Assessing a Pilot Scheme of Intensive Support and Assertive Linkage in Levels of Engagement, Retention, and Recovery Capital for people in Recovery Housing using Quasi-Experimental Methods

Introduction: There is strong and ever-growing evidence highlighting the effectiveness of recovery housing to support and sustain substance use disorder (SUD) recovery augmented by intensive support comprising assertive linkages to community services.Aim: To assess a pilot intensive recovery support (IRS) intervention for individuals (n=175) entering certified Level II and III recovery residences who met at least three out of five conditions (no health insurance; no driving license; substance use in the last 14 days; currently unemployed; having less than $75 capital) and its impact on engagement, retention and changes in recovery capital for individuals compared with a business-as-usual Standard Recovery Support (SRS) approach (n=1,758).Methods: We deployed quasi-experimental techniques to create weighted and balanced counterfactual groups derived from the Recovery Capital (REC-CAP) assessment tool to compare outcomes for people receiving the pilot IRS compared to intervention against SRS.Results: After reweighting for resident demographics, service needs, and barriers to recovery, those receiving IRS exhibited improved retention rates, reduced likelihood of disengagement, and growth in recovery capital after living in the residence for 6-9 months.Conclusion: Our findings from this pilot intervention suggest that intensive recovery support incorporating assertive community linkages and enhanced recovery coaching can improve engagement, length of stay and recovery capital growth compared to a balanced counterfactual group. We suggest that this model may be particularly beneficial to those entering Level II and Level III recovery housing with lower levels of recovery capital at admission entry.<br/

Bridging the gap:building and sustaining recovery capital in the transition from prison to recovery residences

The transition from jail to community is a high-risk time for individuals who use substances, with elevated risks of overdose and other substance-related harms, as well as high recidivism rates and re-incarceration. Gains made from successful treatment in prison are often lost in this transition. The current paper evaluates this process for one justice programme, Chesterfield HARP, a therapeutic community-based in the Chesterfield County jail that continues supporting former inmates on their release by examining engagement and retention rates and changes in recovery capital among incarcerated individuals before incarceration and after community transition. Adult prisoners (both male and female) who engaged in the Chesterfield HARP programme completed an assessment of recovery capital (REC-CAP instrument) both in prison and, subsequently, following their transitions to one of a number of local recovery residences with strong links to the prison programme (and so ensuring continuity of care and support). The results suggest successful bridging with positive growth across multiple recovery capital domains. The study provides further evidence for the importance of continuity of care and integrated models of strength-building and recovery-focused interventions in successfully bridging the transition from prison to the community for substance offenders