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Understanding the Shared Meaning of Recovery From Substance Use Disorders: New Findings From the What is Recovery? Study

BACKGROUND: Substance use disorder (SUD) resolution typically involves a long-term, comprehensive process of change now widely referred to as “recovery.” Yet, definitions of recovery vary substantially, producing significant confusion. To support formal recovery definitions, we aimed to systematical...

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Autores principales: Zemore, Sarah E, Ziemer, Kelly L, Gilbert, Paul A, Karno, Mitchell P, Kaskutas, Lee Ann
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: SAGE Publications 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10508054/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37731748
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/11782218231199372
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author Zemore, Sarah E
Ziemer, Kelly L
Gilbert, Paul A
Karno, Mitchell P
Kaskutas, Lee Ann
author_facet Zemore, Sarah E
Ziemer, Kelly L
Gilbert, Paul A
Karno, Mitchell P
Kaskutas, Lee Ann
author_sort Zemore, Sarah E
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: Substance use disorder (SUD) resolution typically involves a long-term, comprehensive process of change now widely referred to as “recovery.” Yet, definitions of recovery vary substantially, producing significant confusion. To support formal recovery definitions, we aimed to systematically identify recovery elements that are central to those in recovery and shared regardless of subgroup/pathway. METHODS: Data were from the What is Recovery? Study, involving a diverse, national, online survey of people in recovery (N = 9341). Surveys included a 35-item recovery measure reflecting 4 domains; participants reported whether or not each element definitely belonged in their recovery definitions. Analyses examined item endorsements overall and among 30 subgroups defined a priori (by sociodemographics, substance use characteristics, and help-seeking history) to determine where items met study-specific centrality thresholds (ie, endorsement by ⩾80% and top-10 ranking, by endorsement level). We then classified items as “core” if meeting centrality thresholds both overall and for all 30 subgroups, and “prevalent” if meeting centrality thresholds overall and for 26 to 29 subgroups. RESULTS: Four “core” recovery elements emerged, including a process of growth or development; being honest with oneself; taking responsibility for the things one can change; and reacting in a more balanced way. Four “prevalent” recovery elements also emerged, referencing the ability to enjoy life and handle negative feelings without substance use; abstinence and/or nonproblematic substance use; and living a life that contributes. Subgroups differing most in their endorsements included those reporting mild/moderate SUD severity; non-abstinent recovery; and no specialty treatment or mutual-help group attendance. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery elements identified here partially reflect some stakeholder definitions, but offer greater specificity and include novel elements (eg, personal integrity). Elements may point to areas of functioning that are damaged in the addiction process and can support an addiction-free life. Findings should inform institutional recovery definitions; SUD services and research; and communications about recovery.
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spelling pubmed-105080542023-09-20 Understanding the Shared Meaning of Recovery From Substance Use Disorders: New Findings From the What is Recovery? Study Zemore, Sarah E Ziemer, Kelly L Gilbert, Paul A Karno, Mitchell P Kaskutas, Lee Ann Subst Abuse Original Research BACKGROUND: Substance use disorder (SUD) resolution typically involves a long-term, comprehensive process of change now widely referred to as “recovery.” Yet, definitions of recovery vary substantially, producing significant confusion. To support formal recovery definitions, we aimed to systematically identify recovery elements that are central to those in recovery and shared regardless of subgroup/pathway. METHODS: Data were from the What is Recovery? Study, involving a diverse, national, online survey of people in recovery (N = 9341). Surveys included a 35-item recovery measure reflecting 4 domains; participants reported whether or not each element definitely belonged in their recovery definitions. Analyses examined item endorsements overall and among 30 subgroups defined a priori (by sociodemographics, substance use characteristics, and help-seeking history) to determine where items met study-specific centrality thresholds (ie, endorsement by ⩾80% and top-10 ranking, by endorsement level). We then classified items as “core” if meeting centrality thresholds both overall and for all 30 subgroups, and “prevalent” if meeting centrality thresholds overall and for 26 to 29 subgroups. RESULTS: Four “core” recovery elements emerged, including a process of growth or development; being honest with oneself; taking responsibility for the things one can change; and reacting in a more balanced way. Four “prevalent” recovery elements also emerged, referencing the ability to enjoy life and handle negative feelings without substance use; abstinence and/or nonproblematic substance use; and living a life that contributes. Subgroups differing most in their endorsements included those reporting mild/moderate SUD severity; non-abstinent recovery; and no specialty treatment or mutual-help group attendance. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery elements identified here partially reflect some stakeholder definitions, but offer greater specificity and include novel elements (eg, personal integrity). Elements may point to areas of functioning that are damaged in the addiction process and can support an addiction-free life. Findings should inform institutional recovery definitions; SUD services and research; and communications about recovery. SAGE Publications 2023-09-15 /pmc/articles/PMC10508054/ /pubmed/37731748 http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/11782218231199372 Text en © The Author(s) 2023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
spellingShingle Original Research
Zemore, Sarah E
Ziemer, Kelly L
Gilbert, Paul A
Karno, Mitchell P
Kaskutas, Lee Ann
Understanding the Shared Meaning of Recovery From Substance Use Disorders: New Findings From the What is Recovery? Study
title Understanding the Shared Meaning of Recovery From Substance Use Disorders: New Findings From the What is Recovery? Study
title_full Understanding the Shared Meaning of Recovery From Substance Use Disorders: New Findings From the What is Recovery? Study
title_fullStr Understanding the Shared Meaning of Recovery From Substance Use Disorders: New Findings From the What is Recovery? Study
title_full_unstemmed Understanding the Shared Meaning of Recovery From Substance Use Disorders: New Findings From the What is Recovery? Study
title_short Understanding the Shared Meaning of Recovery From Substance Use Disorders: New Findings From the What is Recovery? Study
title_sort understanding the shared meaning of recovery from substance use disorders: new findings from the what is recovery? study
topic Original Research
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10508054/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37731748
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/11782218231199372
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