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Background: Social recovery capital (SRC) refers to resources and supports gained through relationships and is vital to adolescent addiction recovery. Much is known about how substance use relates to social networks, but little is known about how other dimensions of social networks influence recovery (e.g., network size/exposure, degree of conflict). Methods: This mixed-methods study sampled 28 adolescents who received treatment for alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorder (14–19 yrs.: 71% male; M = 17.32 yrs., SD = 1.33; White 82%): 20 were recovery high school (RHS) students. Adolescents completed a social identity map for addiction recovery (SIM-AR), survey, and interview. Qualitative data were content analyzed and the data from the SIM-AR were quantified. Results: On average, participants reported belonging to five distinct groups within their network (Range, 2–9; SD = 1.63; M = 27.89 people, SD = 20.09). Of their social network connections, 51% drank alcohol and 46% used other substances, on average. Larger networks involved more conflict (r = 0.57). Participants were more likely to spend more time with groups that had greater proportions of non-substance-using members. These linkages were stronger for RHS than for non-RHS students. Qualitative analyses revealed that youth reported their recovery-oriented groups as supportive, but some reported that their substance-using friends also supported their recovery. Discussion: SIM-AR was a useful measurement tool, and, through qualitative interviews, we identified unique aspects of youths' social networks important for further examination. Research with recovering youth should examine SRC-related elements within their networks including relationship quality, belonging, and conflict, alongside the substance use behaviors of network members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social recovery capital (SRC) is the combination of social resources that can be used to initiate and sustain addiction recovery through friends, family, and peers. Broadly, understanding one's SRC allows us to get a sense of where one has social support for recovery and where there may be social barriers to their recovery process. SRC is often a vital component of many people's recovery journey, yet our understanding of how best to use this concept in research and practice remains underdeveloped. To improve understanding of the role of social recovery capital and strategies to measure and increase it, we present a roadmap involving a five-pronged research agenda to: (1) Refine the measurement of social recovery capital; (2) Model the complexity of social recovery capital empirically; (3) Integrate personality science with social recovery capital research; (4) Optimize evidence-based behavior change techniques of social recovery capital; and (5) Incorporate an intersectional framework when examining or applying social recovery capital. Overall, this five-pronged research agenda seeks to enhance the clinical utility of SRC research to maximize the impact of SRC on one's recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recovery capital theory provides a biopsychosocial framework for identifying and measuring strengths and barriers that can be targeted to support recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. This systematic review analyzed and synthesized all quantitative approaches that have measured recovery capital since 2016. Three databases were searched to identify studies published from 2016 to 2023. Eligible studies explicitly stated they measured recovery capital in participants recovering from alcohol and/or drug addiction. Studies focusing on other forms of addiction were excluded. Sixty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Forty-six studies used one of the ten identified recovery capital questionnaires, and twenty-five studies used a measurement approach other than one of the ten recovery capital questionnaires. The ten recovery capital questionnaires are primarily developed for adult populations across clinical and community recovery settings, and between them measure 41 separate recovery capital constructs. They are generally considered valid and reliable measures of recovery capital. Nevertheless, a strong evidence base on the psychometric properties across diverse populations and settings still needs to be established for these questionnaires. The development of recovery capital questionnaires has been a significant advance in the field of addiction recovery, in alignment with the emerging recovery-oriented approach to addiction recovery care. Additionally, the non-recovery capital questionnaire-based approaches to recovery capital measurement have an important place in the field. They could be used alongside recovery capital questionnaires to test theory, and in contexts where the application of the questionnaires is not feasible, such as analyses of data from online recovery forums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substance use recovery is a dynamic process for youth, and social networks are tied to the recovery process. The Recovery Capital for Adolescents Model (RCAM) situates the resources accessible through social networks – social recovery capital (SRC) – in a larger framework of developmentally-informed recovery resources. This study aims to investigate the social network experiences among recovering youth enrolled in a recovery high school to understand how social influences help to build, or act as barriers to building, recovery capital. To gain insight into these networks, Social Identity Maps and semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten youth ages 17–19 years (80% male; 50% non-Hispanic White). Study visits were conducted virtually, recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using the RCAM as an organizing framework. Results supported that adolescent social networks play a unique and multifaceted role in the recovery journey. Three key nuances emerged: change permeates adolescent networks throughout the treatment and recovery process; shared substance use history and non-stigmatizing attitudes play a key role in connecting with others; and SRC is interconnected with human, financial, and community recovery capital. With adolescent recovery receiving increased attention from policy makers, practitioners, and researchers, the RCAM may be a useful way to contextualize available resources. Findings suggest SRC as a crucial, yet complex component intertwined with all other forms of recovery capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although research demonstrates the necessity of social recovery capital (SRC) for youth in recovery, through having family that do not use substances and who support their recovery, the ways in which parents actually enact SRC have not been empirically examined. This qualitative study applied the Recovery Capital Model for Adolescents to group interview data from parent(s) of youth who resolved a substance use disorder (SUD) to explore the ways parents enacted SRC. The interviews were conducted in a prior ethnographic study in which parents of alternative peer group (APG) alumni volunteered to participate in a group interview; five mothers and five fathers of APG alumni participated in the interviews (n = 10). Three investigators analyzed the interview transcripts using the constant comparative method to identify family SRC and the specific components parents supported their child's recovery. The primary themes of parent support of SRC included locus of control, parent growth, and sober/supportive home. Locus of control included parent strategies to leverage youth's participation in treatment/recovery. Parent growth focused on the process of change parents described: from denial to developing insight and learning how to parent a child in addiction. Supportive and structured family included time spent with youth in recovery-related activities and improved communication and relationships. Together, these themes suggest a process of parent change that supports an adolescent's recovery trajectory and increases parenting skills and coping. These themes also highlight how the APG structure enabled this process, generating potential hypotheses for future recovery-oriented research to address. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problematic substance use is a challenge worldwide among adolescents. The recovery process requires holistic support addressing multiple and intersecting substance use risk factors; yet, there remains a lack of evidence on how to best understand and support adolescents in recovery. Recovery capital (RC) is a model that can be used to identify areas of assets that could be enhanced and barriers to address in one's recovery process; however, this construct was generated through a study of adults who achieved natural recovery and it has since been used to frame adult recovery-related literature across the world. The primary aim of this article is to outline the rationale for and present a Recovery Capital for Adolescents Model (RCAM). The article will discuss the original recovery capital model, describe adolescent development, substance use, and recovery, and detail proposed developmental adaptations. Future qualitative and quantitative research should explore the RCAM to assess whether the proposed dimensions are complete as well as to assess its utility in clinical settings for identifying strengths and barriers for adolescents in or seeking recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although 12-step participation is related to improved outcomes, young people's 12-step involvement is rare. There is limited research on the role of 12-step philosophy and practices for supporting young people's recovery or addressing why so few engage in 12-step practices. To explore these issues, content analysis was applied to qualitative data from two prior studies conducted with individuals who participated in an Alternative Peer Group (APG), a 12-step facilitated adolescent recovery support model. Findings revealed new information on barriers to 12-step involvement and suggest strategies for addressing barriers, boosting motivation, and changing young people's perceptions of 12-step philosophy and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Recovery from a substance use disorder involves various supports addressing multiple interrelated factors. Recovery capital (RC) is a lens that could help identify distinct areas of assets that could be enhanced and barriers to be addressed in individuals’ recovery processes. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the literature to map the existing RC research and theoretical evidence base and to provide readers and potential users of the construct areas for further attention. Methods:Using systematic search methods, a literature search on RC was conducted. Articles were reviewed and relevant data was extracted and synthesized. Results:Searches resulted in 38 reports representing 35 unique studies. Samples ranged from 4–703 participants (4885 total) and were described as male (M = 60.9%) and white (M = 72.1%). Sample age ranged 17.3–70 years (37.2 ± 64.61 years). RC has been studied in a range of diverse adult populations and many factors have been studied within its primary domains. Yet, authors are inconsistent in their use and reporting of RC conceptualization and efforts to quantify RC through a scale have not been rewarded with uptake in the research community. Conclusions:Future researchers should consistently use key RC domains. Measurements of RC largely lack attention to community-level factors and should be further explored. RC should also be explored among specific populations, especially among youth and with particular attention to culture and intersectionality. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction:Adolescent substance use disorders often involve a recurring cycle of treatment and relapse. The academic and practical definition of addition recovery for adults has been debated; yet, elements determining a successful adolescent recovery aside from abstinence have not been delineated. Thus, we sought to explore how practitioners and administrators define ‘success’ in recovery and how they foster youth progress toward success. Methods:Using a qualitative design, we purposively selected and visited treatment and recovery services sites and interviewed practitioners and administrators (N = 13). Sites included recovery high schools (N = 2), alternative peer groups (N = 4), and one treatment center. Two authors analyzed the data using the constant comparative method. Results:Success emerged from the interviews in three primary themes (1) factors demonstrating success, (2) progress that highlights success, and (3) factors enabling success and two subthemes (1) use of metaphors and (2) use of specific examples. A variety of factors and processes were discussed as indicators of success. Multiple practitioners stated that sobriety and length of abstinence were not the best success measures; yet, sobriety and education were mentioned most often. Conclusions:A key finding of this study, which has not been addressed in existing qualitative studies of youth recovery, is that the understanding of recovery was so diverse and multi-dimensional and provided a view of success beyond sobriety, highlighting the various facets from which practitioners must operate and address recovery. This demonstrates the need for researchers to carefully conceptualize how they operationalize adolescent recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article introduces the special thematic issue, which includes multiple and diverse perspectives to illustrate how youth treatment and recovery from substance use/dependence/misuse is approached and studied internationally. Although treatment and recovery services are available to and in use by youth across the world, this introduction explains that there is a noticeable gap in literature documenting the continuum of care for this vulnerable population. This introductory piece presents a synopsis of the articles in the issue, which address group treatment and recovery supports internationally and multi-culturally from a youth treatment and recovery lens. The articles offer an integration of international and diverse adolescent recovery supports, including those in Canada, Norway and the United States, and add to the larger body of recovery literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) are campus-based support programs for substance use and recovery needs among college students. These CRPs utilize a variety of program activities and components aimed at promoting healthy development and sobriety while encouraging college retention among participants. Describe the types of activities and administrative structures used in CRPs, examine the characteristics of students involved in this sample, and explore changes in students' outcomes after they have enrolled in a CRP. This multi-site study collected de-identified data from six CRPs on participating students' sociodemographic characteristics, academic performance, substance use, and socioemotional well-being. One CRP administrator from each participating site completed a survey on CRP programming. Data were harmonized across sites and descriptively summarized. Participating CRPs had been in operation since 2007 to 2012. Five of the six sites provided individual-level student data for a total of 861 students (56% male, 89% White, 91% undergraduate). Student histories indicated the majority had received treatment for a substance use disorder (82%) or mental health concern (77%), 56% had criminal justice involvement, and the majority were in recovery less than five years. Student GPA improved in three of the four sites that provided student GPA data. CRPs collect diverse types of data on participating students, but more effort is needed to focus on systematic data collection. Findings from this study suggest that CRPs play an important role in providing needed services for this vulnerable population of college students. • Program level data were collected from six collegiate recovery programs (CRPs). • Five of these CRPs provided de-identified student data representing 861 students. • 82% of CRP students had received treatment for a substance use disorder and most were in recovery less than 5 years. • Student GPA improved in three of four CRPs. • Colleges and CRPs need to engage in systematic data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]