   
Life Beyond Treatment: Focusing on Recovery
Recovery-Based Care for Addiction
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), the State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS), and Faces & Voices of Recovery (Faces & Voices) are embarking on a joint project that will educate state legislators and legislative staff about recovery-based care for people with addiction. There are two overarching goals:
- to significantly raise the level of awareness and knowledge among legislators and legislative staff regarding recovery-based care for addiction; and
- to provide the necessary information for state legislators to examine the policy options that will be required and to begin to take the policy actions necessary to use a recovery-based care approach.
The goal for individuals with substance use disorders is long-term recovery from addiction, getting their lives back on track, improving their health, wellness, and quality of life. Systems that support recovery-based care provide individuals receiving care with a variety of services and options tailored to their specific needs to aid them in their process. Multiple systems are engaged in coordination with traditional drug and alcohol treatment services. Some of these complementary services include education, housing, child care, financial planning, employment assistance, health care and legal assistance. The person seeking help’s family and support network are also engaged in these various systems, frequently in the decision-making process. Public policies are also in place to assist, not hinder, individuals seeking jobs, housing and education once they are no longer using alcohol or drugs.
Goals and Benefits of Recovery-Based Care for Addiction
The primary goals behind recovery-based care for addiction are:
- To intervene early with individuals with substance use problems;
- To support sustained recovery for those with substance use disorders; and
- To improve the health and wellness of individuals and families.
Recovery-based care seeks to improve treatment outcomes by getting people help earlier and once they receive professional help, link them with the services and supports that will make it more likely that they will sustain their recovery.
There is growing understanding that the disease management model of caring for individuals with a chronic condition makes more sense for people with addiction, coupled with a policy environment that removes barriers to employment, housing and education. The acute care model has often resulted in people being discharged from professional treatment without receiving appropriate follow up care and support.
Another principle of recovery-based care is to engage and incorporate families, support networks and the community in each person’s recovery process in order to ease their integration back into the community and getting their lives back on track. Recovery-based care for addiction are also evidence-based, utilizing scientific research in implementing prevention, treatment and recovery support strategies.
Helpful Resources
NCSL Issue Brief: Recovery-Based Care for Addiction
NCSL Fact Sheet: Recovery-Based Care for Addiction
Recovery Oriented Systems of Care: An Overview
Presentation to State Associations of Addiction Services discussing the benefits and process of implementing an ROSC, February 28, 2008
Recovery Oriented Systems of Care Workshop
Presentation to Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America providing an overview of ROSCs and introducing SAMHSA programs and initiatives that support ROSCs, February 5, 2008
Establishing an ROSC Framework
A presentation by Melanie Whitter on the tools and ideas necessary to establishing a recovery-oriented system for care, presented at the National Summit on Recovery in Charleston, SC, January 14-15, 2008
Linking Addiction Treatment and Communities of Recovery
A Primer for Addiction Counselors, Recovery Coaches and the Recovery Community from The Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network
Lessons Learned from CSAT’s Regional Recovery Meetings
Feedback from the states on what has and what can be done on implementing ROSCs
Working Definition of Recovery
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, National Summit on Recovery Conference Report, 2005.
Recovery Oriented Research
A summary of the literature surrounding recovery
Faces & Voices of Recovery's Teleconferences
Faces & Voices of Recovery's teleconferences about recovery community centers, peer-based recovery support services, etc.
The Recovery-Based Care for Addiction project is a collaborative effort of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), the State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS), and Faces & Voices of Recovery (Faces & Voices). The project is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration under the Partners for Recovery Initiative through a contract with Abt Associates Incorporated.
For more information about recovery-based care for addiction or the web-assisted audioconferences mentioned, contact
Return to NCSL's Substance Abuse Page
Allison Colker. |