NIAAA Recovery Research Definitions National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA

We also discuss study limitations relevant to refining definitions of recovery, with a particular focus on advancing research on recovery from AUD. Recent data have demonstrated that some individuals with AUD are able to fulfill the criteria for recovery and partake in an occasional drink. Certainly, many individuals with a history of AUD would relapse if they returned to occasional drinking, and these persons would need to maintain total sobriety to remain in recovery. Some individuals with drinking problems are able to stop drinking effortlessly and permanently without craving or obsessing about alcohol.

Treatment Process Articles

Alcohol rehabilitation is the beginning of the process in recovering from alcoholism. S.O.S. is focused on helping people overcome addictions by focusing on their values and integrity rather than embracing a higher power. It encourages members to make sobriety the top priority in their lives and take whatever steps they need to stay on the path to recovery. While participating in the 12 steps of recovery can be beneficial for many people, consider the advantages and disadvantages of these programs before you decide if this approach is right for you. Your body has acclimated to quitting drinking over the past couple of years. Although many people are tempted to make other major life changes during this stage of recovery, such as changing jobs, experts recommend focusing energy on stopping drinking for at least the first year.

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It is important to recognize the difference between relapse and “freelapse,” a phenomenon wherein someone ingests an addictive substance by accident. Walking through an unexpected cloud of cannabis smoke or taking a drink you thought contained no alcohol is not the same as a complete relapse into substance abuse. But if you then pursue the addictive substance after the freelapse, it may be time to reassess your progress in recovery. It’s about creating Sober House Rules: What You Should Know Before Moving In a life where substance use no longer has a place, not because of sheer willpower but because your life has changed in a way that supports long-term sobriety.

Believing in this higher power may help someone find meaning in their life outside of addiction. For instance, they may find a greater sense of community by joining a spiritual or religious group. These can be healthy coping mechanisms someone turns to as they progress through recovery. Twelve-Step meetings are considered the “fellowship” part of the AA mutual support groups, where people come together and share their experiences.

Methodology for Developing NIAAA Recovery Definition

This 24/7 hotline can refer you to a qualified treatment facility, and it is free to call. Though the original Twelve Steps of AA have been adapted over time, the premise of each step remains the same for all recovery programs that use a 12-step model. If you are a chronic alcoholic and you cannot stay sober, you will never be cured of alcoholism. The reason is that chronic relapsers have a mind, body, and spirit that is different from normal drinkers. Some alcoholics confuse the promises of the book with the disease of addiction and alcoholism.

• This structured environment helps establish routines, develop discipline, and set achievable goals for long-term recovery.
• These characterizations, as well as recent empirical research on AUD recovery (described next), are similar to definitions of recovery for other psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, schizophrenia) that emphasize recovery of functioning and do not require absence of any symptoms.
• Outpatient programs typically involve scheduled therapy sessions, educational groups, and group therapy.
• It’s not uncommon for individuals struggling with persistent desire to use alcohol to defend their drinking habits by telling others to ‘lighten up’ or ‘it’s all in good fun.’ All the while denying that their drinking is physically dangerous or potentially harmful.
• For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Tips for success in alcohol recovery

Study participants were also asked to describe which physical health recovery outcomes are most important to them and why. Open-ended participant responses also pointed to the importance of appetite and sleep as an avenue to replace the energy lost by no longer using a stimulant. In the United States, complete abstinence persists as the standard for demonstrating recovery success from substance use disorders (SUDs), apart from alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study sought to expand the definition of recovery to include non-abstinent pathways by exploring non-abstinence-based outcomes desired by people who use methamphetamine (PWUM).

In this article, researchers sought to provide an operational definition of recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD) to facilitate the consistency of research on recovery and stimulate further research. They present a newly developed National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) definition of recovery from DSM-5 AUD based on qualitative feedback from key recovery stakeholders (e.g., researchers, clinicians, and recovery specialists). The new definition views recovery as both a process and an outcome of behavioral change and incorporates two key components of recovery; namely, remission from DSM-5 AUD and cessation from heavy drinking. This definition of recovery also emphasizes the importance of biopsychosocial functioning and quality of life in enhancing recovery outcomes.

Burning Tree Ranch is a specialty program dedicated to the treatment of chronic addiction and mental health. Individuals identifying as LGBTQIA+ may experience unique stressors, including discrimination, societal stigma, and family rejection, which can contribute to substance abuse. Our LGBTQIA+ rehab program offers an inclusive and affirming space where clients can explore these issues without judgment. Therapies are designed to address identity-related challenges, promote self-acceptance, and build resilience, all of which are crucial for sustained recovery.

For different patients, both alcohol use disorder (AUD) and its recovery will play out differently. Here, we provide tips to help you understand and support your patients with AUD as they forge their individual paths to recovery. It’s not uncommon for individuals struggling with persistent desire to use alcohol to defend their drinking habits by telling others to ‘lighten up’ or ‘it’s all in good fun.’ All the while denying that their drinking is physically dangerous or potentially harmful. While it’s true that alcohol can initially provide a sense of enjoyment and temporary relief, it is crucial to recognize that behind this seemingly lighthearted facade lies a complex reality of the multilayered harms caused by excessive drinking, which can later become fodder for low self-esteem. Feeling guilty, depressed, anxious, and stressed frequently coexist with alcohol abuse, creating a complex and intertwined relationship.

Structured Recovery Plan

• Indeed, research shows that when given a choice of abstinence or moderation as a goal for treatment, even those with severe SUDs are much more likely to reach their selected goal if given the choice of a treatment goal 10, 11.
• However, the relationship between these various forms of stability (financial, employment, etc.) and abstinence or non-abstinence was not within the scope of this study.
• John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine.
• The NIAAA acknowledges that such factors may facilitate recovery, but they are not necessary to fulfill the NIAAA’s definition.
• In 2021, researchers estimated nearly 30 million people ages 12 years and older in the United States had alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• Participants endorsed not using methamphetamine as “very important” or “essential to recovery” (98%) but were much less likely to require abstinence from other substances including cannabis (65%), alcohol (80%), and tobacco (18%).

People are typically more motivated to seek support for their alcohol abuse after a very negative event occurs. This is often referred to as a ‘rock bottom’ experience, which refers to the low point of negative consequences one undergoes as a result of their drinking. Everyone moves through life and accepts change differently, including the decision to stop or cut down on drinking. Psychological Effects – Even though people usually consume alcohol to avoid feeling bad, it is ultimately a depressant. In the short and long term, alcohol abuse can worsen mental and psychological health conditions and trigger new ones.

And yet, despite being an atypical pathway, abstinence remains the hegemonic paradigm for addiction recovery, and most treatments https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ and recovery support services are designed to support it alone. The abstinence-only paradigm provides little to no support for those for whom abstinence has not been successful and often punishes them for their inability to achieve or maintain abstinence (i.e. kicked out of halfway houses, treatment, specialty courts, etc.). Consequently, the abstinence-only approach increases the risk for adverse consequences, including overdose 28, 29. In contrast, non-abstinent based benchmarks foster a pathway of recovery for the substantial number of people with SUD who have any treatment goal other than abstinence. To analyze quantitative data, continuous data were summarized using means, and categorical data were summarized using frequencies and percentages. Data collected with open ended questions were manually categorized in Microsoft Excel.

Call our hotline at to discuss further treatment options and get the information you need to continue your journey on the road to recovery. While the 12 steps in use today are based on the same ideas written by the founders of AA in the 1930s, the understanding of the term “God” has since broadened to refer to any “higher power” that a person believes in. When an alcoholic puts a drink in their body, they will physically want more. There is no magic pill that will allow an alcoholic to drink like a normal person. Once that first drink is taken, the phenomenon of craving occurs, and the cycle continues. This cycle of alcoholism will almost always happen once an alcoholic starts drinking.

Several issues are important to point out about this new definition of recovery.

Everyone’s road to recovery is different, and it’s important to be open and honest with addiction professionals about what you believe may trigger a relapse. Individuals in rehab follow a structured schedule that includes therapy sessions, group discussions, educational workshops, and wellness activities. This structured environment helps establish routines, develop discipline, and set achievable goals for long-term recovery. Rehab programs also teach coping strategies, stress management techniques, and relapse prevention skills to help individuals navigate challenges in the future.

As shown in Table 1, this conceptualization of recovery is similar to definitions of recovery developed by SAMHSA and the Recovery Science Research Collaborative, and it aligns with the empirical findings from Kaskutas, Neale, Kelly, and Witkiewitz, among others. These conceptualizations of recovery, including that of the authors, differ from the Betty Ford Institute Consensus Panel, which requires abstinence. Similarities across definitions of recovery shown in Table 1 indicate that alcohol recovery is a process that is dynamic and focuses on improvement of health and wellness. Definitions differ with respect to the inclusion of language pertaining to abstinence or changes and improvement in biopsychosocial functioning and purpose in life.