Michael

• 26 years old• Musician who was working and living in

London• Became dependent on heroin and crack cocaine• Large debts forced him to return to live with

parents near Birmingham

Session 1: Network Diagram

Michael

RichardFriend

ClareRichard’s

Wife

LukeFriend

JustineManager

SusanMother

BarryFather

Treatment Goal

• To stop all illicit drug use and just use his maintenance prescription (Methadone)

• Michael agreed to bring his friend Richard to the next SBNT session

Session 2: Communication 1

• Michael attended alone

• Michael and therapist worked on communication skills to engage his network

• The therapist initiated a role-play to practice communication skills

• Michael was then able to telephone Richard and invite him to the next SBNT session

Session 3: Communication 2

• Michael attended with Richard

• Treatment goals were reviewed

• Discussed Michael’s communication barriers

• Plan made to overcome barriers

• Considered potential network members

Session 4: Coping

• Michael attended with Claire

• They discussed styles of coping (engaged, tolerant,withdrawal)

• Michael reluctant to involve parents

• Michael talks about what he has found useful in the way others have responded to him recently

Session 5: Enhancing Support Networks

• Michael attends with Richard, Claire and Justine, his manager

• Discuss ways in which Michael can use his support network to help him work towards his treatment goal

• Decided to help Michael change the environment around him to make it easier to achieve his treatment goal

Session 6: Increasing Pleasant Activities

• Michael attended with Richard, Claire, Justin and Stuart, a friend and work colleague

• Discussed the pros and cons of moving out of his parental home

• Claire and Michael agreed that he would paint her flat in return for a car!

Session 7: Developing a network based relapse management plan

• Michael attended with Richard

• Michael was making some positive changes and was using his network effectively

• The possibility of Michael lapsing was discussed

Session 8: Planning for the future

• Michael attended with Richard

• They discussed how Michael could continue to communicate his feelings to others

• The treatment goal was reviewed…..

Treatment progress

• Working more productively and filling up his time

• Using network more effectively

• Stopped using crack and benzodiazepines

• Reduced his heroin use by half

What Michael Learned

• He had changed his attitude towards the notion of network support

• He felt that his network were better able to support him

• He felt more able to solve his problems

• It helped him to realise what he could have if he didn’t use

What the network members learned

• The sessions were worth persisting with

• They changed too

• They could see that their input had a positive effect on Michael

• They could be more honest with Michael

SO….

• Overall a very positive experience• Was not just about achieving abstinence• It was about building a network around Michael

and working with them, looking at strategies that they could put in place for Michael so that he could continue working towards his goal over time and enabling him to work through any future problems that he might encounter.