| NIDA-funded · Randomized pilot trial · Published in peer-reviewed journal
With around 80% (or more) of SUD going untreated every year in America, families suffer alongside their loved ones despite effective evidence-based tx for SUD existing. While CRAFT is known to be reliable at on average seeing 68% Treatment entry, most family members never receive it. Our research sought to establish feasibility of an online CRAFT program that is scalable, affordable and accessible to broaden the reach of this lifesaving approach, while maintaining its effectiveness. To do so, would be the first of its kind.
🎯The Breakthrough:
Families using CRAFT helped their loved ones enter treatment at nearly double the rate of peer support alone.
76.9% of loved ones entered treatment when families participated in online CRAFT group coaching and complimentary homework.
Compared with 40% in a peer support condition
Not by confronting. Not by waiting.
But by learning specific, collaborative, evidence-based skills.
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📈 Additional Findings
Beyond treatment engagement, families also experienced:
- 😊Improved wellbeing
- 🌙Reduced mood disturbance
- 🔗Stronger relationship satisfaction
In addition, participant engagement was similar across conditions, suggesting that the online format is both practical and accessible for families.
This wasn’t just about treatment entry—it was about meaningful change for families themselves.
Together, these findings indicate that our digital CRAFT program with coaching by Certified CRAFT Practitioners may not only increase rates of treatment entry for SUD — but also help families feel more stable, confident, and connected.
📊 Inside the Study
We joined forces with experts: our Chief Research Officer, Dr. Kim, Kirby leading CRAFT researcher, program design with Dr. Robert .J. Meyers the creator of CRAFT himself, and our research partners PHMC, and with the support of NIDA funding conducted a randomized pilot trial evaluating the feasibility and outcomes of delivering our CRAFT Online Programs for Families affected by opioid use.
Leveraging the expertise of our team, we designed a structured, 12-week program and tested it with families nationwide—with a direct comparison to traditional peer support.
- 👥45 family members and concerned significant others
- 🗓 12-week structured program
- 📍25 U.S. states
- ⚖️Randomized comparison between our online CRAFT program and peer support
The goal was to understand whether CRAFT — a leading evidence-based method — could be delivered effectively in a digital format, and whether it could help families influence treatment engagement.
While this was a pilot study, the direction is clear: when families are given structured, evidence-based tools, outcomes change. We would go on to validate these initial findings in a full-scale trial (see more on that below).
💡Why This Changes Everything
For decades, research has shown that families can play a critical role in helping a loved one enter treatment.
However, access to trained and certified CRAFT providers remains limited in many communities.
This creates a gap:
Families are motivated to help — but often lack access to evidence-based guidance.
Online delivery has the potential to change that.
By making CRAFT available online, it becomes possible to:
- 🌍Reach families regardless of location
- 💻Reduce barriers to accessing support
- 🔓Provide structured, evidence-based tools earlier in the process
This study provides early evidence that this approach is not only effective, but also feasible at scale.
📄 Read the Full Study
The full paper is published in Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology.
🔗 Read the full study: https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2027-15069-004.html
🧩 How This Connects to Our Work
At We The Village, our family program was born in this pilot study initiative and has gone on to be refined based on the rigorous research we’ve conducted plus feedback and real-world learnings we’ve received over the 8 years we’ve been doing CRAFT work and under the direct mentorship and advisorship of CRAFT creator Dr. Robert .J. Meyers.
Our family program is built around the CRAFT model — helping families learn and apply these skills in real-life situations.
Importantly, families can benefit from CRAFT even if their loved one is not ready for treatment.
👉 Learn more about our program →
www.wethevillage.co/craft-family-programs
➡️ What’s Next
This pilot study is part of a broader research effort.
A full-scale randomized trial was completed in Q4 2024, with results currently in the process of peer-reviewed publication.
We remain committed to advancing the role of families in addiction recovery.
💬 Final Thought
Families don’t need to wait for “rock bottom”.
Families are not the problem to manage—they are part of the solution.
With the right tools, they can influence change—while improving their own wellbeing along the way.
🙏 Acknowledgment
This research was made possible with funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and with support from our independent research partner PHMC.
