A 5-step intervention to help family members in Italy who live with substance misusers

Background: Family members of people with serious alcohol or drug problems are negatively affected by the behaviour and problems of their substance misusing relative. Aims: Conduct a feasibility study, testing whether a intervention successful in the UK, aimed at helping family members of people with alcohol or drug problems (the 5-Step Intervention), would also be applicable in Italy. Method: Feasibility study. Results: It is feasible to deliver this intervention in Italy. Materials were successfully translated and back-translated and were deemed relevant for an Italian context; different health services organizations and their staff were recruited to participate; 52 family members were recruited and received the intervention. Before-and-after comparisons of these family members' physical and psychological symptoms, and their coping methods, showed that major and significant changes were made during and following the intervention. Conclusions: How family members cope with living with a relative with alcohol or drug problems is important. Issues related to the generalizability of the intervention are discussed, including the transferability of therapeutic interventions within Europe at a time of greater trans-European mobility, and the generalizability of the possible intervention to other contexts. Declaration of interest: There are no conflicts of interest.