Journeys from addiction to recovery.

Addiction affects us all. It has wide-reaching consequences for the individual, the family, and society as a whole. This article attempts to assist providers and addicts in understanding the road to recovery. Transformation from addiction to recovery is best explained by recovering addicts themselves. In this qualitative study, nine participants describe their experiences with long-term recovery. The transtheoretical model of change (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983) was combined with Mezirow's (1997) transformative learning theory to structure a framework that highlights the transition of these individuals as they moved from addiction to recovery. This new combination model can be used to anticipate behavior, support, and encourage patients in the change from active addiction to a healthier lifestyle without drugs and alcohol.