Onderzoeksgroep Herstel & Verslaving – Vakgroep Orthopedagogiek // Universiteit Gent
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The REC-PATH project

Pathways to substance use recovery

Recovery from addiction is the rule rather than an exception, even though many people with a serious addiction problem often take a long time to achieve stable recovery. Most research supporting this statement is based on American studies. Therefore, in 2017, we joined forces with British and Dutch colleagues for a large-scale study on the recovery from addiction to illegal drugs. Recovery is not synonymous with abstinence, and health, well-being, and social participation also play a significant role. International research has shown that recovery from addiction is indeed possible and more common than is generally assumed (more than 50% of those who have ever had an addiction problem achieve recovery). Little is known about many aspects of recovery. For example, little is known about the role of environmental and contextual factors, which mechanisms help sustain long-term recovery, and how recovery journeys differ between men and women. The contribution of various forms of assistance to these recovery journeys is also challenging to assess."

Research method

"The REC-PATH study is the first European research to examine recovery in individuals with addiction to illegal drugs. It is a multi-method study, combining various quantitative and qualitative research methods. Recruitment was done through a short online survey (Life in Recovery (LiR)), in which a total of 722 individuals participated across 3 countries: the United Kingdom (n=311), the Netherlands (n=230), and Belgium (n=181). We utilized social media channels, newsletters, conferences, flyers, and posters, as well as contacts with alcohol and drug counseling organizations to support recruitment. Anyone who had been in recovery from addiction to illegal drugs for at least 3 months was eligible to participate in the study. Interested participants obtained additional information about the research through the project website and could consent to participation. Those without or with limited internet access could fill out the questionnaire on paper. The findings of this online survey can be found in a contribution in Tijdschrift Verslaving & Herstel.

What facilitates recovery?

We selected about a hundred candidates from each country (368 in total) who were willing to further participate in the research. This cohort formed the basis for the quantitative and qualitative parts of the REC-PATH study, after which they completed another questionnaire 12 months later. One key finding is that nearly 70% of all the respondents had ever participated in self-help groups. These recovery groups may be essential for building new (non-using) social networks and promoting and sustaining abstinence. We also found that longer time in recovery was associated with better scores on various recovery indicators: participation in leisure activities, stable housing, and limited contact with police or justice, alongside better scores in terms of quality of life and social functioning and fewer unmet care needs.



Turning points and opportunities

In each country, we also selected 30 respondents for an in-depth interview, addressing important turning points in the recovery process: 1) negative drug-related experiences (e.g., psychosis); 2) becoming a father or mother; 3) hitting rock bottom; 4) establishing/losing a social network; 5) seeking help from professionals. However, before such moments are experienced as turning points, certain contextual factors and dynamics must be present (e.g., awareness of future perspectives or possibilities for professional help) so that they can lead to a turnaround. The results demonstrate that a specific event or turning point does not immediately lead to change but is often a gradual and challenging process that varies significantly from person to person.


Women in recovery

Because the voice of women is often underrepresented in recovery research, this study specifically focused on women in recovery. We utilized the Photovoice methodology, where 8 women used photos and photography to depict their recovery experiences and what helped them initiate and sustain recovery. The various photos and stories illustrate how 'being in recovery' is a complex web of individual, social, and societal recovery capital, shaped against the backdrop of contemporary ideas and expectations about beauty, womanhood, motherhood, and substance use. Four themes emerged: (1) Rebuilding Myself; (2) Unraveling What Real Life and Addiction Mean; (3) (Re)connecting; and (4) Putting Future Perspectives into Practice. Photovoice has proven to be a powerful method for capturing the interconnected recovery experiences and challenges of the participating women and presenting them in a creative and artistic way convincingly.

More information?

For more information, we refer to the previously published research report.
Read the research report

Research group

Herstel & Verslaving

Department of Special Needs Education

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