The Four Types of Recovery Capital

Continuing the conversation from last month, let’s now take a look at the four different categories of recovery capital.

Personal Recovery Capital

Personal recovery capital is divided into physical and human capital. Some examples of physical capital include: physical and mental health, financial, health insurance, shelter, clothing, food, and transportation.

Human capital includes values, knowledge, educational, vocational skills, problem solving skills, self-esteem, self-efficacy, hopefulness, Spirituality. Development of a personal Vision and mission which is a human capital secures their purpose in life. It is very important to remind our friends that they are made in the image of God, and their lives are sacred. This is the main focus when we are working on the personal RC of obtaining a purpose. “So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27.

Social Recovery Capital

Relationships are important for a successful recovery journey especially for the youth. Relationships include family and social relationships that support the recovery journey. Social recovery capital is strengthened by the willingness of family members to participate in the treatment process and the presence of others in recovery within the family and social network throughout the recovery journey. Social RC include access to sober centers for sobriety-based fellowship, leisure, and relational connections which can include, recovery schools, workplace, church, and other mainstream community organizations. Fellowship and fun events focused around love for God and each other. “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31.

Social recovery capital brings to the surface the importance of security in one’s life. The antithesis called isolation can bring to one an extreme detrimental result. It is crucial to reach for social capital in the recovery planning process.

Community Recovery Capital

Community capital offers some of the most riches resources for a person’s development and stability both tangible and intangible. Imagine someone who is in recovery from substance abuse becomes involved in advocating for recovery supports and addiction management in their community. The undertaking of involvement in the mission that supports sobriety and new life is a powerful saving agent for a person who came from that very situation. Volunteering, advocating and participating in efforts to reduce addiction and recovery related stigma is the new purpose. Some other community powerhouses are becoming a Peer leader and mentor. Participating in a full continuum of addiction treatment resources and recovery mutual aid resources that are accessible and diverse. Attending and developing local recovery community support institutions, recovery centers, clubhouses, recovery homes, recovery schools, and recovery ministries, and churches. Finally integrated into a Bible teaching church supports the saving grace towards the individual providing the unique power that recovery needs.

Cultural Capital

One of the ways addiction professionals can increase recovery capital of individuals and families is to actively support local movements within the community weaving in recovery support services within the culture in which recovery can flourish and therefore reducing the stigma surrounding addiction. Such support could include serving on the board of a recovery community organization, volunteering at a recovery support center, encouraging those seeking to start a new recovery support group, participating in recovery education or recovery celebration events such as the PRO-ACT recovery walk in Philadelphia PA, and providing financial contributions to help promote and conduct such events.

In conclusion, I would like to address Recovery Capital in the same way we started this conversation.  RC is a gift from our creator. Genesis 1:1 says: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This powerful verse aluminates that our creator God produced and fashioned all things for our survival.  Recovery Capital is critical to sustain life, and God has already provided the resources. Recovery advocates are the vessels that He uses to provide these needs in the form of disciples and mentors. Everyone on this planet is in recovery from something as the Bible states in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So, let’s come to the no-stigma principle that states; everyone in this world needs help and we are all called to be His disciples to bring the support.

John K. Carlson
Executive Director, Transformation to Recovery