The lived experiences of women in recovery from substance use disorders: a qualitative study on social and recovery capital

Recovery from substance use disorders entails an array of internal and external capacities that enable individuals to initiate and sustain the journey toward wellness. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of women who have recovered from drug use, focusing specifically on the role of social capital and recovery capital. Employing Corbin and Strauss's grounded theory (2015), the study involved in-depth interviews with a purposively sampled group of 15 female participants in Tehran who had maintained sobriety for approximately five years and were actively leading stable lives. Data analysis revealed a central concept, three primary themes and six subthemes. Recovery capital in these women's lives encompassed aspects such as positive and negative attitudes, family support, social connections, management of loneliness and social rejection, occupational and financial stability, satisfaction with recovery, peer group affiliations, a sense of belonging, emotional release, and emotion management. The findings indicate that sustainable recovery is most achievable in the presence of strong family support, a non-judgmental work environment, and minimal exposure to blame, humiliation, or social rejection. These protective factors collectively diminish the likelihood of relapse. Participants who were employed and married demonstrated greater recovery capital and social capital, highlighting the role of these social structures in enhancing recovery.