Introduction: The Theory, Science, and Practice of Recovery Management

Abstract

(from the chapter) Today, almost 14,000 specialized addiction programs treat approximately two million individuals a year in the United States. This treatment spans a wide diversity of settings, levels of care, service philosophies, and techniques. However, most share an acute-care model of intervention, characterized by a single episode of self-contained and unlinked intervention focused on symptom reduction and delivered within a short timeframe. Impressions are given that long-term recovery should be achievable following such acute intervention. This model is now being challenged, and calls are increasing to extend the design of addiction treatment to a model of sustained recovery management that is comparable to how other chronic primary health disorders are effectively managed. Recovery management is a philosophy of organizing treatment and recovery supports to enhance early engagement, recovery initiation and maintenance, and the quality of personal/family life in the long-term. This chapter provides an overview of this book highlighting the theory, science, and practice of recovery management and exploring how it is being incorporated into larger "systems transformation" processes. This is the first academic text designed specifically to focus on recovery management as a philosophy of professional treatment and a framework for recovery management. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) (chapter)