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Alcohol and Drug Support course – Thinking about Change (Just a Thought)

Alcohol and Drug Support course - Thinking about change (Just a Thought)

An online course for people with addiction, who are contemplating making change and needing some motivation and encouragement to begin taking steps towards recovery.

Alcohol and Drug Support – Thinking about change course	By Just A Thought
	Features Interactive worksheets to personalise the lesson experience. Information sheets (PDF) that can be downloaded and printed. Progress that can be monitored. Save as you go option which allows the user flexibility to choose how long they engage in the programme at any one time.
Country of origin	New Zealand
Clinical review	Read a clinical review below.
Security and privacy	Does the app: Collect medical information? Yes – if chosen can complete mental health screens which are saved and can be sent through to health support person. Require a login? Yes Have password protection? Yes Have a privacy policy? Yes Require internet access to use? Yes Read more about safety and security when using apps. Brochures: Tips to improve your privacy and security [PDF, 65 KB] Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ Staying safe online(external link) Netsafe, NZ
Cost	Free
Advertisements	Contains no ads.
How to access the course	(external link)

The online course is one of three courses set up to help people who are struggling with addiction, depending on where the user is in their journey towards recovery. This course, Thinking about change, is intended for people who are contemplating making change and perhaps needing some motivation and encouragement to begin taking steps towards recovery. The purpose of the course is to help you reflect on your substance use, understand how it affects your life, gain clarity on what matters to you, and explore the options available if you choose to make changes.

There are six ‘lessons’ in the course, which include:

Why we use substances.
When substances cause harm.
Making change easier.
The benefits of change.
Making a decision.
Building a plan.

Each lesson includes video discussion from 'lived experience guides'. These guides are people in recovery themselves, sharing openly from their own life stories. They represent a wide variety of backgrounds and so hopefully there is a story that the course user can relate to.

In addition to the videos there are animated videos which provide education relevant to each lesson. There are also slides/worksheets to work through which encourage participants to reflect on their own journey and helps to personalise the course.

The course recommends taking a week to complete each part (6 weeks in total), however patients are able to go at their own pace and save their progress as they go. Participants are able to work through the course with the support of a health practitioner and their progress can be monitored if they so choose.

For the complete course description, go to the course website(external link).

PROS	CONS
✔ Good source of accurate information about addictions and the lessons incorporates a clear evidence-based treatment approach . ✔ Good range of information modalities – Videos, animations and slides. ✔ Clear definitions and easy to understand language. ✔ Effective graphics. ✔ Shared stories from others in recovery which clients can hopefully identify with and provide a more personalised experience. ✔ Able to complete with the support of a health practitioner and have them directly monitor your progress. ✔ Free. ✔ Access to additional self-care resources in each lesson. ✔ Access to information about relevant community resources/support for substance harm.	✘ Content may feel overwhelming without a health support person to oversee the progress.

PROS

CONS

✔ Good source of accurate information about addictions and the lessons incorporates a clear evidence-based treatment approach .

✔ Good range of information modalities – Videos, animations and slides.

✔ Clear definitions and easy to understand language.

✔ Effective graphics.

✔ Shared stories from others in recovery which clients can hopefully identify with and provide a more personalised experience.

✔ Able to complete with the support of a health practitioner and have them directly monitor your progress.

✔ Free.

✔ Access to additional self-care resources in each lesson.

✔ Access to information about relevant community resources/support for substance harm.

✘ Content may feel overwhelming without a health support person to oversee the progress.

Clinical review

Reviewer: David Bloore, Clinical Psychologist, David Bloore Psychology Ltd (private practice)
Date of review: August 2025
Platform: Online programme – not available via app
Comments: Just a Thought: Alcohol and Drug Support – Thinking about Change is a free, New Zealand-based online programme designed to support individuals who are contemplating change in their substance use. Developed with a clear, evidence-based approach, the six-lesspn course offers video content, animations, and interactive worksheets to help users reflect on their substance use, understand its impacts, and explore steps toward recovery. Lived experience guides share their stories throughout the course, creating a relatable and supportive learning environment. The course can be used with the support of a health professional and course allows flexible pacing and offers features like progress tracking, downloadable resources, and privacy protections. It is highly relevant for New Zealanders and I rate it 5/5 for its content, accessibility, and therapeutic value.
Safety concerns: None, however a user may want to seek the support of an experienced health/mental health practitioner before starting a programme like this, especially if they are experiencing significant health or mental health complications as a result of their substance use.
New Zealand relevance: Yes.

Alcohol use apps
Alcohol topics
Just a Thought courses
NZ Health App Library
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