Measuring recovery capital for people recovering from alcohol and drug addiction: a systematic review

Plain-Language Summary

Recovery capital is a way to look at all the strengths and supports a person has to help them recover from alcohol or drug addiction. This study reviewed all the ways recovery capital has been measured in research since 2016. The goal was to better understand what tools exist, how they're being used, and whether they’re effective across different populations and settings.

The review found 69 studies that met the criteria, with most using one of ten specific recovery capital questionnaires. These tools are generally reliable and valid and are often used in both treatment and community recovery settings. However, the researchers noted that more testing is needed to ensure these tools work well across diverse populations. Some studies used other creative methods, like analyzing online recovery forums, to assess recovery capital. The review concludes that measuring recovery capital is a big step forward in the field of addiction recovery and can help support more personalized and strengths-based care.