"Being here is saving my life": Resident experiences of living in recovery residences for people taking medication for an opioid use disorder

Kathryn R Gallardo; J Michael Wilkerson; Hannah L N Stewart; I Niles Zoschke; Cameron Fredriksen Isaacs; Sheryl A McCurdy

doi:10.1016/j.josat.2023.209242

"Being here is saving my life": Resident experiences of living in recovery residences for people taking medication for an opioid use disorder

J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2024 Mar:158:209242. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209242. Epub 2023 Dec 6.

Authors

Kathryn R Gallardo¹, J Michael Wilkerson², Hannah L N Stewart², I Niles Zoschke², Cameron Fredriksen Isaacs², Sheryl A McCurdy²

Affiliations

¹ The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, United States of America. Electronic address: Kathryn.R.Gallardo@uth.tmc.edu.
² The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, United States of America.

PMID: 38061632
DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209242

Abstract

Introduction: Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are an effective treatment for addressing opioid use disorder. Despite MOUD's demonstrated effectiveness, MOUD-related stigma is prevalent throughout many recovery communities and subsequently limits persons taking MOUD access to recovery supports, including recovery housing. While recovery residences that serve people taking MOUD could be a critical recovery support, they are limited in number and understudied.

Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with 47 residents in medication-assisted recovery (MAR) living in 11 Texas-based recovery residences serving people taking MOUD to characterize residents' experiences and understand the impact that these homes had on their recovery.

Results: We found that many participants could not previously access recovery housing and other recovery supports due to MOUD-related stigma, thus recovery homes that supported people in MAR were considered a groundbreaking opportunity. Recovery residences provided participants with a space in which they did not feel judged for taking MOUD, which facilitated participants' connections with their fellow housemates. Subsequently, participants no longer had to hide their MAR pathway and could be transparent about taking MOUD among their recovery residence community. Last, recovery homes provided a supportive environment in which participants' internalized MOUD-related stigma could evolve into acceptance of their MAR pathway.

Conclusions: Recovery residences that serve people in MAR provide a supportive, safe, nonjudgmental recovery environment in which residents develop relationships with other peers taking MOUD, share openly about their MAR, and are empowered to embrace their recovery pathway. These findings highlight the need for more recovery residences that are supportive of people taking MOUD as part of their recovery.

Keywords: Medication for opioid use disorder; Medication-assisted recovery; Opioid use disorder; Recovery residences; Sober living; Stigma.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Emotions
Housing*
Humans
Opioid-Related Disorders* / drug therapy
Peer Group
Social Stigma