"One Out of Ten Ain't Going to Make It": An Analysis of Recovery Capital in the Rural Upper Midwest. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Palombi, Laura; Hawthorne, Amanda N.; Irish, Andrew; Becher, Emily; Bowen, Elizabeth
• Is Part Of: Journal of drug issues. Volume 49:Number 4(2019)
• Page Start: 680
• Page End: 702
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: substance use -- addiction -- behavioral health -- focus groups -- recovery capital -- rural -- consensual qualitative research; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Drug and Narcotic Control -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; Toxicomanie -- Périodiques; 362.29305
• DOI: 10.1177/0022042619859309
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0426

Abstract

Substance use and associated fatalities are disproportionately experienced by rural communities. This study used consensual qualitative research methodology to analyze focus group data from individuals in short- and long-term recovery in rural Michigan and Minnesota. Coding was conducted within a recovery capital framework to improve understanding of the resources and barriers participants experienced in their recovery. Key findings included barriers related to transportation, as well as access to and availability of sober meetings and sober living activities. Participants perceived connections to culturally appropriate treatment as particularly important. A reconstruction of social networks from those promoting addiction to those supporting recovery was also prominently emphasized. Recovery capital appears to be a useful framework for assessing how rural communities are experiencing substance use crises, in addition to identifying areas of low capital and high need in supporting long-term recovery.