How do recovery definitions distinguish recovering individuals? Five typologies

Abstract

Background Six percent of American adults say they are “in recovery” from an alcohol or drug problem yet only a scant emergent literature has begun to ask how they define “recovery” or explored whether there is heterogeneity among their definitions. Methods Secondary analysis of the What Is Recovery? online survey employed Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to identify typologies of study participants based on their actual endorsement of 39 recovery elements and to compare the composition of these typologies in terms of distinguishing personal characteristics. Results A 5-class solution provided the best fit and conceptual representation for the recovery definitions. Classes were labeled 12-Step Traditionalist (n=4912); 12-Step Enthusiast (n=2014); Secular (n=980); Self-Reliant (n=1040); and Atypical (n=382) based on patterns of endorsement of the recovery elements. Abstinence, spiritual, and social interaction elements differentiated the classes most (as did age and recovery duration but to a lesser extent). Although levels and patterns of endorsement to the elements varied by class, a rank-ordering of the top 10 elements indicated that four elements were endorsed by all five classes: being honest with myself, handling negative feelings without using, being able to enjoy life, and process of growth and development. Conclusions The results of the LCA demonstrate the diversity of meanings, and varying degrees of identification with, specific elements of recovery. As others have found, multiple constituents are invested in how recovery is defined and this has ramifications for professional, personal, and cultural processes related to how strategies to promote recovery are implemented.

Longitudinal differences in spirituality and religiousness between men and women in treatment for alcohol use disorders.

“…Therefore, higher levels of spirituality and religiousness among women could represent strengths that can be leveraged for recovery. Spirituality and religiousness comprise important ways in which recovery pathways differ (Flaherty, Kurtz, White, & Larson, 2014; Witbrodt, Kaskutas, & Grella, 2015). If women’s spiritual and religious lives vary from men’s during recovery, this could illuminate new knowledge about gender-moderated recovery pathways.…”

Postdetoxification Factors Predicting Alcohol‐Related Emergency Room Visits 12 to 24 Months After Discharge: Results from a Prospective Study of Patients with Alcohol Dependence

“…In addition, there is no clear consensus regarding the outcomes that determine whether a treatment that addresses addictive behavior is effective. The term “recovery,” for instance, is generally avoided by researchers and might be interpreted as having different meanings by clinicians, social workers, and the public (White, ; Witbrodt et al., ). Reduced‐risk drinking is increasingly discussed as a valuable option for patients who do not want to or who cannot quit (van Amsterdam and van den Brink, ), but this raises the question of the criteria used to evaluate the outcome.…”

“Once you’ve been there, you’re always recovering”: exploring experiences, outcomes, and benefits of substance misuse recovery

“…A systematic review of narrative studies highlighted that recovery processes involve hope, optimism, identity, meaning in life and empowerment (Leamy et al, 2011). Such unique personal experiences make recovery hard to empirically define and measure (Laudet 2007;Knopf 2011;Witbrodt et al, 2015). However, recovery has been suggested as a dynamic process of moving forward that encompasses strengths and the concept of 'recovery capital', which may suggest useful indicators (UK Drug Strategy 2010; Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs [ACMD] 2013).…”