RECOVERY DEFINITIONS

"Recovery is a process through which an individual is enabled to move-on from their problem drug use towards a drug-free life and become an active and contributing member of society," states the new scottish drug policy.

Addiction Today applauds it, as well as updating readers on reactions, including organisations redefining "recovery". Download recovery_definitions.pdf

ERRATA. One of the latter is the UKDPC whose statement is also at the above hyperlink. Addiction Today has not contributed to the UKDPC statement so must highlight two key inaccuracies. 

First, the charity wrote to UKDPC on 2 June 2008 stating that it should not attach the Foundation's CEO's name nor the Addiction Recovery Foundation's name to its redefinition; this was due to strong concerns about process and definition of which the UKDPC is aware.  Second, the UKDPC refers to a survey of "individuals" undertaken by ARF; in reality, this was a survey of CEOs representing treatment centres, and the number of participants exceeded those in the UKDPC exercise.  They also achieved a far more significant consensus than the trio of UKDPC participants agreeing on its definition.

UKDPC director Nicola Singleton links its definition - which removed the distinction between "maintained control over substance use" and drug-free achievements - to the NTA's 'top' measurement tool. The implications are that outcomes will be even harder to elicit. Download ldan_news_june_2008_enewsletter.pdf

Comments

[Robert Beckett]

What is the meaning of the word "recovery"?
I believe that before any meaningful definition of this word can be made it is essential to establish in what context it is to be used and secondly "Recovery" from what?
I assume that the meaning is to be used in the context of recovery from the hopeless state of alcoholism or drug addiction. The answer needs to contain a string of words that would describe this state of mind in a case of law such as for negligence etc. English Law will usually first consider the ordinary English meaning of the word as defined in the Oxford English Dictionary ie;
1. return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength (this would not include any mood altering chemicals save only for the appropriate prescribing of ant-depressants if necessary to regain original balance of mind, in my opinion these would need to be prescribed by a qualified physician)
2. find or regain possession or control of:he regained his balance
There would need to be special reasons (that don't exist here) to use any other definition with any degree of certainty in order to prevail in a court of law. In view of the legal minefield of the treatment field I would not wish to chance any other form of words than those set out above.
Hope this is helpful.
Bob Beckett