The Power, Capacity, and Resiliency of Women in Substance Use Disorder Recovery to Overcome Multiple and Complex Housing Transitions

Journal article


Patton, D. 2024. The Power, Capacity, and Resiliency of Women in Substance Use Disorder Recovery to Overcome Multiple and Complex Housing Transitions. Social Sciences. 13 (4), pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13040206
AuthorsPatton, D.
Abstract

Gendered understandings of housing transitions amongst women and especially amongst those in substance use disorder recovery are under-researched. To address this gap, this study explores the multifaceted challenges and pathways to housing stability amongst women in substance use disorder recovery in the UK. Through qualitative analysis of life course interviews with 15 women in recovery, it becomes evident that housing insecurity, instability, and frequent transitions are common experiences. The women in the sample faced housing instability, ranging from temporary supported accommodations to homelessness. Notably, escaping negative relationships with male partners emerged as a primary cause of homelessness among these women. What this article highlights, which has not been found elsewhere to date, is that housing transitions are essentially a social process for women in recovery. This study highlights the social dimension of housing transitions. The potency of social capital and social networks in determining housing stability and security amongst women is emphasised as they exchange negative forms of social capital for positive forms of social capital. Recommendations stemming from this study include the need for drug recovery and housing policies to integrate gender-specific strategies to adequately support women in recovery. Further, they need to adopt a broader perspective, emphasizing the importance of fostering positive social connections and networks when considering housing options for individuals in recovery. For women who have spent a long time in supported residential and therapeutic environments, there is a need to develop a scaffolded support system to help women transition to independent living. The utilisation of recovery capital (and CHIME) as frameworks may provide a basis upon which to map out holistic and sustainable pathways to housing stability and security for women in recovery due to their acknowledgement of interconnected and related life domains that produce change and transformation.

Keywordswomen; gender ; housing transitions ; social capital
Year2024
JournalSocial Sciences
Journal citation13 (4), pp. 1-18
PublisherMDPI
ISSN 2076-0760
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13040206
Web address (URL)https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/4/206
FunderNIHR
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online10 Apr 2024
Publication process dates
Deposited09 May 2024
Permalink -

https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/q6414/the-power-capacity-and-resiliency-of-women-in-substance-use-disorder-recovery-to-overcome-multiple-and-complex-housing-transitions

Download files


Publisher's version
socsci-13-00206-v2.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 39
    total views
  • 12
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

A cluster analysis of European life in recovery data: what are the typical patterns of recovery experience?
Best, D., Sondhi, A., Patton, D., Abreu, V. and Nisic, M. 2024. A cluster analysis of European life in recovery data: what are the typical patterns of recovery experience? Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy. pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2024.2311841
Assessing a Pilot Scheme of Intensive Support and Assertive Linkage in Levels of Engagement, Retention, and Recovery Capital for People in Recovery Housing using Quasi-Experimental Methods
Belanger, M. J., Sondhi, A., Mericle, A. A., Leidi, A., Klein, M., Collinson, B,, Patton, D., White, W., Chen, H., Grimes, A., Conner, M., De Triquet, B. and Best, D. 2024. Assessing a Pilot Scheme of Intensive Support and Assertive Linkage in Levels of Engagement, Retention, and Recovery Capital for People in Recovery Housing using Quasi-Experimental Methods. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2023.209283
Motivations for Change in Drug Addiction Recovery: Turning Points as the Antidotes to the Pains of Recovery
Patton, D. and Best, D. 2022. Motivations for Change in Drug Addiction Recovery: Turning Points as the Antidotes to the Pains of Recovery. Journal of Drug Issues. pp. 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220426221140887
Differences in addiction and recovery gains according to gender – gender barriers and specific differences in overall strengths growth
Abreu, V., Best, D., Brown, L., Patton, D. and Vanderplasschen , W 2022. Differences in addiction and recovery gains according to gender – gender barriers and specific differences in overall strengths growth. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy. 17 (21), pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-022-00444-8
Overcoming the pains of recovery: the management of negative recovery capital during addiction recovery pathways
Patton, D., Best, D. and Brown, L. 2022. Overcoming the pains of recovery: the management of negative recovery capital during addiction recovery pathways. Addiction Research and Theory. pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2022.2039912
Recovery Communities: Resources & Settings
Best, D., Hargreaves, C, Hodgson, P. and Patton, D. 2021. Recovery Communities: Resources & Settings. in: Tucker, J. A. and Witkiewitz, K. (ed.) Dynamic Pathways to Recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder Cambridge Cambridge University Press. pp. 303 - 316
Desistance: A utopian perspective
Patton, David and Farrall, Stephen 2021. Desistance: A utopian perspective. Howard Journal of Crime & Justice. https://doi.org/10.1111/hojo.12406
Navigating drugs at university: normalization, differentiation & drift?
Patton, David 2018. Navigating drugs at university: normalization, differentiation & drift? Safer Communities. https://doi.org/10.1108/SC-01-2018-0002
The need for new criminal justice & criminological approaches to end the ‘War on Terror’
Patton, David 2016. The need for new criminal justice & criminological approaches to end the ‘War on Terror’. Diplomacy and the politics of fear: the 21st century challenges to the theory and practice of Diplomacy and International Relations.