Family Empowerment Program

Who is accessing online counselling for rural family members of people struggling with substance use?

An individual’s use of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) can greatly impact their family and friends’ physical and mental health. Only a small percentage of Australians who seek support for AOD problems are family members or friends.

Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) is an evidence-based talking therapy that works with family and friends of people struggling with substance use.

Few drug and alcohol services provide support to family members. Craft helps families to reduce substance use, engage in treatment, and improve family wellbeing.

Study in progress

Participant recruitment ceased at the end of August 2024.

The project sought to explore the experiences of family members and friends of people using AOD in regional Australia, both in general and in relation to accessing support services. The project also sought to explore the extent to which CRAFT (renamed the Family Empowerment Program (FEP) in this project) is an effective support service to family members and friends of people using AOD.

What have we learnt so far?

Caucasian women between the ages of 45 and 64 were most likely to seek help from the FEP.
Of the 61 participants who have completed the FEP to date, 83% completed all sessions.

View our poster breakdown [pdf]

What's next?

The final data will be collected at the end of January 2025 when the last participant completes the program and from there, the final outcomes can be measured.

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Meet the research team

Additional support

Path2Help

An online tool for family and friends of people who use AOD. It has people answer a few questions to determine their loved one’s level of risk, and then sifts through 10,000 support services to find the best matches in only a few minutes.

13YARN

Crisis Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Providing crisis support 24/7 to yarn with you without judgement and provide a confidential, culturally safe space to yarn about your needs, worries or concerns.

1800 RESPECT

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence, call us for support.

Family Drug Support

Family Drug Support provides information on all aspects of alcohol and drug use for the families of people who use substances. They also operate a National 24 hr phone support service for families affected by alcohol and other drug issues.

Lifeline

If you or someone you know needs crisis support, please phone Lifeline on 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au/gethelp for Lifeline Chat Service (all services are 24/7).

Suicide Call Back Service

Free 24/7 professional phone counselling to support people at risk of suicide, people concerned about someone at risk, people bereaved by suicide and experiencing emotional or mental health issues.