About this Research Topic

Background

Mental and behavioral health disorders, including addiction, greatly contribute to premature morbidity and mortality rates in the US. The years 2015-2017 marked the first year-on-year decline in lifespan since the early 20th century, driven by excessive alcohol use, suicide, and a significant increase in fatal overdoses since 1999. The systems and services for addressing addiction and mental health conditions are fragmented, difficult to access, and insufficiently understood. However, these disorders are preventable, easily screened, impacted by social determinants, amenable to treatment, and influenced by various systems, services, and policies. Contrary to popular belief, a recent nationally representative study revealed that the majority of individuals with substance use disorder have a high likelihood of recovering successfully. Nevertheless, there is still much to learn in terms of support services, their operation, network structures, payment methods, measurement criteria, workforce preparation, and more.

This Research Topic aims to delve into the expanding field of recovery science, exploring the various aspects and strategies for successful recovery from addiction and mental health disorders. Topics to be explored include, but are not limited to:

• The impact of social factors such as socioeconomic status, access to healthcare – particularly in rural areas, and community support on recovery outcomes.
• Innovative treatment approaches such as cutting-edge therapies, interventions, and technologies that are revolutionizing the field of recovery science.
• The importance of individualized treatment plans tailored to each person's unique needs, preferences, and circumstances.
• The integration of physical, emotional, and psychological well-being in recovery journeys, including the benefits of complementary therapies.
• The significance of ongoing support systems, recovery communities, and aftercare programs in sustaining long-term recovery and preventing relapse.
• Alternative evidence-based approaches to recovery, such as the use of ketogenic diets, physical exercise, and policies that increase access to recovery support services, minimize harm, incarceration, and other negative social and health impacts of addiction.
• The role of advocacy movements, policy changes, and public perception in shifting the narrative around addiction and mental health, facilitating greater support for recovery.

The collection is open to the following article types: Brief Research Report, Classification, Clinical Trial, Community Case Study, Data Report, Hypothesis & Theory, Methods, Original Research, Policy Brief, Policy and Practice Reviews, Review, and Systematic Review. We seek to highlight the latest research, evidence-based practices, and innovative approaches that contribute to long-term recovery outcomes and inform future treatments and interventions. Ongoing research in this field promises exciting developments and a brighter future for addiction and mental health disorder recovery.

Ashli J. Sheidow is a co-owner of Arena EBP, which provides web-based training and quality assurance for Contingency Management (CM), and Science to Practice Group, which provides training and quality assurance for Multisystemic Therapy for Emerging Adults (MST-EA). There is a management plan in place to ensure this conflict does not jeopardize the objectivity of research. Papers for the special issue are unlikely to have relevant content, but she will not make decisions on any related papers. Dr. Blum’s companies own many patents issued and pending related to the treatment and identification of reward deficiency syndrome. The patents relate to the genetic addiction risk severity (GARS) test and a pro-dopamine regulator known as KB220. He owns gene editing patents as well.The other Topic Editors declare no other competing interests in relation to this topic theme.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Recovery science, addiction, mental health, recovery, treatment, innovative interventions, holistic recovery, measurement, recovery ecosystem, thriving

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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