Addiction recovery: The lived experience journey from relapse prevention to recovery protection

One of the most frustrating groups of people to work with for social workers, can be people with addictions. In this paper the authors introduce a new approach to addiction recovery, which they call recovery protection. They argue that it is more empowering than the dominant relapse prevention model. All five authors of this paper as in recovery from addiction themselves. After presenting their new model of recovery protection, three of them describe their own recovery journeys and how a model of recovery protection has been a better model for them to have pursued. All five have benefitted from engaging in higher education. Each has a mission to try and make things better for people in addiction or recovering from addiction. The recovery protection model they advocate represents a paradigm shift in the field. Recovery is a gift. Let’s protect it.