Webinar Resources
Breaking the Chains of Addiction
Take-home reading from Dr. Peter Selby’s WOW webinar on the science and support behind addiction recovery.
The Webinar
A Webinar of Hope and Recovery
Addiction often begins in adolescence and affects not just the person, but also their loved ones — suffering that’s usually kept hidden by stigma and misconceptions. Did you know 21% of Canadians meet the criteria for addiction, and 7,000 people die from the disease every year?
Dr. Peter Selby, Giblon Professor in Family Medicine Research at the University of Toronto and Senior Scientist at CAMH, joined TREWO to explore the latest in understanding addiction — including how families can support a loved one’s recovery. Below is what he shared.
The CRAFT Method
Community Reinforcement & Family Training
CRAFT teaches family and friends effective strategies for helping their loved one to change — and for feeling better themselves. It was developed by Drs. Robert Myers and Jane Ellen Smith of the University of New Mexico, and combines the 12-Step approach of Al-Anon with traditional Johnson Institute–style intervention.
CRAFT has been found to be the most effective in the engagement of loved ones in treatment and decreasing substance use
- Evidence-based: randomized controlled trials with alcohol, drugs, adults and youth
- Based on behavioural principles
- Families learn to reinforce non-using behaviour
- Communication and problem-solving skills are emphasized
- Families are taught to attend to their own needs, increasing quality of life
Percentage of substance users entering treatment
What CRAFT covers
- Motivational strategies
- Functional analysis of the substance use behaviour
- Domestic violence precautions
- Communication training
- Positive reinforcement training
- Discouragement of using behaviour
- Significant-other self-reinforcement training
- Suggestion of treatment to the identified patient
Where to Turn
Resources & support
CAMH – Empowering Families
Free online education aimed at building awareness and knowledge of mental health challenges and at reducing stigma.
Families for Addiction Recovery
Free phone support, Mon–Fri 12:00–3:00pm EDT and Wednesday evenings 7:00–9:00pm — (855) 377-6677 ext. 207. Call from anywhere in Canada.
Moms Stop the Harm
A network of Canadian families impacted by substance-use-related harms and deaths — advocacy, peer support for grieving families, and assistance for those with loved ones who use or have used substances.
CAMH – Quit Smoking with STOP on the Net
A free online program to help you quit smoking, with free nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum, lozenges) mailed to your address. Offered in English and French.
Access CAMH
CAMH's centralized intake for outpatient referrals — processes all referrals and schedules the right service. Live access for the general public and community care providers; those seeking addiction/substance use treatment can self-refer. Phone: 416-535-8501 ext. 2.
Recommended Reading
Two books on CRAFT
Motivating Substance Abusers to Enter Treatment: Working with Family Members
Jane Ellen Smith & Robert J. Meyers
Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening
Robert J. Meyers, Ph.D. & Brenda L. Wolfe, Ph.D. — based on CRAFT, the new proven intervention program
Family support is also covered in Families CARE: Helping Families Cope and Relate Effectively, a CAMH facilitator’s manual by Sukhi Bubra, Andrea Himes, Colleen Kelly, Joanne Chenfeld, Christine Sloss and Linda Tait.
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