Recovery

IRETA is a center for research and education in the areas of Recovery, Recovery Management, and Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care. This section includes many resources related to recovery.

What is Recovery?
There are several working definitions of recovery from substance use disorders which have been developed in the last few years.

“Recovery from substance dependence is a voluntarily maintained lifestyle characterized by sobriety, personal health, and citizenship.” -Betty Ford Institute, 2007

“Recovery from alcohol and drug problems is a process of change through which an individual achieves abstinence and improved health, wellness, and quality of life.” -CSAT 2006 National Recovery Summit

Click here to read SAMHSA's 12 Guiding Principles of Recovery

What is Recovery Management?
Recovery Management is a philosophical framework for organizing addiction treatment AND recovery support services across the stages of pre-recovery identification and engagement, recovery initiation and stabilization, long-term recovery maintenance, and quality of life enhancement for individuals and families affected by severe substance use disorders.

What is a ROSC?
A ROSC is a coordinated network of community-based services and supports that is person-centered and builds on the strengths and resilience of individuals, families, and communities to achieve improved health, wellness, and quality of life for those with or at risk for substance use disorders. - William White

IRETA is a center for recovery research, with publications on topics that range from recovery-focused methadone treatment to recovery in special populations to regional systems transformations from an acute care addiction treatment model to a ROSC.