Journey to wellness: A socioecological analysis of veterans in recovery from substance use disorders.

Substance use disorders are increasingly prevalent among veterans in the United States. Veterans in recovery face unique challenges, such as high rates of psychiatric comorbidities, difficulties adjusting to civilian life, and inadequate housing and mental health services. While prior research has explored veterans' experiences in recovery, studies have not implemented a multilevel perspective in their analyses. The current qualitative study examined how individual veteran experiences intersect with interpersonal and systemic factors. Semistructured focus groups were conducted with veterans who were former or current residents of recovery homes (N = 20). Thematic analysis was utilized to explore veterans' personal experiences through the CHIME-D framework (connectedness, hope & optimism, identity, meaning in life, empowerment, and difficulties). The data were further analyzed within a socioecological model (intrapersonal, interpersonal, and community). Each component of the CHIME-D framework was salient across all focus groups, with connectedness, empowerment, and difficulties being the most prominent themes that occurred across all socioecological levels. Results suggest that recovery initiatives can effectively assist veterans by promoting empowerment, facilitating social connections, and addressing cooccurring difficulties across multiple socioecological contexts. Additionally, treatment programs should encourage veterans to take on meaningful roles in their communities. Future research should continue to explore veterans' recovery experiences using a socioecological model.

"This Program Helped Save Our Lives so We All Can Bond over That": A Preliminary Study of the First Oxford House Collegiate Recovery Home.

College settings can be challenging environments for students recovering from substance use disorder. Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRP) have emerged on college campuses across the United States to help mitigate the risks recovering students face and to promote academic and recovery success. The current article describes the first collegiate recovery home to follow an Oxford House [OH] model, established at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In the present preliminary study, qualitative data were utilized to explore the strengths and challenges of this recovery model and students' experiences in the OH collegiate recovery home. Key stakeholders in the creation of this collegiate recovery home (n =2), as well as current and former student participants (n = 6), were interviewed. The key stake-holders' interviews revealed insights on the home's creation, modifications made from the traditional OH model, and the challenges faced in implementing a collegiate recovery home. Rapid qualitative analysis of the interviews of residents revealed salient themes that describe students' experiences within the collegiate recovery home: (1) resident social support, (2) connection to the student body, (3) anonymous status of the house, (4) lifestyle, (5) optimism, (6) self-independence, (7) Collegiate OH is essential for sobriety, and (8) UNC involvement and oversight. The implications of these findings for collegiate recovery homes are discussed, as well as suggestions for future studies.

"It's like a Brotherhood": Thematic analysis of veterans' identity processes in substance abuse recovery homes.

This exploratory study aimed to understand how veterans' social identity influenced their experiences living in Oxford Houses (OH)-the largest network of substance use recovery homes in the United States. We conducted three focus groups, with 20 veterans who were current or former OH residents. Thematic analysis revealed several ways in which participants' veteran identity influenced their experiences living in OH, including: (1) thriving through OH organizational similarities with the military, (2) relationships with other OH residents, and (3) and growth and reintegration. The themes were interpreted using the Social Identity Theory and the Social Identity Model of Identity Change perspectives. Social identity processes were found to play an influential role in veterans' experiences in their recovery homes and reintegration into civilian life. Findings highlight the importance of veterans developing a community within a culturally congruent setting to facilitate their recovery from substance use disorders and adjustment to life post-military service.