Understanding recovery Capital in relation to categorical 12-Step involvement and abstinence social support

Abstract

Background Although recovery capital represents various resources for persons recovering from substance use disorders, measures of this construct examine components that might not necessarily reflect the recovery goals of individuals who base their recovery through involvement in 12-step groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). It is not clear whether 12-step involvement is related to recovery capital, particularly among individuals living in recovery homes who utilize social networks of recovering peers for their recovery. Thus, categorical involvement in a set of 12-step activities was examined in relation to recovery capital and abstinence social support. Methods Differences in terms of general (recovery capital scores, retention rates) and abstinence-specific (abstinence social support) resources were examined in relation to recovery home residents who were (n = 395) and were not (n = 232) categorically involved in their 12-step recovery. Results Residents with categorical 12-step involvement reported significantly higher levels of recovery capital and abstinence social support, and there was no significant difference observed in retention rates between residents who were/were not categorically involved in 12-step groups. Conclusions Findings suggest community resources such as recovery homes and categorical involvement in 12-step groups are important recovery capital components that help individuals who use a 12-step approach to their recovery. Recovery capital among those involved with 12-step fellowships such as AA and NA should be assessed by examining abstinence-specific components such as representative involvement in 12-step groups and social support that is abstinence-specific.