Guidance

Mutual aid toolkit for alcohol and drug misuse treatment

Evidence and guidance on the benefits of mutual aid in preventing and treating alcohol and drug dependency.

Documents

Briefing on evidence-based drug and alcohol treatment guidance recommendations on mutual aid

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Mutual aid self-assessment tool

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Facilitating access to mutual aid (FAMA)

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Improving access to mutual aid (commissioners)

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Improving access to mutual aid (service managers)

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Improving mutual aid engagement

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Mutual aid framework

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Unlocking the potential of mutual aid in prisons

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Details

Commissioners, service providers, prison staff and mutual aid organisations can use this toolkit to identify how mutual aid can enhance treatment to help people to recover from drug and alcohol problems.

Mutual aid is support provided by members of a community group during recovery, such as:

  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
  • Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
  • Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART)

This toolkit includes:

  • mutual aid briefing - evidence of how mutual aid can improve an individual’s chance of recovery
  • mutual aid self-assessment tool - understanding the availability of mutual aid, identifying gaps or barriers and improving access
  • facilitating access to mutual aid (FAMA) - an evidence-based 3-step intervention plan for key workers
  • improving access to mutual aid (commissioners) - how commissioners can support mutual aid and its relationship to treatment services
  • improving access to mutual aid (service managers) - steps service managers can take to promote links between treatment services and mutual aid groups
  • improving mutual aid engagement - setting out the skills and experience keyworkers need to help patients engage with mutual aid
  • mutual aid framework - practical suggestions for improving local mutual aid provision and strengthening links to treatment
  • unlocking the potential of mutual aid in prisons - a guide to the benefits of mutual aid, and the use of security and vetting procedures to support its delivery in prisons
Published 1 December 2013
Last updated 10 April 2018 + show all updates
  1. Added 'Unlocking the potential of mutual aid in prisons' guidance document.

  2. First published.