Recovery Capital among Migrants and Ethnic Minorities in Recovery from Problem Substance Use: An Analysis of Lived Experiences

Recovery-supportive interventions for people with substance use disorders: a scoping review

Background

Recovery-supportive interventions and strategies for people with substance use disorders are a cornerstone of the emergent recovery paradigm. As compared to other services, such approaches have been shown to be holistically focused and improve outcomes (e.g. substance use, supportive relationships, social functioning, and well-being). Even so, a comprehensive overview of the nature, extent, and range of research on the topic is lacking.

Methods

A scoping review of the literature was conducted to characterize the main topics on recovery-supportive interventions. A systematic search was conducted in three databases: Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed from January 2000 to July 2023 using the PRISMA-ScR. Twenty-five studies published between 2005-2022 met the inclusion criteria.

Results

Most studies emanated from the United States, and we found a peak in publication frequency between 2018-2022 (n = 13) relative to other years. The most prominent lines of inquiry appear to concern recovery-oriented policies; principles of recovery-oriented services (challenges encountered when implementing recovery-oriented practices, relationships with service providers characterized by trust, and service user-service provider collaboration), and recovery capital (particularly recovery-supportive networks, employment, and housing). Seventeen studies addressed co-occurring disorders, and eight addressed substance use recovery.

Conclusion

To advance the field, more context-specific studies are required on supporting peer professionals, (including enabling cooperation with service users, and hiring experts by experience as staff), and training of professionals (e.g., nurses, psychologists, social workers, physicians) in the principles of recovery.

Self-change from problems with alcohol and drugs: A scoping review of the literature since 2010

ISSUES

Self-change from alcohol and drug use problems is increasingly acknowledged in research. Despite the growing number of published studies, the most recent broad review of this dispersed field dates back to 2010. The present review narratively synthesises key findings from empirical studies and critically identifies research gaps and directions for further research.

APPROACH

Following the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews, a systematic search was conducted in multiple scientific databases, resulting in the identification of 56 relevant articles with explicit empirical results on self-change.

KEY FINDINGS

The scoping review presents findings related to: (i) methods and definitions used; (ii) the prevalence of self-change; (iii) indicators of self-change; (iv) the process of self-change; and (v) population views on self-change.

CONCLUSION

The review highlights the significant growth in research on self-change considering key themes as well as the need for a relational and time-bound approach to self-change in research and practice.

Substance use disorders, physical health and recovery capital: Examining the experiences of clients and the alcohol and other drug workforce

INTRODUCTION

Challenges associated with the integration of physical health within alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services persist. The construct of recovery capital has gained currency within the sector, however, its potential in understanding the integration of physical health within AOD treatment has not been examined. This study explores the role of physical health in the process of recovery, examining the potential of 'recovery capital' frameworks to enhance integrated care.

METHODS

Interviews were conducted with residential and outpatient AOD services across New South Wales, Australia. Qualitative data was collected from clients (n = 20) and staff (n = 13) and transcribed. Data were systematically coded and analysed using the iterative categorisation method.

RESULTS

Unmanaged physical health issues compromised recovery, particularly when associated with hopelessness and pain. Improved physical health ameliorated sources of negative recovery capital such as boredom, social isolation and mental health symptoms. When addressed during treatment, physical health facilitated recovery capital resources through knowledge and skill acquisition, increased autonomy, enjoyment and immersive experience. Benefits extended to domains of 'social capital' (social connection) and 'cultural capital' (physical appearance).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Physical health offers variegated pathways for building recovery capital. Findings support calls for a more assertive approach to addressing physical health when AOD treatment occurs outside of primary care settings. Future research should examine the potential of recovery capital as a heuristic for optimising care of physical health issues and health-related behaviour within AOD treatment services.

Toward an Experience-Based Model of Recovery and Recovery-Oriented Practice in Mental Health and Substance Use Care: An Integration of the Findings from a Set of Meta-Syntheses

A model of recovery and recovery-oriented practice has been developed based on three previously published meta-syntheses of experiences and processes of mental health and substance use recovery. The model integrates the findings of these three meta-syntheses into three components: experiences of recovery, processes of recovery-oriented practice, and social and material capital. The experiences of recovery involve being, doing, and accessing and are viewed as embedded in the processes of recovery. The processes of recovery-oriented practice aim to mobilize and apply various forms of capital to support the recovery journey. Social and material capital, in turn, constitute the context in which recovery occurs and requires mobilization for the individual and the service system. The model is grounded in the principles of well-being, person-centeredness, embedding, self-determination, and the interdependency of human living. The model is both descriptive and explanatory, as it depicts the experiential and processual aspects of recovery and recovery-oriented practice and their interrelationships. The model as a framework needs to be elaborated further through application in practice and research, especially for understanding how experiences, processes and practices interact over time, and how they are affected by access to material and social capital.

Substance and Behavioral Addictions, and Their Consequences among Vulnerable Populations

"Vulnerable populations" in health behavior research, practice and policy is generally used to refer to groups that, due to their life circumstances, may require extra consideration, reasonable accommodation, and legitimized protection [...].