Whole Person Recovery - Moving Beyond Abstinence-Only

May 2024 | ATTCnetwork.org

Whole Person Recovery from Substance Use Disorder

By Katie Witkiewitz, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center on Alcohol, Substance use, And Addictions, University of New Mexico, and Jalie A. Tucker, PhD MPH, Mary F. Lane Professor of Health Education and Behavior and Director of the Center for Behavioral Economic Health Research, University of Florida

Abstinence has long been considered the defining feature of recovery from substance use disorder, with a focus on individual level factors associated with abstinence. This has promoted a narrow focus on the individual as the fundamental change agent in recovery (Heilig et al., 2021), and lack of consideration for the multiple pathways to recovery (Tucker & Witkiewitz, 2022), including non-abstinence recovery. Accordingly, changes in an individual’s substance use is often the primary target and behavior of concern, often to the neglect of other positive functional changes involved in recovery. Although some conventional recovery models emphasize the need for an individual to build a support system for recovery and identify high-risk situations for harmful substance use, these models have not addressed how an individual attempting recovery is situated within and dynamically influenced by broader social, community, economic, and policy forces that might make recovery more or less accessible. Greater consideration of dynamic socioecological influences on recovery is critical for understanding the process and developing multi-level interventions to promote change in multiple outcome indicators of whole person recovery.

Models of harmful substance use and recovery from substance use disorder should carefully consider individual-level factors that can be modified in conjunction with social, community, economic, and policy level factors in which harmful substance use may develop, be maintained, and ultimately resolved. These levels of influence on individual behavior are dynamically and bidirectionally changing over time, and recovery typically is not a straight linear change process.

The ATTC Network is funded by SAMHSA and the author’s opinions do not necessarily represent the opinions of SAMHSA or the ATTC. We respectfully offer this article to encourage healthy discussion to advance our field.

National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and Federal Action Plan

The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention is a 10-year, comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to suicide prevention and provides concrete recommendations for addressing gaps in the suicide prevention field.

The Federal Action Plan identifies more than 200 actions across the Federal government to be taken over the next three years in support of those goals.

Released April 2024.

Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit (Spanish Version)

SAMHSA’s updated Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit is now available in Spanish. It provides guidance to a wide range of people on preventing and responding to an overdose.

Released April 2024.

Expanding Treatment, Recovery, and Reentry Services for Justice-Involved Women Through Client-Centered Interventions

Researchers for this study looked at the impact of a client-centered approach to transitional programs, the Female Offender Re-Entry Movement (FOR-Me) program, which aimed to establish a sustainable system of care for SUD treatment and reentry services for women, with a particular focus on women with high-risk histories of sex trafficking and/or sex work.

Comparing Cannabis Use for Pain to Use for Other Reasons in Primary Care Patients

This study aimed to find out, by comparing cannabis use patterns (mode and frequency), cannabis use disorder (CUD) symptoms, and perceived helpfulness of cannabis for patients who use it primarily for chronic pain compared to those who use it for other reasons.

Climate Change from a Prevention Perspective: Empowering Youth and Communities

On April 24, 2024, The PTTC Network hosted a virtual event, Climate Change from a Prevention Perspective, aimed to shine a light on the profound impact of climate change on young people and communities. In today's rapidly changing world, understanding the implications of climate change is more critical than ever.

Climate Awareness:
Climate change is undeniably one of the most pressing issues of our time. Surveys reveal that it occupies the minds of upwards of 80% of young people. Recognizing its significance and understanding its far-reaching implications are crucial steps towards addressing this global challenge.

Stressors and Mental Health:
The repercussions of climate change extend beyond environmental concerns. Increased stressors stemming from climate-related events can exacerbate mental health challenges among individuals and communities. Moreover, socioeconomic factors play a pivotal role in determining the ability of different groups to adapt to these changes.

Youth Resiliency:
Central to the training was the emphasis on making preventionists climate-informed. By equipping them with knowledge about climate-related issues, we empower them to better support the resilience of youth and communities. Through understanding the complexities of climate change, preventionists can play a vital role in fostering adaptive strategies and coping mechanisms.

The International Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals (ISSUP) is a global, not-for-profit, non-government organization to support the development of a professional prevention and treatment network.

Visit the ISSUP Knowledge Share to get the latest international research news.

The ATTC Messenger is a monthly e-newsletter published by the ATTC Network Coordinating Office.

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