Recovery from Addiction in Communal Living Settings

Citation

Tom Parkman (2016), "Recovery from Addiction in Communal Living Settings", Drugs and Alcohol Today, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 117-118. https://doi.org/10.1108/DAT-09-2015-0055

Recovery from Addiction in Communal Living Settings acknowledges the work of Leonard Jason and Joseph Ferrari in contributing to our understanding of the Oxford House (OH) model and 12-step recovery. OH provide alcohol- and drug-free housing in communal living environments. They are sex specific and often located in quiet, middle class communities.

The introduction to this book sets out the basic tenets of the 12-step programme, neatly tying in how each chapter relates to the step it is exploring. Following the 12 steps, the book’s structure mirrors the pathway that one would have to navigate following the 12-step programme. The chapters move from internal changes of acceptance and surrender associated with Steps 1-3 (Chapters 2-4), through the realm of interpersonal change explored in Steps 4-7 (Chapters 5-8), to the relationship of the individual with their community set out in Steps 8-12 (Chapters 9-12). The success of this structure develops as the book unfolds.

In Chapter 2, Polcin explores the importance of social support and housing in recovery outcomes, whilst in Chapter 3, Groh et al. demonstrate that OH attendance is associated with higher levels of abstinence. Whilst these chapters explore the OH model, they do little to relate the impact of communal living with themes that embody Steps 1 and 2. In Chapter 4, Ferrari et al. do redeem the theme of internal changes, by exploring how self-regulation and impulsivity is higher in OH tenants, which, in turn, is associated with sustained abstinence. Chapters 5 through 8 reflect Steps 4-7 more effectively, as they explore different realms of the interpersonal, ranging from hope (Chapter 5), the relationship between the individual and how they are perceived by others (Chapter 6), the sense of community experienced by OH residents (Chapter 7) and the impact of having children for people in recovery at OH (Chapter 8). Yet, as these studies state, the effects of OH are modest, indicating that the impact of the OH model may not be as strong as the book’s introduction suggests. The strongest part of the book is the final four chapters, which provide a detailed insight into the complex relationship between the individual and the wider community. Of particular note is Chapter 9 which demonstrates the inequality that exists in recovery between males, females and ethnicity (Belyaev-Glantsman et al.), and Chapter 12 (Viola et al.) which illustrates how men and women in recovery help others in the community differently.

This is a well written book that provides an excellent overview of the OH model and various components of OH that impact on recovery. Its use of different studies gives the reader a strong foundation of the areas of research currently being conducted into the OH model, as well as a range of ideas for future research. Its neat structure encourages an air of continuity throughout, supported by the empirical data that gives the book depth.

It does, however, possess weaknesses. First, the book’s stated goal is to develop “our understanding of 12-step recovery as originally developed by Alcoholics Anonymous” (p. 1). Its focus, however, is how recovery unfolds in communal living settings, with little attention paid to the 12-step model. Second, the introduction states that this book is needed as the anonymous nature of AA limits research opportunities. However, there is a considerable academic and lay literature available on AA that many can access. Finally, it presents a fairly biased view of OH, with none of the studies exploring the social and practical issues that people might encounter in OH, such as social integration, relapse and moving to a novel environment. A concluding chapter that ties the key arguments together may have rectified this.

Nevertheless, this is an accessible book that contributes to our understanding of how recovery can unfold in communal living settings, and provides a good overview for any individual interested in understanding the OH model.