SMART Recovery for Veterans Battling Addiction
The transition from military service to civilian life can be a daunting journey for many veterans. Unfortunately, this transition is often complicated by the spectre of addiction, which can manifest as a coping mechanism for the physical and psychological challenges faced during and after service. Whilst traditional addiction recovery programmes have long been the go-to solution, an innovative approach called SMART Recovery is gaining traction, offering a science-based alternative that resonates particularly well with the veteran community.
In this comprehensive exploration, we’ll delve into the world of SMART, examining its principles, methodologies, and unique benefits for veterans grappling with addiction. We’ll also compare it to traditional approaches and discuss how it fits into the broader landscape of veteran support services.
Understanding SMART Recovery:
Self-Management and Recovery Training, is a global community of mutual-support groups. Founded in 1994, it offers a science-based approach to overcoming addictive behaviours, be they substance-related or behavioural.
Unlike traditional 12-step programmes, SMART Recovery doesn’t view veterans battling addiction as a disease or a lifelong condition. Instead, it approaches addiction as a dysfunctional habit that can be corrected through learning and applying specific techniques. This perspective aligns well with the problem-solving mindset many veterans develop during their military service.
The Four-Point Programme:
At the heart is its Four-Point Programme, which provides a framework for individuals to:
1. Build and Maintain Motivation
2. Cope with Urges
3. Manage Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviours
4. Live a Balanced Life
Let’s examine each of these points in detail and consider how they apply to veterans’ unique experiences:
1. Building and Maintaining Motivation:
For many veterans, the structured environment of military service provided clear goals and motivation. In civilian life, and especially when grappling with addiction, finding and maintaining motivation can be challenging.
SMART Recovery employs techniques such as cost-benefit analysis to help veterans clearly see the impact of their addictive behaviours. By weighing the short-term pleasures against the long-term consequences, veterans can reinforce their motivation to change.
Moreover, the programme encourages setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. This approach resonates with veterans accustomed to mission-oriented thinking and can help them chart a clear path towards recovery.
2. Coping with Urges:
Urges and cravings are often at the root of addictive behaviours. For veterans, these urges may be tied to traumatic experiences, chronic pain, or the stress of reintegration into civilian life.
Recovery teaches strategies to cope with urges, such as urge surfing, where individuals learn to ride out the urge without acting on it. Another technique is the vital absorbing creative endeavour (VACE), which involves engaging in a compelling activity to distract from the urge.
These practical, actionable strategies align well with the problem-solving skills many veterans have honed during their service.
3. Managing Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviours:
SMART draws heavily on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) principles, teaching individuals to identify and challenge the thoughts and beliefs that fuel their addictive behaviours.
For veterans, this might involve addressing thoughts related to survivor’s guilt, feelings of disconnection from civilian society, or beliefs about using substances to numb emotional pain. The programme provides tools like the ABC model (Activating event, Belief, Consequence) to help individuals understand and change these patterns.
This analytical approach can be particularly effective for veterans trained to assess and respond to complex situations.
4. Living a Balanced Life:
The final point of the programme focuses on helping individuals create a fulfilling life beyond their addiction. For veterans, this often involves finding new purpose and meaning in civilian life.
It encourages individuals to explore various life areas, including relationships, career, personal growth, and leisure activities. This holistic approach can help veterans rebuild a sense of identity and purpose that may have been lost after leaving military service.
The SMART Approach vs Traditional Methods:
While traditional 12-step programmes like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) have helped many individuals, SMART Recovery offers several distinct features that may appeal to veterans:
1. Self-Empowerment: Unlike AA, which asks individuals to admit powerlessness over their addiction, SMART emphasises personal agency and responsibility. This aligns well with the self-reliance and resilience cultivated in military service.
2. Scientific Basis: The methods are grounded in evidence-based practices, particularly cognitive-behavioural therapy and motivational interviewing. This scientific approach may resonate with veterans accustomed to rigorous training and clear protocols.
3. Secular Framework: Recovery does not include spiritual elements, making it accessible to individuals of all beliefs or none. This inclusivity can be particularly important in the diverse veteran community.
4. Evolving Programme: SMART Recovery continually updates its approaches based on the latest addiction research. This adaptability mirrors the military’s emphasis on staying current with the best available strategies and technologies.
5. Goal of Graduation: Unlike 12-step programmes that often emphasise lifelong participation, SMART Recovery encourages individuals to ‘graduate’ once they feel confident in their ability to maintain their recovery. This aligns with the goal-oriented mindset many veterans possess.
SMART Recovery in Practice:
SMART Recovery meetings, whether in-person or online, follow a structured format that will feel familiar to many veterans:
1. Check-in: Participants briefly share their current status and any concerns.
2. Agenda Setting: The group collectively decides on topics to discuss.
3. Working Time: The bulk of the meeting is spent discussing these topics and applying SMART tools.
4. Check-out: Participants summarise their takeaways and set goals for the coming week.
This structure provides a sense of order and purpose that can be comforting to veterans transitioning from the highly structured military environment.
SMART Recovery and Veteran-Specific Issues:
While SMART Recovery isn’t exclusively for veterans, its approach is well-suited to address many issues common in the veteran community:
1. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): SMART Recovery’s tools for managing thoughts and emotions can be particularly helpful for veterans dealing with PTSD alongside addiction.
2. Chronic Pain: Many veterans turn to substances to manage chronic pain from service-related injuries. SMART Recovery can help individuals find healthier pain management strategies.
3. Reintegration Challenges: The programme’s focus on building a balanced life can assist veterans struggling with the transition to civilian life.
4. Comorbid Mental Health Issues: SMART Recovery’s cognitive-behavioural approach can complement treatments for conditions like depression and anxiety, which often co-occur with addiction in veterans.
Integrating SMART Recovery with Other Veteran Services:
SMART Recovery can be an excellent complement to other veteran support services. It can be used alongside:
1. VA Healthcare: Veterans can participate in SMART Recovery while receiving medical care through the VA system.
2. Mental Health Therapy: The tools learned in SMART Recovery can reinforce and complement individual or group therapy sessions.
3. Vocational Rehabilitation: As veterans work on recovery, they can simultaneously engage in programmes to build new career skills.
4. Peer Support Programmes: SMART Recovery can be used in conjunction with veteran-specific peer support groups.
5. Family Support Services: SMART Recovery’s principles can be applied to improve family relationships, which are often strained by addiction.
Challenges and Considerations:
While SMART Recovery offers many benefits, it’s important to acknowledge potential challenges:
1. Availability: Although growing, SMART Recovery may not be as widely available as traditional 12-step programmes in some areas.
2. Intensity: The programme’s cognitive approach can be mentally demanding, which might be challenging for veterans dealing with cognitive issues related to traumatic brain injury or PTSD.
3. Lack of Veteran-Exclusive Groups: While this can be seen as promoting integration, some veterans might initially feel more comfortable in veteran-only spaces.
4. Different Approach: Veterans who have previously engaged with 12-step programmes might find the shift in perspective challenging at first.
Success Stories:
While maintaining anonymity, it’s worth sharing a few anonymised success stories of veterans who have benefited from SMART Recovery:
Case 1: John, a former Army sergeant, struggled with alcohol addiction after leaving the service. He found that SMART Recovery’s emphasis on self-reliance resonated with his military training. The cost-benefit analysis tool helped him clearly see the impact of his drinking on his family and career prospects, motivating him to change.
Case 2: Sarah, a Navy veteran, turned to prescription painkillers to manage chronic pain from a service-related injury. Through SMART Recovery, she learned alternative pain management techniques and cognitive strategies to cope with urges. She credits the programme’s scientific approach with helping her understand and overcome her addiction.
Case 3: Mike, an Air Force veteran, felt lost after leaving the service and used gambling as an escape. SMART Recovery’s focus on building a balanced life helped him rediscover his passion for engineering and rebuild relationships with his family.
Getting Started:
For veterans interested in exploring SMART Recovery, here are some steps to get started:
1. Visit the SMART Recovery website: Find information about the programme and locate meetings in your area.
2. Attend a meeting: Try both in-person and online meetings to see which format you prefer.
3. Explore resources: SMART Recovery offers a handbook, worksheets, and online tools to support your journey.
4. Consider training: If you find the programme helpful, you might consider training to become a facilitator, allowing you to help other veterans.
5. Integrate with other support: Discuss with your healthcare providers how SMART Recovery can complement your overall treatment plan.
North East Veteran Recovery College
The North East Veteran Recovery College: Pioneering SMART Support for Veterans in the North East
In the heart of North East England, an innovative institution is making waves in veteran support: the North East Veteran Recovery College. This pioneering organisation has embraced the SMART Recovery approach, offering a beacon of hope for veterans grappling with addiction in the region.
The college’s decision to incorporate SMART Recovery groups into its programme demonstrates a commitment to evidence-based, veteran-centric care. These groups, tailored specifically for the veteran community, provide a supportive environment where former service members can apply SMART principles to their unique experiences and challenges.
What sets the North East Veteran Recovery College apart is its holistic approach. The SMART Recovery groups are not standalone services but are integrated into a comprehensive support system. Veterans can seamlessly transition between SMART meetings, vocational training, mental health support, and other services offered by the college, ensuring a well-rounded recovery journey.
The college’s SMART facilitators are often veterans themselves, bringing a deep understanding of military culture and the transition challenges to civilian life. This peer-led approach fosters a sense of camaraderie and mutual understanding that many veterans find invaluable in their recovery process.
Moreover, the college has adapted SMART Recovery principles to address veteran-specific issues. For instance, they’ve developed modules that apply SMART tools to managing combat-related PTSD symptoms or navigating the complexities of accessing veteran benefits.
The success of this programme has not gone unnoticed. Other veteran support organisations across the UK are looking to the North East Veteran Recovery College as a model for implementing SMART Recovery in their own services.
By combining the scientifically-grounded approach of SMART Recovery with a deep understanding of veteran needs, the North East Veteran Recovery College is charting a new course in addiction support for those who’ve served. It stands as a testament to the power of innovative, tailored approaches in supporting our veteran community.
Conclusion:
SMART Recovery offers a promising avenue for veterans struggling with addiction. Its emphasis on self-empowerment, scientific basis, and practical tools aligns well with the strengths and experiences of many who have served in the military.
While it may not be the right fit for everyone, SMART Recovery provides a valuable alternative to traditional addiction recovery programmes. Its flexible, evolving nature allows it to address the complex and varied needs of the veteran community.
As we continue to seek better ways to support our veterans, SMART Recovery stands out as a powerful tool in the battle against addiction. By combining personal responsibility with evidence-based techniques, it offers veterans a path to recovery that honours their strength, resilience, and capacity for growth.
Ultimately, the goal is not just to overcome addiction, but to build a fulfilling, balanced life. For many veterans, SMART Recovery can be a crucial step on that journey, helping them apply the discipline and determination they developed in service to the challenge of personal recovery and growth.
Whether you’re a veteran struggling with addiction, a family member seeking to understand and support a loved one, or a professional working in veteran support services, SMART Recovery is an approach worth considering. It offers hope, practical tools, and a supportive community for those ready to take control of their recovery journey.
In the words of the SMART Recovery motto: “Discover the Power of Choice.” For many veterans, this choice could be the first step towards a brighter, addiction-free future.
(FAQs) about SMART Recovery:
1. What is SMART Recovery and how does it differ from 12-step programmes?
SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training) is a science-based programme for addiction recovery. Unlike 12-step programmes, SMART Recovery:
- Does not use the concept of powerlessness or a higher power
- Focuses on self-empowerment and self-reliance
- Is based on current scientific knowledge about addiction
- Evolves as scientific understanding advances
- Encourages participants to graduate from the programme when ready
SMART Recovery uses cognitive-behavioural techniques and motivational tools to help individuals overcome addictive behaviours.
2. Do I have to stop using substances completely to participate in SMART Recovery?
No, SMART Recovery does not require abstinence to participate. The programme supports both abstinence and harm reduction goals, depending on the individual’s choice. SMART Recovery believes that individuals should have the power to choose their own path to recovery. However, the programme does provide tools and support for those who choose to pursue complete abstinence.
3. How often do SMART Recovery meetings occur and what happens in them?
SMART Recovery meetings typically occur weekly, either in-person or online. A typical meeting lasts about 90 minutes and follows this general structure:
- Welcome and introduction
- Check-in, where participants briefly share their current status
- Agenda setting, where the group decides on topics to discuss
- Working time, which involves discussing these topics and applying SMART tools
- Check-out, where participants summarise their takeaways and set goals
Meetings are led by trained facilitators and focus on practical applications of SMART Recovery tools.
4. Is SMART Recovery only for alcohol addiction?
No, SMART Recovery is designed to help with all types of addictive behaviours, including:
- Substance addictions (alcohol, drugs, etc.)
- Behavioural addictions (gambling, internet, eating disorders, etc.)
- Co-occurring mental health issues alongside addiction
The tools and techniques taught in SMART Recovery can be applied to a wide range of addictive behaviours and related challenges.
5. How much does it cost to participate in SMART Recovery?
SMART Recovery meetings are typically free to attend, although some groups may request small donations to cover operational costs. The SMART Recovery Handbook and other materials are available for purchase, but they are not required to participate in meetings. Online resources, including a large collection of articles and tools, are available for free on the SMART Recovery website. Some specialised workshops or training sessions may have associated costs, but the core programme is designed to be accessible at no cost.
