Recovery Capital in Chinese Drug Rehabilitation: Exploring Person-Centred and Community-Based Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Addiction studies
• Public health policy
• Sociology of health

Background:

• Chinese drug policy is adopting recovery frameworks aligned with recovery capital principles.
• Current policies often prioritize state-defined recovery over individual experiences of drug dependence.
• This study investigates recovery capital within Chinese drug rehabilitation programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the processes and purposes of recovery capital for individuals in Chinese drug rehabilitation.
• To highlight the importance of person-centered and community-based recovery approaches.
• To identify mismatches between national policy and individual recovery visions.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews conducted with 24 individuals in urban China undergoing or recently completing compulsory isolation rehabilitation.
• 16 participants were in community-based rehabilitation, and eight had recently completed it.
• Thematic analysis was employed to code interview data for emergent themes.

Main Results:

• Legal and social stigma significantly impacts access to recovery resources in China.
• Participants' needs regarding employment, childcare, and chronic illness management were frequently unmet.
• Socioeconomic class played a substantial role in accessing recovery resources, with participants offering recommendations for improvement.

Conclusions:

• A significant disconnect exists between Chinese national rehabilitation policies and individuals' perspectives on recovery.
• Reorienting recovery capital and policy towards person-centered and community-based concerns is recommended.
• Findings underscore the need for more accessible and tailored recovery support systems.