Recovery without treatment
An underestimated pathway to change
We often assume that treatment is necessary for recovery, but international research has shown that persons are capable of changing on their own, even without professional intervention. This is often referred to as 'natural,' 'spontaneous,' or 'untreated recovery,' and its occurrence is often underestimated. A study by Kelly and colleagues (2017) found that 46% of individuals in the U.S. who overcame alcohol or drug problems did so without formal (outpatient or residential) treatment or informal help (self-help groups such as NA, and AA). More recent Australian research in 2021 confirms this for alcohol addictions. Comparable European research on this form of recovery does not currently exist, and to address this, we initiated a study in October 2021 on recovery from addiction, where individuals do not use or did not use any professional assistance or treatment. This research is funded by the Fund for Scientific Research (FWO-Flanders).
Our primary goal is to better understand the complex realities of persons in recovery without professional intervention. To achieve this, we aim to look beyond mere substance use and focus on the individual, taking into account the social environment and broader society.
To this end, we launched a new version of the 'Life in Recovery' questionnaire in 2022, which we previously administered to persons in recovery from illegal drugs in 2018. We targeted a broad group of people in recovery, including those who have sought professional assistance. Through a brief survey, we aimed to learn more about who these persons are, what has assisted them, the path they have taken, and how individuals in 'natural' recovery differ from those who have followed treatment. We inquired about various life domains and factors that have been crucial to their recovery.
To supplement the information we are gathering from questionnaires, we are conducting in-depth interviews with persons in natural recovery. By engaging in in-depth conversations, we aim to gain insight into these recovery processes that happen without treatment. Interested persons can contact us at herve@ugent.be.
Would you like to leave your contact information for participation in future research? If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact herve@ugent.be