Get Your Loved One Sober

Historically there have been few options available for individuals seeking help for treatment-resistant loved ones suffering from substance abuse. Coauthor Dr. Robert Meyers spent ten years developing a treatment program that helps Concerned Significant Others (CSOs) both improve the quality of their lives and to learn how to make treatment an attractive option for their partners who are substance abusers. "Get Your Loved One Sober describes this multi-faceted program that uses supportive, non-confrontational methods to engage substance abusers into treatment. Called Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT), the program uses scientifically validated behavioral principles to reduce the loved one's substance use and to encourage him or her to seek treatment. Equally important, CRAFT also helps loved ones reduce personal stress and introduce meaningful, new sources of satisfaction into their life. When compared to Johnson Institute and AI-Anon intervention techniques, CRAFT resulted in two and three times the number of loved ones willingly engaging in an alcohol treatment program. Compared to a 64% success rate for CRAFT, the Johnson Institute approach resulted in engaging only three out of ten drinkers and the AI-Anon approach engaged barely more than one out of ten drinkers.