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Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Model designs for recovery from addiction

who feel that the program does not meet their needs or 3. Recovery: Key concepts
interests, leading to persistent failure in achieving recovery
(UNODC, 2012). As a result, intervention programs fail Recovery (Best, 2012; Yates, 2010) is a central concept in
to be effective, as they are unable to support individuals the treatment and social reintegration of individuals with
throughout treatment and meet long-term objectives addictive behaviors. As previously explained, recovery
(Granfield & Cloud, 2001). does not merely involve reducing or eliminating drug
(including alcohol) use, nor does it equate to “natural
Stigmatization is influenced not only by the consumers recovery,” in which individuals achieve abstinence on
but also by the responsibility and influence of those their own (Granfield & Cloud, 2001). Instead, it involves
around them – their families, healthcare professionals, becoming an active member of society (Yates, 2010; Best,
policymakers, journalists, and the media – all of whom play 2012). Recovery involves developing personal autonomy,
a role, directly or indirectly, in perpetuating this stigma engaging in socially valuable roles, maintaining
toward drug users (EMCDDA, 2017; UNODC, 2012). significant socio-affective relationships, and achieving
a level of socio-communitarian integration that enables
2. Recovery in addictive behavior individuals to live satisfactory lives (Best, 2012). In
treatment networks recovery processes, it is crucial to promote increased
Treatment policies and intervention practices for drug social participation activities, such as employment,
addiction and addictive behavior are based on harm civil engagement, volunteering, and involvement in
reduction, recovery, and the provision of sustainable social networks (Best, 2012). Active participation in
livelihoods (UNODC, 2012). Harm-reduction programs these activities has been shown to foster progress in the
aim to mitigate the primary negative consequences recovery process (Best, 2012).
of drug use, in particular, drug-related infections and Best et al. (2020) define three key concepts related
criminal behaviors (Laespada & Iraurgi, 2009). However, to recovery: (1) contagion, the ability of individuals
“recovery” encompasses more than simply the reduction to positively influence their social environment;
or elimination of drug use. It can even occur as a result (2) connection, which highlights an individual’s capacity
of spontaneous remission (Yates, 2010), a phenomenon to form a sense of community; and (3) homophily, which
sometimes referred to as “natural recovery” (Best, 2012). describes the tendency to associate and form connections
Moreover, recovery entails being an active member of with similar individuals.
society (Yates, 2010). While “recovery” is sometimes
used interchangeably with “rehabilitation,” there are key Another important aspect of recovery is “recovery
distinctions between these two concepts: capital” (RECCAP), which Granfield & Cloud (2001)
• Rehabilitation is defined as a process aimed at define as “…the breadth and depth of internal and
helping individuals with certain impairments or external resources that can be drawn upon to initiate and
difficulties (such as physical problems, addictions, or sustain recovery from AOD [alcohol and other drugs]
psychological issues) to reintegrate into society and problems.” RECCAP, particularly restorative capital, is
improve their psychosocial functioning, enabling linked to social capital, which refers to the connections
them to progress in life. It attempts to create a between individuals and their social networks, as well as
regulated and independent social environment to the the abilities, norms of reciprocity, trust, and connections
furthest extent possible (Granfield & Cloud, 2001). formed between the recovering individual and their
• Recovery implies participatory action within the reference group (Best, 2012; Yates, 2010). The concept
social context, aiming to reintegrate individuals of “recapitalization”, as the way to improve capacities,
in a broad sense. White & Cloud (2008) argue that abilities and skills, has been applied in various contexts,
long-term recovery is better predicted by recovered especially concerning individuals, communities, and
capacities than by associated pathologies (White & societies (Best et al., 2020; Molina-Fernández, 2023).
Cloud, 2008). White & Cloud (2008, p. 23) state as follows:
A key distinction is that rehabilitation is typically Recovery Capital constitutes the potential antidote
driven by professionals, whereas recovery is initiated and for the problems that have long plagued recovery efforts:
sustained by individuals themselves. As such, successful Insufficient motivation to change AOD use, emotional
reintegration into society requires the active participation distress, pressure to use within intimate and social
of the individual undergoing recovery. Recovery can relationships, interpersonal conflict, and other situations
thus be understood as an evolutionary and involutionary that pose risks for relapse. (…) Strategies that target family
process. and community Recovery Capital can elevate long-term

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 70 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3243