[Choice Recovery Coaching]

I recently had a conversation that inspired this question, and I believe it’s an important one to discuss — even if it can feel uncomfortable at times.

A family member, who has never personally experienced substance use but has witnessed it through my journey, shared strong opinions about Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). She expressed that she does not view individuals utilizing MOUD as being “truly in recovery” because, in her eyes, there is still dependence on a substance.

That perspective opened the door to a much larger conversation about how we define recovery.

From the perspective of someone with lived experience, recovery is often reflected in improved quality of life, restored relationships, increased stability, personal growth, safety, and overall well-being, regardless of the pathway someone takes to get there. For many individuals, MOUD and other recovery-supportive medications (MSR) can be life-saving tools that support long-term healing and reduce the risk of overdose and relapse.

At the same time, there are still many differing beliefs surrounding recovery, especially when it comes to abstinence-based approaches versus medication-supported recovery. Much of the controversy surrounding MOUD continues to stem from stigma, misinformation, and outdated ideas about what recovery is “supposed” to look like.

So the question becomes: If someone is utilizing MOUD or MSR, are they any less “in recovery,” or have we allowed outdated beliefs to shape how we view healing for others?How can we continue creating recovery spaces that honor multiple pathways, including abstinence-based recovery and medication-supported recovery, while reducing stigma and keeping the focus on dignity, safety, wellness, and sustained quality of life?

Where do you stand on this topic?