Recovery and identity : A five-year follow-up of persons treated in 12-step-related programs.

Recovery is an established term used to describe positive processes of change concerning problemsrelated to alcohol and other drugs (AOD). The present article investigates first-person experiences ofrecovery self-identification over time in clients who have completed 12-step programs with a positiveoutcome (sobriety). The data comprises qualitative interviews with 47 individuals five years after thefirst post-treatment interview, analyzed in a process inspired by reflexive thematic analysis. Althoughall the individuals had continued their recovery, their recovery paths and how they identified themselves in relation to their AOD problems had taken different directions. Thus, many of the individualsdescribed their recovery in a broader sense which ranges from abstinence to moderation. Some individuals perceived themselves as no longer in recovery. The multitude of recovery processes describedin the study underlines the need for acceptance and respect for individual identity processes.Furthermore, the importance is stressed of supporting an individual’s perceptions of how their recoveryprocess should best be outlined. The results should not be interpreted as a critique of the 12-stepapproach. Instead, there is a need for variety over time in the support and treatment options availablefor people in need of treatment for AOD problem