Understanding Recovery Capital: A Holistic Framework for Sustaining Recovery

This quick read provides an introduction of recovery capital. Recovery from substance use is often supported by multiple forms of care, connection, and resources, particularly during the early stages of initiating recovery. At the same time, recovery is more than the absence of substance use. It encompasses psychological well-being, physical health, social relationships, economic stability, purpose, and a sense of belonging. Focusing narrowly on abstinence or return to use overlooks the broader life circumstances that shape how recovery is experienced and sustained, and obscures the contextual factors that influence individual recovery trajectories.