First Large-Scale Study Exploring Addiction Recovery
from a Lived Experience Perspective
In an article published in the October issue of Elsevier's Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, Dr. Alexandre B. Laudet, a research scientist at the National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI) reports on her study of the nature of recovery from drugs and alcohol dependence. This is the first large-scale prospective study on recovery that explicitly seeks to elucidate the recovery concept and phenomenology based on a lived-experience perspective rather than on researchers' definitions.
Supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse ( R01 DA014409) and by the Peter McManus Charitable Trust, the study conducted in-depth interviews with nearly 300 recovering persons about what 'recovery' means to them and how they attained it. Participants were recruited in New York City, many were inner-city ethnic minority members formerly addicted to crack cocaine and/or heroin for a decade or longer. Dr. Laudet, principal investigator of the study, is director of the Center for the Study of Addictions and Recovery. Her work focuses on elucidating long-term processes and determinants of addiction recovery. "The negative consequences of active addiction are much publicized but recovery gets little attention in the media" observed the author. "It is important to let the public know that recovery from addiction is a reality; it is an ongoing process and a challenging one for many. But our research shows that for most of those engaged in that process, recovery represents a second chance at a new and better life This information can give hope to many and contribute to reducing the stigma attached to having a history of substance use"
Reference: Alexandre B. Laudet, PhD, "What does recovery mean to you? Lessons from the recovery experience for research and practice," Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment (2007) Vol. 33(3), pp. 243-256.
September, 2007