Family Social Recovery Capital
Recovery capital encompasses the quality and quantity of internal and external resources one utilizes when initiating and maintaining recovery (Davidson et al., 2010). Even in modest amounts, recovery capital serves as a beacon of hope for individuals embarking on the challenging and lengthy recovery journey (White et al., 2003). Recovery capital refers to “the quantity and quality of internal and external resources that one can bring to bear on the initiation and maintenance of recovery from a life-changing disorder” (Granfield & Cloud, 1999, p. 3). Further, recovery capital includes a sense of belonging within the community of peers and supportive relationships with others.
Community recovery capital, with its growing visibility and the support of the Federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment’s recovery community support program, provides a comforting safety net for addicted individuals. This program allows them to utilize a voucher-based initiative to select the recovery services they wish to pursue, including various non-clinical services (White, 1998). Having access to community recovery resources not only increases the variety of recovery resources but also solidifies the legitimacy of supports that exist beyond formal addiction treatment. Unfortunately, retention is a significant barrier to receiving adequate treatment. Approximately half of addicted individuals experience co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses in which a sliver of individuals receive services to treat both conditions (Davidson et al., 2010)Identifying community recovery supports that can assist with dual-diagnosis clients is not just important, it's a call to action. It's critical to short and long-term outcomes, and it's a proactive step we can take to enhance recovery.
Personal capital, specifically physical capital, is critical to one's sobriety, as continuous stressors regarding housing, finances, transportation, healthcare, and nutrition can lead to relapse (Pennelle, 2019; Reiter, 2019). When considering Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs (Maslow, 1970), these elements are the foundation (physiological needs) and must be satisfied before higher needs can be met. These needs are the first thing that motivates one’s behavior. Ensuring clients have their physiological needs met or have the resources to achieve them is paramount to their recovery.
References
Davidson, L., White, W., Sells, D., Schmutte, T., O’Connell, M., Bellamy, C., & Rowe, M. (2010). Enabling or engaging? The role of recovery support services in addiction recovery. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 28(4), 391–416. https://doi.org/10.1080/07347324.2010.511057
Granfield, R., & Cloud, W. (1999). Coming Clean: Overcoming Addiction Without Treatment. New York University Press.
Maslow, A. (1970). Motivation and personality (2nd ed.). Harper & Row, Publishers.
Pennelle, O. (2019, October 8). Recovery Capital: Its Role in Sustaining Recovery. Faces & Voices of Recovery. https://facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/2019/10/08/recovery-capital-its-role-in-sustaining-recovery/
Reiter, M. D. (2019). Substance Abuse and the Family: Assessment and Treatment (Second edition). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
White, W. (1998). Slaying the Dragon: The History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America. Chestnut Health Systems/Lighthouse Institute.
White, W., Boyle, M., & Loveland, D. (2003). Behavioral health recovery management: Transcending the limitations of addiction treatment. Behavioral Health Management, 23(3), 38–44.