Addiction, recovery and quality of life.

Addiction, recovery and quality of life: cross-cutting perspectives from around the globe

Although Quality of Life (QoL) has received relatively little attention in the field of addiction, this construct offers many opportunities for advancing the support, treatment and recovery of persons with addiction problems based on the subjective perspectives and experiences of these individuals. Consequently, sound theoretical, conceptual, historical, empirical and cross-cultural contributions regarding QoL and addictions are highly needed. This project will result in a Springer Handbook of Addiction and QoL Research.

Quality of life (QoL) has recently emerged as an important area of empirical interest in the addictions arena (De Maeyer, Vanderplasschen, & Broekaert, 2009; O’Sullivan, Xiao & Watts, 2019), and an essential element for defining recovery (Best, Vanderplasschen, & Nisic, 2020; Laudet, 2011). However, to date, most related research and clinical practice have been concentrated in the Global North (Armiya’u, Bamidele, Hassan & Davou, 2019). The further work needed in developing countries presents an opportunity for North-South collaboration to simultaneously strengthen capacities, leverage mutual expertise and ensure the cross-cultural suitability of the outputs towards knowledge translation. The overarching aim of the project is to develop and contribute to the research focus area of Addictions and QoL Research through a tri-continental partnership. Flowing from this aim the key objective is to submit a book proposal to the Springer Series for the publication of a Handbook of Addiction and QoL Research.