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Understanding CRAFT: A Guide to Family Support in Addiction

August 4, 2025

10:31 am

A young man looking down while others in a support group console him with comforting gestures
A group of people provide emotional support to a young man in distress

Table of contents

Introduction

Community Reinforcement Approach (CRAFT). Sounds complicated? No!

It is an evidenced based approach that can make all the difference in applying community reinforcement and structured family methods.

Understanding the Community Reinforcement Approach and Family Training (CRAFT) takes a little bit of time and effort.

It is seeded in research and is a treatment plan for all of the family: adult children, siblings, partners and spouses.

However, it doesn’t stop there as it extends to friends of those seeking treatment as well.

CRAFT incorporates community reinforcement to engage family in the process.

This approach also includes training for the entire family.

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What does the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRAFT) consist of?

Within this model there are some abbreviations to master:

  • Concerned Significant Others (CSOs): These are those members of the family who are supporting the person in need of treatment.
  • Identified Patients (IP’s): Those who are in need of help

The essential aim of CRAFT is to support CSO’s who don’t know where to turn for help for the IP and is centered around the concept that family members can be a powerful tool to help the IP understand that they need help.

The Community Reinforcement Approach within the framework empowers families rather than coercing or pressuring but focuses on being impartial, empathetic, and boundaried. Training for families is an integral component of this approach, embodying principles of CRAFT.

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Peer facilitated

At its core, CRAFT is facilitated by peers and uses a skills-based program to help those who have someone in their life caught up in the madness of addiction.

Community Reinforcement Approach emphasizes improving coping skills for those supporting individuals with addiction.

It provides a way of viewing how the person’s addiction has affected their lives, as well as the person they are supporting.

The training for families included in this reinforced strategy also helps to address the user’s resistance to engage in treatment.

Non-confrontational approach

While CRAFT is there to try and engage the user in treatment it does not use a confrontational approach. CRAFT employs evidence-based principles to reduce the person’s drug use and encourage them to seek a way out of dependency through treatment.

Community Reinforcement Approach combined with family training delivers psychological tools and formulas used at home to refine interactions with those struggling with addiction.

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Skills for life

These skills will become a lifeline as you work through the process of getting the person to accept help.

As with all things in life, CRAFT is not a quick fix, rather it should be viewed as a model of approach that can be of significant use to both the person struggling as well as those supporting them.

Key Takeaways

  • The Community Reinforcement Approach (CRAFT) supports families of individuals struggling with addiction by empowering them and training them in effective coping strategies.
  • CRAFT uses non-confrontational methods and evidence-based practices to reduce substance use and encourage treatment engagement.
  • The approach involves Concerned Significant Others (CSOs) supporting Identified Patients (IPs), focusing on mutual understanding and empathy.
  • CRAFT provides structured plans and essential skills to improve interactions and offer a positive viewpoint throughout the recovery process.
  • Find Me a Rehab offers experienced clinicians who provide free advice and support on addiction treatment and recovery plans.

Giving structure

You’ll find that Community Reinforcement Approach and Family Training will provide you with a structured plan of action as well as helping you see things in a more positive light.

This is why the community reinforcement approach is recommended to many.

The system was designed at the University of New Mexico by Drs Meyers and Smith and has been evaluated for its effectiveness for nearly four decades.

Studies indicate that the Community Reinforcement Approach, along with family training, can help over 7 out of 10 people who need addiction treatment.

How can Find me a Rehab help?

We are experienced addictions clinicians.

With decades of experience, each, of helping people struggling with addiction we have the knowledge to give you free, impartial and confidential advice.

We never charge for initial consultations or treatment referrals.

Our experience includes prisons, private rehab centres, NHS commissioned GP shared care services, private hospitals and local authority funded residential and community services.

If you want to benefit from CRAFT we can signpost you to a rehab that incorporates this therapy model into the programme.

Getting help

Call, email or live chat with an experienced addictions clinician on any aspect of addiction, detox, rehab, home treatment, therapy, relapse prevention and aftercare.

Our clinicians can advise you on treatment plans, treatment options, locations, costings and logistics.

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Need help finding the right rehab for you or a loved one? Get in touch today and take the first step toward recovery.

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