Social Model Recovery
Social Model Recovery and Recovery Housing
Summary of research published in Addict Res Theory. 2024 February 22
Introduction:Addiction to alcohol and other substances requires ongoing management. Recovery housing is a key support service that provides a safe, healthy living environment with peer support to help build recovery capital. Recovery capital includes resources like social connections and skills that support recovery.
Recovery Housing:Recovery housing, also known as sober homes, is designed to support people in recovery by offering a supportive living environment. These homes rely on peer support, where residents help each other stay sober and build a new way of living.
Challenges:Recovery housing faces challenges like stigma and prejudice, which can make it hard to establish and maintain these homes. Misunderstandings about addiction and recovery housing contribute to these negative attitudes.
Research Supporting Recovery Housing:Studies have shown that recovery housing significantly improves outcomes for residents. For example, a study tracking 300 individuals in 20 different sober living homes over 18 months found significant improvements in alcohol and drug use, psychiatric symptoms, employment, and arrests(Social Model of Recover…). Another study involving 330 individuals, including those on probation or parole, showed significant improvements in substance abuse, criminal justice involvement, HIV risk, and employment at 6- and 12-month follow-ups(Social Model of Recover…). Additionally, research has highlighted the importance of the social environment in sober living homes, with higher scores on the Recovery House Environment Scale being positively associated with longer stays and fewer days of substance use(Social Model of Recover…).
Importance of Peer Support:Peer support is a crucial element of recovery housing, yet it's often undervalued compared to traditional treatment methods. Increasing familiarity with recovery housing among professionals and the public can help improve attitudes and support.
Conclusion:Recovery housing is a valuable resource for those in recovery, providing both a safe living environment and essential peer support. Understanding and addressing the challenges it faces can help integrate it better into the broader recovery support system.
Mericle, A. A., Howell, J., Borkman, T., Subbaraman, M. S., Sanders, B. F., & Polcin, D. L. (2023). Social Model Recovery and Recovery Housing. Addiction research & theory, 31(5), 370–377. https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2023.2179996