What Is Recovery?

Katie Witkiewitz, Kevin S. Montes, Frank J. Schwebel, and Jalie A. Tucker

From Benjamin Rush to the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Americans have long debated the definition of recovery from alcohol use disorder. Although the debate continues, a consensus is forming that recovery is a dynamic process with multiple pathways and may not always include abstinence. In this literature review, Katie Witkiewitz and colleagues examine the latest research on the recovery construct and the importance of including functioning and general well-being in one’s definition of recovery.