Building recovery capital through an integrated educational and fitness substance use programme: a patient and public involvement (PPI) approach

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine how an integrated substance use educational and fitness programme, Boxing Clever, can help to cultivate recovery capital (RC) for individuals currently or historically engaged in problematic substance use. Design/methodology/approach A Patient and Public Involvement Public Patient Involvement approach underpinned by qualitative inquiry informed this study design. The sample consisted of eight focus groups with (N = 32) individuals, inclusive of past participants, peer mentors and professionals. Data were subjected to content analysis and further analysed using the RC model of personal, social and community capital. Findings The findings are supportive of Boxing Clever helping participants to cultivate RC across the three components of personal, social and community capital. The findings further describe how intertwined each component is. This was especially pronounced in how community capital helped participants to foster personal capital through access to community resources, and in the development of feelings of belongingness, connection and an emerging new identity. The benefits appeared especially pronounced for participants engaging with the programme within their own community. Originality/value An integrated educational and fitness substance use programme embedded in the community can help foster RC. Findings are discussed with relevance to theory, practice and policy.