For individuals with addictions, recovery supports can have a crucial, beneficial impact. They can help behavioral health clients achieve long-term sobriety, improve their quality of life, and prepare them to meet and overcome the challenges of recovery.
BestNotes recently hosted a webinar on addiction and recovery supports with Dr. Michael M. Miller, a Distinguished Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Dr. Miller is certified in Addiction Medicine from the American Board of Preventive Medicine and has been helping clients with addiction for more than 20 years.
ASAM defines recovery as “a process of sustained action that addresses the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual disturbances inherent in addiction.” This often requires a wide range of treatment options and resources, including psychosocial rehabilitation (such as counseling), pharmacotherapy, and recovery supports.
Recovery supports can be both professional and non-professional. Together, these two types can serve as valuable supplements to professional treatment. The best options will depend on the individual client and the type of addiction.
ASAM, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, and the American Psychiatric Association have all recommended that clients with addictions should receive qualified professional treatment, which may include counseling with a licensed provider, medication, and other types of therapy.
However, these groups also recognize that peer supports can be valuable community resources. The best treatment solution may be a collaboration between professionals and peer groups.
Peer Supports
Peer supports are one type of recovery supports. Peer supports are often called “self-help,” although this can be a misleading term since the client relies on a team to help with recovery.
Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step groups fall into this category, as well as 12-step sponsors and activities. A more informal version of peer support may include a simple list of trustworthy friends and family members, with their contact information. These individuals can provide encouragement during a difficult time, or may be called on during an emergency.
Recovery Coaches
Recovery coaches are another type of recovery support. These individuals may be trained in addiction recovery, or they may have no training or certification at all. They may be volunteers or paid. A recovery coach may come to a person’s home, treatment center, or even the emergency department if needed. However, they are not health providers and do not offer primary treatment or diagnosis.
Recovery coaches encourage a person with addiction to take appropriate steps to make healthy, helpful changes. They can help build community support and help a person in recovery achieve their goals.
The right environment is also important for addiction recovery. This includes not just housing, but housing that includes no abuse and no other residents who use or deal illicit substances or otherwise engage in the addiction. The environment also includes having social peers that support recovery. Peer supports and recovery coaches can help ensure that individuals who are working toward addiction recovery have the right environment to support their long-term sobriety.
Behavioral health clinicians should encourage clients to seek out non-professional recovery supports to supplement their addiction treatment. This may include helping the client find appropriate peer groups or community resources, being in touch with a client’s 12-step sponsor, or discussing a client’s experience with informal recovery groups.
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