Conference presentation on intervention guidelines linking the FALCO study with practitioners' expertise
There is no international consensus on the core elements and objectives of music therapy for individuals with substance use problems. Therefore, FALCO researchers have developed therapy manuals for the FALCO study to ensure consistent implementation across locations, while allowing for individual adjustments and customization.
Based on an extensive literature review, a survey on goals, core principles and components of music therapy for people with substance use disorder was sent out to professionals experienced in the field internationally. Intervention guidelines were developed incorporating their responses in a process involving iterative rounds of feedback.
At the 13th European Music Therapy Conference, they presented intervention guidelines for active music making and music listening groups for people with substance use disorder to be applied within an international RCT study. Based on an international consensus, these specify relevant intervention elements while maintaining flexibility for cultural adaptations and individuals’ needs.
Firmly rooted in clinical practice as well as research evidence, these intervention guidelines bridge the needs of an international RCT with the expertise developed by music therapy practitioners worldwide and can be applied in and outside of the FALCO study.
The researchers Tali Gottfried (Israel), Moshe Bensimon (Israel), Julia Fent (Austria), and Monika Geretsegger (Norway) presented the paper: "Guidelines for group music therapy for people with substance use disorder: Building a bridge linking the FALCO study with practitioners’ expertise" and received good and useful feedback from the audience.
FALCO team members Lars Tuastad and Christian Gold (both from Norway) also attended the conference and the session.
Launch of the FALCO project
Music engages your brain’s reward system similarly to addictive substances. In the FALCO project we will investigate and reveal the potential of music activities in drug rehabilitation across Europe.
We aim to deliver groundbreaking music therapy innovations in the fight against Substance use disorder (SUD), a major global health issue with far-reaching impacts.
FALCO brings together world-leading experts in research in not just music therapy, but also addiction treatment, neuroscience, as well as health policy and related fields. This will provide more evidence-based recommendations for the use of music therapy in SUD across Europe.
In the EU, 1 million people are high-risk opioid users, alongside millions using other illicit substances. This carries heavy consequences like multimorbidity, mental health challenges, and preventable diseases such as hepatitis and HIV. SUD is linked to a significant portion of disability-adjusted life years lost.
By reducing the individual and societal burden of SUD and related conditions, we aim to make a positive impact on diverse populations across all ages, genders, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds.
Partners from 7 countries participate in the NORCE-led project.
The photos are from the project's kick-off in Bergen, Norway, in January 2025, when all the partners were gathered.
but it seems like the wrong arm
