Recovery Capital Is Associated with a Greater Likelihood of NIAAA-Defined Recovery for Adults with Prior Alcohol Problems

Background: The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) finalized a definition of alcohol use disorder (AUD) recovery requiring (1) remission from DSM-5 AUD symptoms except craving and (2) cessation of heavy drinking. The literature suggests that recovery capital, which encapsulates the resources that influence substance use recovery, is an important determinant of AUD recovery outcomes. However, little research has examined potential relationships between recovery capital and the NIAAA recovery definition. Objectives: This study examined associations between recovery capital and NIAAA-defined recovery. Data were drawn from a project that developed and tested a new recovery capital measure, the Multidimensional Inventory of Recovery Capital. Participants self-identifying as having resolved a prior alcohol problem for at least 30 days (N = 477, 49% cisgender female, M_age = 42.6 years) completed surveys assessing recovery capital, heavy drinking (per NIAAA guidelines), and DSM-5 AUD symptoms. Logistic regression modeling examined associations between recovery capital scores and the odds of meeting the NIAAA recovery criteria. Results: Most of the sample (80.3%) met both NIAAA recovery criteria. Total recovery capital scores were associated with greater odds of NIAAA recovery (OR = 1.61; p =.001). When examined separately, individual recovery capital domains were differentially associated with NIAAA recovery depending on recovery duration. Conclusion: Overall, findings suggest that greater recovery capital may be linked to a greater likelihood of meeting NIAAA recovery criteria.