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. 2020 Sep 24;40(3):01. doi: 10.35946/arcr.v40.3.01

Table 1.

Definitions of Alcohol Recovery

Source Definition
Life functioning and context
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2012)5 “a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential” (p. 3)
Recovery Science Research Collaborative (2017)25 “an individualized, intentional, dynamic, and relational process involving sustained efforts to improve wellness” (p. 5)
Best et al. (2016)41 “a social process, underpinned by transitions in social network composition, that includes the addition of new recovery-oriented groups, where such groups are perceived as attractive, beneficial, and relevant, and involves the concurrent emergence of a new recovery-based social identity” (p. 120)
Abstinence/Drinking
Betty Ford Institute Consensus Panel (2007)24 “a voluntarily maintained lifestyle characterized by sobriety, personal health, and citizenship” (p. 222)
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (2007)51 Abstinence; essential recovery (e.g., handling negative feelings without using drugs or alcohol); enriched recovery (e.g., taking responsibility for the things I can change); and spirituality in recovery (p. 1008)
What do individuals think of recovery?
Kaskutas et al. (2014)6 Abstinence; essential recovery (e.g., handling negative feelings without using drugs or alcohol); enriched recovery (e.g., taking responsibility for the things I can change); and spirituality in recovery (p. 1008)
Neale et al. (2016)40 Substance use, material resources, outlook on life, self-care, and relationships (p. 165)
SAMHSA (2012)5 “a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential” (p. 3)
Recovery Science Research Collaborative (2017)25 “an individualized, intentional, dynamic, and relational process involving sustained efforts to improve wellness” (p. 5)
Best et al. (2016)41 “a social process, underpinned by transitions in social network composition that includes the addition of new recovery-oriented groups, where such groups are perceived as attractive, beneficial and relevant, and involves the concurrent emergence of a new recovery-based social identity” (p. 120)