RCAM: a proposed model of recovery capital for adolescents

Abstract

Problematic substance use is a challenge worldwide among adolescents. The recovery process requires holistic support addressing multiple and intersecting substance use risk factors; yet, there remains a lack of evidence on how to best understand and support adolescents in recovery. Recovery capital (RC) is a model that can be used to identify areas of assets that could be enhanced and barriers to address in one’s recovery process; however, this construct was generated through a study of adults who achieved natural recovery and it has since been used to frame adult recovery-related literature across the world. The primary aim of this article is to outline the rationale for and present a Recovery Capital for Adolescents Model (RCAM). The article will discuss the original recovery capital model, describe adolescent development, substance use, and recovery, and detail proposed developmental adaptations. Future qualitative and quantitative research should explore the RCAM to assess whether the proposed dimensions are complete as well as to assess its utility in clinical settings for identifying strengths and barriers for adolescents in or seeking recovery.

Keywords:

• Recovery capital
• adolescents
• substance use disorder
• alcohol use disorder

Notes

1 Following others’ suggestions (Neale, Nettleton, & Pickering, 2014), we use the term “financial capital”, because the label “physical capital” could be confused with health-related factors.

2 Hereafter we refer to caregiver to mean either biological parent, caregiver, or even guardian as this will vary by situation, but the general idea is to highlight the important role of an adult responsible for the wellbeing of a minor adolescent.

3 Hewitt’s thesis (2007) posited that growth capital overlapped with recovery capital to generate individual personal growth in recovery. However, the examples used to outline growth capital involved human and social capital factors (e.g., self-awareness, wisdom, quality relationships) that are already factors within existing recovery capital domains. Thus, although this manuscript uses this term differently, the original concept was generated from this work.