Practice Considerations for Occupational Therapy in Substance Use Recovery: A Narrative Review

Substance Use Disorders (SUD) disrupt volitional systems and meaningful occupational engagement. While occupational therapy’s (OT) mental health role is established, consolidated resources for holistic recovery across the care continuum are lacking. This review integrates the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF-4) to provide an informed practice for SUD recovery. It identifies unique OT value propositions, including role emergence, executive training, and occupational justice across diverse settings, demonstrates how OT facilitates transitions to sustainable, self-directed lives by realigning volition and reconstructing daily routines, and offers a roadmap for trauma-informed, occupation-based interventions that support long-term recovery and community reintegration.