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Pathways to Recovery: Embrace Innovation

The most exciting innovation in the field of addictions is happening right now—today. It is the process of replacing an acute care model with a chronic care model and we are right in the midst of it.

Research shows that people who successfully manage their addiction as a chronic disease experience very real recovery. Based on these findings, the field of addiction treatment has developed “recovery-oriented systems of care.” We now recognize that seeing a client once or twice for a drug or alcohol problem and calling it treatment is inadequate. We acknowledge that treating clients as if chemical dependence is their fault is ineffective. Instead, we can offer an alternative to substance abuse: a higher quality of life for individuals and their families. We achieve this goal by offering clients a multitude of pathways to travel, and we call this journey recovery.