Recovery

Recovery from addiction is an ongoing process of improving health, stability, relationships, choice and participation in life. It can involve abstinence, reduced harm, treatment, support and personal change, and it does not follow one universal pathway.

Recovery is not simply the period after someone stops using a substance.

For many people, changing substance use is only one part of what needs to change. Sleep and physical health may need time to improve. Trust may need rebuilding. Housing, money, work or family life may still be unstable. Confidence can return slowly, and old routines may need to be replaced with ways of living that are more sustainable.

Recovery can therefore involve physical, psychological, social and practical change at the same time.

People also recover in different ways. Some use formal treatment, medication or peer support. Others rely more heavily on family, community, cultural connection or self-directed change. Many combine several approaches over time.

A setback or return to use does not automatically erase the wider recovery process.

Recovery is better understood as a changing relationship with addiction and with life: increasing health, stability, connection and choice while building the conditions that make change more sustainable.

Full access is needed to read this Topic's articles.