Balancing Recovery and Professional Practice in the Context of Substance Use Services: A Qualitative Exploration

Substance use treatment services in Canada have historically relied on professionals with lived and living experience of substance use and recovery. This qualitative study explored how 22 such professionals working in one prairie province navigated the demands of their professional roles. The unique contribution of this research lies in situating those experiences within the context of health service delivery in geographically dispersed, rural communities characterized by managerial approaches and resource limitations. Findings indicate that firstly, professional maturation and longer time in the field were related to self-disclosing one's recovery status less frequently and more intentionally; secondly, burnout and stigma related to fewer confidential supports in rural community recovery networks shared with service users can unbalance one's recovery and professional roles; thirdly, the narratives of self-care, individual growth, and self-sufficiency were considered a way to overcome work-related pressures; and fourthly, participants reported using their experiential knowledge of substance use and recovery along evidence-informed practices in their professional capacity. The findings suggest the need to recognize recovery as a continuum and to provide tailored, localized supports and other specialized substance use services for substance use professionals with lived experience and living experience.