists from a range of different sectors, disciplines and agencies in CRA & CRAFT. It was such a huge success that we invited Dr. Meyers back several times and have had him train nearly 200 substance use workers from all over Ireland from a wide range of different backgrounds and addiction philosophies. The non judgemental, positive and structured nature of the CRA models has really appealed to addiction specialists here and in fact it complements other existing models as well is a huge plus.
In fact CRA & CRAFT were so well received that over 80 substance abuse workers trained by Dr. Meyers have followed through with the certification process. CRA & CRAFT are being embraced in Ireland because of the significant positive outcomes that we have already seen since their
introduction in 2010. We have built an outstanding positive relationship with Dr. Meyers and his team of coders and supervisors which has made implementation successful and helped to create a new standard in addiction treatment. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Dr. Meyers and his staff for many years to come to assure sustainability and fidelity with CRA & CRAFT models of treatment.
Brid Walsh, Co-ordinator, Blanchardstown Local Drugs Task Force, Ireland.
- TASC began using ACRA/ACC within the context of case management in 2009, and staff and clients alike loved the ease of the model. The outcomes from using the model were so successful we decided to expand and also use the CRAFT model as well. We have had a high demand for CRAFT services for our clients who are involved with the criminal justice system. We have also seen success in using CRAFT with our drug courts in that Concerned Significant Others are able to motivate clients towards change and ultimately see them through successful graduation of the program. Family member and parents love the model and have seen a tremendous impact on their loved ones. Our referral sources are incredibly impressed with both ACRA and CRAFT and are requesting their clients receive these services. Dr. Meyers make is so easy to learn and use these evidenced based treatment approaches. His workshops are not only informative but they are actually fun to attend
Lilas Rajaee
Program Director
Denver Juvenile and Family Justice TASC Project
- Well motivated by Bob Meyers' CRAFT training, the staff at the Cardiff Alcohol and Drug Team went on to complete their CRAFT certification, (which was organised very efficiently and with great positivity), with much enthusiasm and spirit. Their work has excelled through the process and the client feedback is consistently positive. Outcomes both for CSOs and IPs improved significantly; the team are consistently achieving at least 70% of CSOs entering treatment with the same number reporting a reduction in substance use and most significantly over 90% of CSOs scoring higher on emotional functioning and wellbeing. Undertaking CRAFT training and certification has improved the teams practice, morale and efficiency, it's been a mini-revolution within the team!
Charlotte Waite, Family Interventions Co-ordinator, Cardiff Council, UK
- After attending Dr. Meyers' CRAFT training, I was very eager to put his concepts to work and begin the process of becoming a certified CRAFT therapist. Working as a family therapist in addictions treatment, I was so grateful to have more tools to offer my clients than just setting boundaries and taking care of themselves. I now teach family members how to strategically promote sober behavior and practice positive communication skills, while their relationships improve and they start to feel more in control of their lives again. The results are amazing! My clients have told me they feel more successful using the CRAFT skills than anything they have ever tried with their loved one before. I have seen the CRAFT intervention method transform my clients from hopelessness to seeing their loved ones get sober and have the relationships they want. Jessi from the Family Program at DePaul Treatment Centers in Portland Oregon, she can be reached at 612-703-7556.
PAST EVENTS:
- Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) -- Working with families of substance abusers
- Dr. Meyers will conduct a full 2.5 day training on the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) program for the Family Recovery Court in LaPlata, Maryland on the 4th 5th & 6th of February, 2013.
- Dr. Meyers will be training the Salvation Army addiction staff in the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) in Glasgow Scotland on the 20th 21st & 23rd of February, 2013
- Dr. Meyers will also travel to Ireland where he will conduct trainings for the Community Misuse Substance Team of Limerick in Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (ACRA), and the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) on February 22 through March 1.
- On March 4th 5th & 6th Dr. Meyers will be conducting a workshop in the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) approach for the Bray Ireland Community Addiction Team.
- On March 17th 18th & 19th Dr. Meyers will be conducting training for the Youth Addictions Treatment Centre, Central Health, Newfoundland Canada in the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (ACRA).
- Dr. Meyers has just returned for the annual Research Society on Alcoholism meeting held this June in San Francisco. Dr. Meyers has a busy schedule for the remainder of 2012.
- Dr. Meyers will be in Bloomington Illinois on July 22nd as a co-trainer for the 3 day advanced ACRA training being held at Chestnut Health Services.
- Dr. Meyers also leave on July 28th and will spend 5 days in Bray Ireland training local service providers in CRA & CRAFT.
- Dr. Meyers is also scheduled to begin training addiction therapists of the Canadian Salvation Army in CRA. He will be there from September 17th thru September 21st.
- On October 23rd Dr. Meyers will return the Newcastle on Tyne England to continue training front line addiction staff in CRAFT.
- Dr. Meyers will also be attending the 1st International Conference on CRA that will be held in Tilburg the Netherland on October 29th & 30th.
- On November 7th, Dr. Meyers travels to Tipperary, Ireland and begins training staff in both CRA & CRAFT.
- Dr. Meyers last planned trip for 2012 is at Chestnut Health Services of Bloomington Illinois to begin training a new cohort of ACRA grantees.
- Dr. Meyers will be traveling to Australia to assist The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, and Lyndon Community in adapting the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) for the project, Community Reinforcement and Family Training for Rural Aboriginal Families.
Dr. Meyers will be in Australia from April 28th until May 5th. A 3-day training on the (CRAFT) protocol will be held May 2nd - 4th in Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
- Upcoming training: Supporting Psychological Interventions Across Scotland
Stirling Management Centre, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA
Tuesday 25 - Thursday 27 January 2011
- Dr. Meyers will be returning to Ireland for 7 days of training for the Blanchardstown Local Drugs Task Force. Dr. Meyers is scheduled to hold trainings in ACRA, CRA, and CRAFT from November 29th through December 7th.
- LaCrosse Tribune article - Positive approach to treat addicts shows promise
- Dr. Meyers will be holding a 2 ½ day CRAFT training on October 4th, 5th & 6th. This will be his last CRAFT training for 2010. The training will be held at Chestnut Health Services Training Center in Bloomington Illinois. Final details will be announced soon on both this website and the Chestnut Health Services website. Participants will be limited and all participants will receive signed copies of his book “Get your loved One Sober.”
- Dr. Meyers will be speaking at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City for Grand Rounds on June 30th at 10:00 am until 11:30 am.
- Dr. Meyers has been invited to give a Lecture on the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) on March 24th at 1900 at the prestigious University of Dublin, Trinity College. Trinity College is one of the oldest and most historic Universities in the world, being founded in 1592.
- In March of 2010, Dr. Meyers will be conducting 3 trainings in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Meyers will begin his training with 2 days of training on Adolescent Community Reinforcement (A-CRA) in Cardiff Wales for the Strengthening Families Programme on March 9th, 10th and on March 11th there will be short refresher class on CRAFT.
Next Dr. Meyers will travel to Newcastle upon Tyne England to present 2 ½ days of training on the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) March 16th, 17th, and on the 18th for partnerships in the North East of England.
The last training of his trip will take place in Dublin, Ireland with four days of training, 2 days on the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) and two days on the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA). This training will be held on March 22nd, 23rd, 24th & 25th for the Blanchardstown Local Drug Task Force. I am happy and sad to say that his workshop is filled; we will not be able to handle any additional participants.
- Dr. Meyers will be the Keynote speaker for the Northwest Regional Conference sponsored by The College of Southern Idaho Health & Human Services Department on April 16th 2010. Dr. Meyers will be giving a second training; both presentations will be on the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) program.
- Dr. Meyers will be presenting a full day of training on Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) for Thedacare Behavioral Health in Way Neenah, Wisconsin on June 11th 2010. 6 Hours of continuing education credits (CEUs) will be awarded to all participants.
- Dr. Meyers has been has been invited to give the B. F. Skinner Lecture at the 2010 convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis International ABAI). The 36th annual convention takes place May 28 - June 1 in San Antonio, Texas.
- The Journal of Behavior Analysis in Health, Sports, Fitness and Medicine has devoted an entire issue on CRA and CRAFT. You can download these articles from their website at http://www.baojournal.com/ and click on JBAHFM then go to current issue. There are 7 articles from authors from 3 different countries on a variety of CRA issues.
- TWO NEW ARTICLES JUST RELEASED
A new article on CRAFT has just been published, Smith, J.E., & Meyers, R.J. (2009) Working with family members of treatment-resistant substance abusers: What independent practitioners should know. It can be found in the APA journal The Independent Practitioner, Summer 2009, Volume 29, Number 3.
A new 90 page chapter on A-CRA has just been published, Godley, S.H., Smith, J.E. Meyers, R.J., & Godley, M.D. (2009). Adolescent community reinforcement approach (A-CRA). This chapter can be found in D.W. Springer, & A. Rubin (Eds.), Substance abuse treatment for youth and adults. John Wiley & Sons, Inc Hoboken New Jersey.
- NEW REVIEW: From the Family Journal, Volume, 17, No.2, April 2009
Motivating Substance Abusers to Enter Treatment: Working with Family Members (2008). Jane Ellen Smith & Robert J. Meyers, New York: Guilford Press.
At some point in their careers, all counselors encounter families who are struggling with a loved one's refusal to get help for substance abuse or dependence. Typically, responses available to clinicians have included only two options: either a confrontational intervention by family and friends or encouragement not to enable their loved one, and learning to detach with love, by attending a support group such as
Al-Anon. This book presents a different way: an empirically based, non-confrontational therapy program designed for the concerned significant other (CSO) who wants to motivate a partner or family member to get help.
I found the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) approach, presented by authors Smith and Meyers, to be progressive in its basic premises, practical, and generally applicable to counselors working in a variety of settings. The text begins with a general description and overview of the CRAFT Intervention Program, including a fine discussion of the requirements for being a competent practitioner of this approach. The inclusion of sample of conversations with CSOs as well as a review of some family therapy spouse inventories were particularly useful.
The heart of the book is chapter4, in which the authors conduct a functional analysis of a problem behavior, with the main goal being to alter the identified patient's (IP) substance use by changing how the CSO interacts with the IP. This may sound like an oversimplification of a complex process, but the text addresses not only how the CSO can reward sober behavior but also the importance of problem solving and self-care. For those clinicians who may not be confident in their knowledge of drinking or using behavior, the text provides vivid examples and a step-by-step process for getting started, guiding the CSO, identifying short term- and long-term consequences for both the IP and the CSO, and ultimately how to help get the substance abuser into treatment.
Edward P. Cannon, Marymount University, Arlington Virginia
- Smith, J. E., & Meyers, R. J., (2009). Community reinforcement and family training. In G.L. Fisher & N.A. Roget’s (Eds.), Encyclopedia of substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
- Advances in Management of Alcohol Use Disorders and Intimate Partner Violence: Community Reinforcement and Family Training
By Hendrik G. Roozen, Eric Blaauw, and Robert J. Meyers. This article was released April 24, 2009. Go to the download page for more information or to download the complete article.
- Motivating Substance Abusers to Enter Treatment: Working with Family Members is now available in Korean.
- Dr. Meyers will be holding 3 day training in Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) at Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom on September 9th, 10th and 11th.
- Dr. Meyers will be presenting a Plenary address titled "History and Effectiveness of the Community Reinforcement Approach", on the morning of September 16th during the 2nd Annual German Congress on Addictions being held in Cologne Germany from September 16 to 19, 2009. In addition Dr. Meyers will be holding a one day training on "Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) as a pre-conference workshop on September 15th. Check their website for more information at www.suchtkongress09.de
- New CRA and CRAFT related articles are available on the Downloads page.
- Here is a new article about the use of CRA in Germany
- HBO's vaunted 14-part documentary "Addiction" has won an Emmy award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The series was honored with the Governors Award, the Academy's highest honor, which is given in recognition of programming that demonstrates commitment to important social causes. Click here to see the schedule of upcoming showings on HBO.
- Motivating Substance Abusers to Enter Treatment: Working With Family Members is now available in Finnish and will be available in Korean sometime in 2008.
- A Clinical Guide To Alcoholism: The Community Reinforcement Approach is now available in German and Dutch.
- Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening now available in Finnish.
- Robert J. Meyers is featured in the January 2007 issue of O: The Oprah Magazine
Pictures from the Albuquerque Premiere of the Emmy Award-winning HBO Special
