These recovery profiles were created with Harbour Ayrshire and people who have experience of recovery from alcohol or drug use, either personally or through supporting a family member. They are profiles based on real stories and experiences shared by people who have lived through addiction and recovery.
The profiles help us understand the different reasons people join recovery communities, the strengths they bring, the challenges they face, and the support they need.
Each profile uses the CHIME framework, which describes five important parts of recovery:
- Connectedness – feeling linked to other people
- Hope – believing that things can get better
- Identity – building a positive sense of who you are
- Meaning – finding purpose in life
- Empowerment – feeling confident and in control
The profiles show how these parts of recovery can look in everyday life. They help us understand what supports recovery, what can make recovery harder, and what is important to different people.
They also show that recovery does not happen alone – it grows through relationships, support, being included, and rebuilding lives.
Please send us an email at his.alcoholanddrugs@nhs.scot if you:
- have a question about our programme or resources
- would like to speak to a member of our team about our work
For individuals and families seeking recovery
People who took part in this work said these profiles could help individuals and families talk about their recovery experiences. They can support better understanding and meaningful conversations with others.
Participants also felt the profiles could give hope to people who are new to recovery by showing what recovery can look like.
For treatment professionals and treatment system
These profiles aim to create a shared understanding of recovery. They are based on the CHIME framework and can help professionals talk about recovery in a clear and consistent way.
They also help staff understand a person’s strengths, goals, challenges, and support needs, leading to more meaningful conversations from the start.
For policy makers and service designers
The profiles present real-life experiences in a simple and easy-to-understand format, providing off the shelf material. They help show the impact of addiction, recovery, and family support beyond numbers and statistics.
By using the CHIME framework, they highlight the importance of connection, hope, identity, meaning, and empowerment alongside treatment and support services.
They also show that men, women, and families may have different needs, helping service planners design support that is flexible, trauma-informed, and inclusive rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.