The experience of post-secondary education for students in recovery from addiction to drugs or alcohol: Relationships and recovery capital

Given the drug and alcohol-friendly nature of most college and university campuses, young people who have struggled with addiction to substances - and who are overcoming these struggles - face many challenges in maintaining their recovery and achieving academic success. Using recovery capital as a theoretical framework, this study explored aspects of the academic experience of students in recovery, including the identity formation process, development of relationships, and use of support services. Thematic analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews showed the development and mobilization of personal, family/social, and community recovery capital and highlighted areas of difficulty in building these resources. The article points to the importance of social and personal relationships to both abstinence and academic success for students in recovery and discusses the role of policy in facilitating the mobilization of recovery capital.