In 2016, FOR-NY created a state-wide survey that was distributed to individuals and families living in recovery from addiction, families who lost a loved one to addiction, and people who have otherwise been impacted by addition. Almost 1700 people across New York participated in FOR-NY’s first recovery needs assessment.

Over the last few months, we have highlighted specific focus groups and recovery-oriented systems of care in a series of special reports. In this month’s special report on our series on Recovery in the Empire State, we turn our attention to several community Recovery Support Service needs that people in recovery identified as priorities.

Q31: Please rank the recovery support services that you need in your community, #1 being most important
Note: The lower the score, the more important to respondents

Our Interpretation: People in recovery identified several high priority Recovery Support Service needs in their communities. Recovery support services are community services that provide emotional and practical support for building and sustaining recovery, as well continuing remission and providing daily structure and rewarding alternatives to alcohol and drug use.[1] Recovery support services help people enter into and navigate systems of care, remove barriers to recovery, stay engaged in the recovery process, and live full lives in communities of their choice.[2]  Recovery Support Services are not substitutes for treatment; existing research supports the effectiveness of peer recovery services. [3]The highest priority was given to Support Meetings/Groups, Housing, Medical Insurance and, Job Training.  Following the top three issues, the following services were seen as additional priorities:  Legal Services, Relapse Prevention, Money Management, Education, Parenting and Social Skills.

[1] SAHMSA (2017). Recovery and Recovery Support. Retrieved  April 14, 2017 from https://www.samhsa.gov/recovery
[2] Surgeon General (2016). Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/chapter-5-recovery.pdf
[3] NIDA (2014). Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide. Retrieved April 14, 2017, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-adolescent-substance-use-disorder-treatment-research-based-guide