Life In Recovery Research Articles

A cluster analysis of European life in recovery data: what are the typical patterns of recovery experience?

Introduction There is little research around recovery pathways and how they cluster together by individual and situational factors according to time in recovery. Method This paper uses a cluster analysis with data from the European Life in Recovery (LiR) survey to produce typologies of recovery pathways around stages of recovery: early (<1 year), sustained (1-5 years), and stable (>5 years). A secondary aim was to explore evidence of national variations among clusters. Results Cluster analysis identified five typologies of persons in recovery, broadly reflecting the three stages. ‘Early Recovery’ participants had the highest barriers and lowest strengths in recovery and were most likely to reside in Spain, Portugal and Poland. ‘Sustained with residual barriers’ participants were characterized by high strengths in active addiction but most barriers in recovery and mainly resided in the Netherlands and Belgium. ‘Stable With Lower Recovery Support’ reported higher barriers and lowest strengths in active addiction and were mainly from the Balkan countries. ‘Stable With Higher Recovery Support’ participants experienced the most barriers in active addiction but also the most strengths in recovery and were largely from the UK. ‘Mixed With Fewer Barriers’ showed the least barriers in recovery and the highest strengths in active addiction and were also mainly from the UK. Implications Structural and cultural factors (possibly including location) are essential in recovery journeys and that, while all recovery journeys are unique, are several clusters of characteristics can be identified as broadly consistent with the Betty Ford Institute stages approach of early, sustained and stable recovery.

Measuring capital in active addiction and recovery: the development of the strengths and barriers recovery scale (SABRS)

BackgroundThe international Life In Recovery (LiR) surveys have provided an important message to the public and policy makers about the reality of change from addiction to recovery, consistently demonstrating both that there are marked gains across a range of life domains and that the longer the person is in recovery the better their recovery strengths and achievements. However, to date, no attempt has been made to quantify the Life In Recovery scales and to assess what levels of change in removing barriers and building strengths is achieved at which point in the recovery journey.MethodsThe current study undertakes a preliminary analysis of strengths and barriers from the Life in Recovery measure, using data from a European survey on drug users in recovery (n = 480), and suggests that the instrument can be edited into a Strengths And Barriers Recovery Scale (SABRS). The new scale provides a single score for both current recovery strengths and barriers to recovery.ResultsThe resulting data analysis shows that there are stepwise incremental changes in recovery strengths at different recovery stages, but these occur with only very limited reductions in barriers to recovery, with even those in stable recovery typically having at least two barriers to their quality of life and wellbeing. Greater strengths in active addiction are associated with greater strengths and resources in recovery.ConclusionAs well as demonstrating population changes in each of the domains assessed, the current study has shown the potential of the Life In Recovery Scale as a measure of recovery capital that can be used to support recovery interventions and pathways.

Life in Recovery from Addiction in Canada: Examining Gender Pathways with a Focus on the Female Experience

ABSTRACTThe first Life in Recovery (LIR) from Addiction survey in Canada showed that individuals experience various pathways to recovery. The current study examines the recovery experiences among adult females with data from the 2016 Canadian LIR survey, with a focus on two well-established predictors of female substance use disorders, namely, family violence and mental health, for their impact on the recovery journey. Reasons for starting recovery varied by females and males, as a higher proportion of females (70.2%) reported their mental health as a factor for wanting to start recovery compared to males (64.7%). Moreover, females reported greater untreated mental health or emotional concerns during addiction compared to males, p = .003, as well as greater family violence during recovery, p = .02 and addiction, p < .001. In terms of informal supports, females are more likely to use technology as a recovery support, p < .05, are more likely to connect with a pet or other animal, p = .001, and are more likely to use art, poetry, writing, p = .007, and yoga, p < .001, as part of their recovery journey compared to males. These findings reveal females’ unique addiction and recovery experiences and highlight the importance of considering gender implications, particularly for mental health and family violence, during the journey of addiction and recovery.