Families of problematic drug users typically experience a range of difficulties and negative emotions associated with their loved one’s drug use. ‘Stepping Stones’ is a 27 hour course run by Family Drug Support (FDS) to help families cope better with this situation. It is also generally agreed that supporting the family improves outcomes for the drug user. This paper reports the findings of an evaluation of Stepping Stones and provides details of how the course helps family members.

The evaluation examined the impact of participation in FDS’s Stepping Stone Program. FDS staff, in consultation with a statistician, designed a questionnaire to assess participants on 7 measures: anger, boundaries, control, denial, family, self esteem and trust.

The study involved 89 people: 56 who undertook Stepping Stones and 33 who formed a wait list control group. After completing Stepping Stones, course participants showed significant improvement on the measures of anger, boundaries, control, denial, family and trust. At subsequent follow up these improvements were either maintained or further increased. By comparison, the control group showed either no improvement or a significant decline on these measures. Neither group showed significant change in the measure of self esteem.

Family Drug Support developed the Stepping Stones course in 1999-2000 based on their experience in dealing with and supporting families of drug users. The program includes information, interactive group exercises and creative homework.Tony Trimingham, creator of the model will provide an overview of the course including: different types of families, what families experience and need, stages of change, the values and goals of the program, and the need for ongoing support for families.

These results and experience suggest that the Stepping Stones course is an effective means of improving the capacity of family members to cope with a problematic drug user.