‘Don't be afraid to put your hand up and ask for help' in Mayo

A growing movement in Ireland is offering people struggling with addictive behaviours a new, evidence-based pathway to recovery.

SMART Recovery—short for Self-Management and Recovery Training—is a free, peer-led program designed to help people manage addictions using practical tools grounded in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and rational emotive behavioural therapy (REBT).

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Unlike the well-known twelve-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), SMART Recovery focuses on the “here and now,” equipping participants with behavioural strategies they can apply immediately in their daily lives. Facilitators emphasize that SMART is not in competition with AA or other support groups, but rather offers an alternative or complementary approach.

“Our program is strength-based and person-centered,” explained Jamie Burke, a facilitator with the Smart Recovery in Castlebar. “We believe the answers are already within the person. What we do is give them the tools and space to bring those out.”

SMART Recovery is structured around a Four-Point Program: Building and maintaining motivation, Coping with urges, Managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and Living a balanced lifestyle.

Meetings typically begin with a brief “check-in,” where participants share how their week has been—any urges, struggles, or successes.

From there, the group tailors the session to address real challenges members are facing, whether that’s coping with cravings, preparing for social events like weddings, or finding healthier habits to replace old routines.

Role play is a common tool. For instance, someone anxious about refusing a drink at a family gathering might practice responses with the group until they feel confident facing the situation.

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How to handle family occasions, such as weddings, would regularly come up at meetings.

This is where the tools of Smart Recovery come into play, and the facilitator will go through different scenarios and work what will work best for the person ahead of the event.

“That's what we're all about. We're going to help you to build the confidence to be able to get through the wedding by using these tools, so that you can say you're building and maintaining your motivation by doing this.”

Cost–benefit analysis is another technique, helping participants weigh the short-term “pros” of substance use against its long-term consequences.

“You'll normally find that the benefits are short-term. I feel good in the moment, but do you feel good the next day?”

“No, you're saying you feel really hungover, maybe a bit guilty, maybe feeling a bit of shame. And how does that carry on through your week?”

“Which one is the best to be going for long term? So that's where the behavioural therapy comes into it, and that's where the tools are to help you to see that, yes, in the short term, what you're doing may feel good, but in the long term, it's actually going to make you feel worse.”

Unlike addiction-specific fellowships such as GA (Gamblers Anonymous) or NA (Narcotics Anonymous), SMART Recovery groups are open to all addictive behaviours—alcohol, drugs, gambling, eating disorders, even emerging issues like phone dependency.

“We focus on the behaviour, not the substance,” said Jamie. “That way, people can learn from each other across different addictions.”

The service is free, confidential, and open to anyone.

In Mayo, weekly meetings are held in Castlebar on Wednesday evenings at 7 pm, with a new group planned for Ballina in the coming weeks. Online meetings are also available for those who prefer privacy or cannot attend in person.

The initiative is gaining momentum alongside National Recovery Month, which celebrates stories of hope and resilience from people in recovery.

“Addiction doesn’t discriminate,” said the facilitator. “You’ll find people of all ages, backgrounds, and situations in our rooms. Don't be afraid to put your hand up and ask for a bit of help.”

Smart Recovery can also act as the first point of contact for people or families who are unsure what support are out there. On top of the programme that they run, they can also signpost people to free services that they may not have already been aware of.

“There's so many wonderful free services around to help family, to help people in their time in need.”

For more information, visit www.smartrecovery.ie or email info@smartrecovery.ie.