Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102922

Alexandre Laudet, PhD¹, William L. White, MA², and Keith Morgen, PhD¹. (1) Center for the Study of Addictions and Recovery, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23rd street, 8th floor, New York City, NY 10010, 1-212-845-4520, Laudet@ndri.org, (2) Chestnut Health Systems, 720 West Chestnut Street, Bloomington, IL 61701

The voice of the addiction recovery community is growing and the term ‘recovery' is increasingly used by researchers. However, the concept of recovery remains largely unexplored and ill-defined. A critical step to identifying factors that promote/ threaten recovery is to elucidate how it is defined and lived in the recovery community. This study draws on the experience of former polysubstance users self-identified “in recovery” (one month to 10+ years) and uses quantitative and qualitative methods (1) to examine recovery definition, goals, strategies and (2) to explore differences in recovery definition/ goals as a function of gender, age, race, addiction severity, treatment and 12-step exposure. In preliminary data (N = 169), 85% endorsed total abstinence from drugs and alcohol as their personal definition of recovery and as their goals over less stringent choices (e.g. controlled use); 54% endorsed ‘quit everything cold turkey” as the best way to address addiction, followed by “seek help” (26%) and reduce or switch substance (20%). Older age, greater addiction severity, exposure to treatment and to 12-step, being African American, female gender and greater perceived consequences of past drug use were all associated with more stringent personal recovery definition and goals. Qualitative findings: Positive aspects of recovery: a clear head (62%), more positive experiences (49%), having/ achieving goals (21%). Most difficult challenges in recovery: None (49%), not using (25%), doing recovery work (12%). Most important sources of support: Family (56%), spirituality/faith (53%), recovering peers (43%). Funded by NIDA Grant R01 DA14409 & by Peter McManus Charitable Trust.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, participants will be able to
• Recognize the importance of elucidating the concept of addiction recovery
• Describe the multiple definitions of recovery as experienced by substance users
• Discuss the key determinants of various recovery definitions and
• Apply this information to their clinical practice or research studies.

Keywords: Recovery, Drug Addiction

Related Web page: www.ndri.org/ctrs/cstar.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.