Self-help Manuals & Materials
The majority of drug users successfully
change without any formal interventions. Well selected material presented at the right
time may help facilitate this self-change. The following sites identify self-change
material across all stages of change.
Self-help material is useful for those with reasonable literacy skills and who are
motivated to use the material.
This information is mostly used as a key component of brief
interventions. They not only support the intervention but are also useful as a
clinical guide for workers. Most processes contained in these resources can be generalised
to other drugs and behaviours (although specific drug-related information should be used
for clients).
A range of web-site and hard copy resources are presented. Access details are given,
however, for more information, please contact ADIS (08) 9442 5000, toll free (for WA
country callers) 1800 198 024, should further information be required.
Resources in purple with the ** on either side are available from WA Health
Promotion Services (08) 9222 2045.
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Contents Precontemplation
Contemplation
Ready for Action and Action
Maintenance
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Precontemplation
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Booklet: A Users' Guide
to Speed
Available from ADIS (08) 9442 5000, toll free (country) 1800 198 024 or purchased
from, The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Sydney Ph (02) 9398 9333.
This self help booklet for amphetamine users is a harm reduction resource which also
contains strategies for cutting down and quitting. The whole booklet is particularly well
written and produced. It's especially helpful for workers wanting more information on
dealing with injecting drug use. The five item dependency questionnaire could also be used
for a range of other substances (see: Screening
Instrument)
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Contemplation
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**
Booklet: Here's to Your Health - Drinksafe Guide **
As above but more comprehensive. This booklet is based on behavioural
self-management principles and includes (amongst other features), a practical four week
self-monitoring diary.
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** Booklets: Drinksafe Women's
Manual **
Out of Print - Review in Progress
This self-help manual is even more comprehensive than the above sites. It has a
separate supporter's guide and a more portable 10 week diary. This useful reference is a
little out of date but easily fixed with the use of a pen.
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Ready for Action and Action
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Booklet: A Guide to
Quitting Marijuana
Available from ADIS (08) 9442 5000, toll free (country) 1800 198024 or purchased
from, The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Sydney Ph (02) 9398 9333.
This self-help guide is for those cannabis users who are wanting to stop (i.e.
abstinence) using. It takes the reader through making a decision to quit, the process of
giving up and staying stopped.
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** Booklet and quit accessories: Quit
Kit **
As above but in hard copy form. Comes with a range of novel extras such as reminder
cards, a quit pledge, money box, etc.
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Booklet Series: Getting
Through Withdrawal
Available from Turning Point Alcohol & Drug Centre Inc.
ph (03) 9254 8050 fax 9416 3420
This series includes separate booklets for heroin, methadone, amphetamines and alcohol
withdrawal. Each booklet is well-structured into nine sections including:
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Decision making
Organising environment and supports for withdrawal
Coping with withdrawal symptoms
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Dealing with high-risk situations
Harm reduction information in the event of relapse
Information for supporters and useful contacts.
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They are particularly excellent for those
wishing to undertake supported, home detoxification. They are also useful for those who
want to stop for a short while (i.e. to take a 'drug holiday', to reduce tolerance, or
because of external pressures). |
Web-site: Rational
Recovery
An interesting site which offers an alternative to 12 step programs for a range of
addictive behaviours. The site contains a Crash Course on
AVRT (Addictive Voice Recognition Technique®) and a series of 28 bullet slides to
motivate and restructure thought processes.
This site is useful for those close to taking action (abstinence) as well as to assist
those who have taken action to maintain change.
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Maintenance
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Web page:
Staying
Stopped (PDF)
This booklet from the WA Health Dept reflects an "Action
to Maintenance" stage aimed at reinforcing changed behaviour.
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