A Long-Term and Visible Approach to Recovery

The New York Times has a nice article on the growing network of peer-to-peer services for recovering persons in Philadelphia. Specifically, they mention the Philadelphia Recovery Community Center, which focuses on more long-term recovery support than was traditionally available. The model is considered a promising practice.

Views are shifting toward recovery as a long-term process, and also toward greater visibility.

“One of the most important things we’ve done in Philadelphia is to create a vibrant and visible recovery community,” said Arthur C. Evans, who has led the city’s transformation over the past five years as chief of behavioral health. “Hundreds of people are speaking out about being in recovery, and that’s having a tremendous impact on people who may not think they’re ready to change.”

While treatment centers like BCI continue to protect confidentiality, many people in treatment choose to "go public" about their recovery in order to connect with and take advantage of what the peer-to-peer community has to offer. If this helps more people prevent relapse and make greater progress than they had before, then it must be a good thing.