Watching your loved one struggle with addiction while refusing help is a uniquely painful and frustrating experience. You’ve tried everything: begging, getting angry, setting ultimatums, trying to reason with them. Every conversation ends in a fight or a shutdown, leaving you feeling more hopeless and disconnected than before.
TL;DR:
For decades, families were told the only options were to “hit bottom” or stage a dramatic, confrontational intervention. But science has shown us a better, more compassionate, and far more effective way. It’s called the CRAFT method, and it can transform your approach from one of conflict to one of influence.
CRAFT stands for Community Reinforcement and Family Training. It is an evidence-based therapy model designed specifically for the families of people who are refusing to seek treatment for substance use. Its goal is threefold:
Instead of focusing on how to force a change, CRAFT teaches you skills to change your interactions. By changing the family environment, you make a sober or healthier life more rewarding for your loved one than a life of substance use.
You can’t control your loved one’s choices, but CRAFT teaches you how to influence them by making recovery a more attractive option.
Research on the CRAFT method is incredibly promising. Studies have found it to be significantly more effective than traditional approaches, successfully engaging approximately 70% of resistant individuals into treatment.
CRAFT is not just a theory; it’s a set of practical skills you can learn and practice.
These skills empower you to step out of the cycle of anger and despair and into a role of positive influence. This aligns with the non-judgmental approach we take at Arrow Medical, where we believe positive support is the foundation for change.
While setting boundaries is a key part of CRAFT, it’s done with compassion and a clear offer of help. It’s about protecting your well-being, not punishing your loved one. This is the essence of supporting without enabling.
CRAFT Method: Collaborative, compassionate, patient
Traditional: Confrontational, often aggressive
CRAFT Method: Building positive behaviours
Traditional: Eliminating negative behaviours
CRAFT Method: Make recovery more rewarding
Traditional: Make substance use more painful
CRAFT Method: Active, supportive participant
Traditional: An ultimatum-giver
CRAFT Method: Higher treatment entry rates, improved family well-being
Traditional: Can backfire, causing shame and deeper rifts
Q: Isn’t rewarding good behaviour like treating them like a child?
It’s about applying a proven psychological principle: behaviour that is rewarded is more likely to be repeated. It’s about showing them that a life with less substance use has real, tangible benefits—like a better relationship with you.
Q: Where can I learn CRAFT?
CRAFT is taught by trained therapists. There are also excellent resources online that can teach you the core principles, such as:
Q: What if it doesn’t work?
Even if your loved one doesn’t immediately enter treatment, CRAFT has been shown to significantly improve the well-being of the family member. By learning these skills, you will reduce your own stress, anger, and depression, and you will have a healthier relationship, regardless of the outcome.
You have more power than you think to positively influence your loved one. Learning about CRAFT can be the first step toward healing for your entire family. And when your loved one is ready, our compassionate, walk-in care model at Arrow Medical.
