Sammendrag
Purpose – The co-occurrence of mental health and substance use problems is prevalent, and has been
problematic both in terms of its complexity for the person and of the challenges it poses to health care
practitioners. Recovery in co-occurring mental health and substance use problems is viewed as with
multiple challenges embedded in it. As most of the existing literature on recovery tends to treat recovery in
mental health and substance use problems separately, it is critical to assess the nature of our current
understanding of what has been described as “complex” or “dual” recovery. The purpose of this paper is to
identify and discuss what persons with co-occurring mental health and substance use problems describe
as facilitators and barriers in their recovery process as revealed in the literature.
Design/methodology/approach – The method used for this study was a small-scale review of the
literature gleaned from a wider general view. Searches were conducted in CINAHL, Psych info, Medline,
Embase, SweMedþ, and NORART.
Findings – Three overarching themes were identified as facilitators of dual recovery: first, meaningful
everyday life; second, focus on strengths and future orientation; and third, re-establishing a social life and
supportive relationships. Two overarching themes were identified as barriers to dual recovery: first, lack of
tailored help and second, complex systems and uncoordinated services.
Originality/value – The recovery literature mostly focuses on recovery in mental health and substance use
problems separately, with less attention being paid in the first-person literature to what helps and what
hinders dual recovery.
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