Abstract
This paper addresses the assumption that pathways to recovery from substance abuse and dependence, and the language used to define one's relationship to substances, translate to actual beliefs and behaviors in terms of substance use. We draw on social representation theory, and use data from a large web-based study (n=9,341) whose goal was to understand how individuals in recovery define what recovery means to them. We often hear people say that they are "in recovery," and present findings now provide empirical evidence of the prevalent meanings of this ubiquitous expression. The belief that recovery is abstinence was broadly held in our sample, especially among those exposed to treatment and 12-step self-help groups and who define themselves as in recovery-and most (but not all) of such individuals are complete abstainers (no alcohol or drugs). In contrast, among the "self-changers" who did not attend treatment or self-help groups, the most common self-definition was used to have an alcohol or drug problem but don't any more, half of whom believe that recovery is abstinence while half do not, and only one-third are abstainers. Findings are of public health relevance, as it is estimated that among American adults alone, 10% report having had alcohol or drug problems but no longer do (The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), 2012). In line with the central concepts of social representation theory, people's pathways to recovery have a strong effect on how they define themselves and their behaviors and beliefs, but it is not universal.
Highlights
This paper addresses the assumption that pathways to recovery from substance abuse and dependence translate to actual beliefs and behaviors in terms of substance use
Consistent with social representation theory’s view that social collectives influence individuals’ language, self perception, beliefs and behaviors, all six of our hypotheses were supported: pathways to recovery are strongly related to self definition, abstinence beliefs and abstemious behavior
These results highlight the value of theory-driven hypothesis testing; and, more importantly, they demonstrate the key role that recovery-based approaches play in how those exposed to these collectives frame their recovery
Summary
This paper addresses the assumption that pathways to recovery from substance abuse and dependence translate to actual beliefs and behaviors in terms of substance use. Social representation theory shows (1) how collectives such as groups, organizations, social networks or societies develop and transmit concepts, beliefs, and knowledge to individuals who interact and communicate within them; (2) how individuals’ language, ideas and knowledge is shaped by what they learn from communicating within these collectives; and (3) how individuals’ language and behavior is influenced by non-logical and other factors (Moscovici, 2001) We draw on this theory selectively, as we conceptualize how the dominant collectives of relevance to substance abuse have developed in the United States (US) and given rise to specific language that, in turn, is learned and internalized by the participants
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