In 2016, the U.S. Surgeon General’s report on addiction in American included this chapter with detailed information about recovery. The chapter discusses what recovery as a concept means and reviews the published research on mutual aid groups and recovery support services.
National Summit on Recovery Conference Report: Description of Systems of Care Elements
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
More substance use disorder treatment providers are adopting the principles of a recovery-oriented, systems of care approach to treatment. This one page document describes the elements of a recovery-oriented system of care framework.
What Are Peer Recovery Support Services?
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
This report defines what a peer support specialist is and describes the many different roles they can play in the substance use disorder and recovery process. Research has shown that recovery is facilitated by social support, and peer support specialists, who have personal lived experience of addiction, are uniquely qualified to provide that support.
The Next Step Toward a Better Life
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
This patient guide details what happens after completion of withdrawal management/detoxification with advice for how to sustain sobriety in the first 30 days after withdrawal management and how to sustain recovery in the long term. Provides specific strategies patients can use to avoid return to use and sustain their new path.
Helping Yourself Heal: A Recovering Man’s Guide to Coping with the Effects of Childhood Abuse
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
This guide is for men who have experienced childhood abuse and are in treatment for or recovery from a substance use disorder. The guide explains how the effects of childhood abuse can lead to the abuse of drugs or alcohol and provides help for managing the strong emotions and symptoms that might result from childhood trauma.
Pathways to Healing and Recovery: Perspectives from Individuals with Histories of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Authors of this 2010 report convened 4 focus groups and conducted 9 in depth interviews with individuals in recovery to document their perspectives on the process. The report describes many recovery pathways, identifies different terminology used by individuals in recovery, and identifies barriers to and
Recovery in the 21st Century Graphic
Source: Recovery Research Institute
This 1 page briefing paper summarizes the findings from a study of participants in In the Rooms, an online social network site for the recovery community. The study showed that recovery-specific social network sites show promise as part of the modern recovery community. More research into whether these sites help
Prescription Drug Community Action Kit: Survivor Story – Louie
Source: National Safety Council
This resource tells the story of a mother whose son Louie began using opioids after a football injury and soon developed opioid use disorder and began using heroin. One month after his second stay in rehabilitation, Louie fatally overdosed on heroin. His mother now advocates on his behalf and shares his story with
Prescription Drug Community Action Kit: Survivor Story – Skye
Source: National Safety Council
Skye began her opioid use at age 13 after dental surgery and eventually developed a heroin addiction and a long arrest record. With the help of her family, Skye completed treatment, worked as a peer mentor and overdose prevention counselor, and now is therapist and assistant director of a counseling program that
Prescription Drug Community Action Kit: Survivor Story – Sally
Source: National Safety Council
Sally’s story details her opioid use, which began following dental surgery at 14 and escalated into adulthood until she lost her job and was no longer able to support herself. At age 20, she began 3 years of treatment and relapses and became stabilized and in recovery after joining a methadone treatment program.