About the Recovery Movement

wnkb_j46_400x400Introduction to the Recovery Movement

References to a “new” recovery advocacy movement pay homage to earlier advocacy movements, particularly the past work of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) and the Society of Americans for Recovery (SOAR), and signal the rise of new ideas and strategies that distinguish FAVOR from earlier movements aimed at addressing alcohol and other drug problems in the United States.

The core messages of the movement (what we believe):

  1. Addiction recovery is a living reality for individuals, families, and communities.
  2. There are many (religious, spiritual, secular) pathways to recovery, and
    ALL are cause for celebration.
  3. Recovery flourishes in supportive communities.
  4. Recovery is a voluntary process.
  5. Recovering people are part of the solution: recovery gives back what addiction has taken from individuals, families, and communities.
  6. Recovery is contagious and can be spread in local communities by increasing the density of recovery carriers and expanding recovery landscapes (physical, psychological, social, and cultural spaces) supportive of addiction recovery.

Movement Goals-  The founding goals of the new recovery advocacy movement are to:

  1.  Portray alcoholism and addictions as problems for which there are viable and varied
    recovery solutions,
  2.  Provide “living proof” of the diversity of those recovery solutions,
  3.  Counter any actions that dehumanize, objectify, and demonize those with or recovering
    from AOD problems,
  4.  Enhance the variety, availability, and quality of local/regional treatment and recovery
    support services, and
  5. Remove environmental barriers to recovery by promoting laws and social policies that
    reduce AOD problems and support long-term individual and family recovery.

Recovery from substance use disorders is a powerful force in the lives of individuals, families and communities, but is largely unknown outside the recovery community. Through long-term recovery, individuals are able to support families, rebuild damaged relationships, restore their physical, emotional and spiritual health, and contribute to the community as active and productive citizens who no longer drain public resources.