1. Recovery as an issue of citizenship and social inclusion
Professor David Best
Sheffield Hallam University / Monash University

2. The central values of the centre: widening access to justice
promotion of human rights
ethics in legal practice
overcoming social injustice
enabling desistance and recovery
promoting criminal justice accountability
@SHULawCrim

3. Basic premise of the presentation
If we engage in disintegrative shaming, we create a society of exclusion and division
If we engage in reintegrative shaming, we have a fairer and more equitable community
But it is our choice - and that means professionals, neighbours and family members......

4. Better than well? Best, 2014; Hibbert and Best , 2011)

6. Recovery studies in Birmingham and Glasgow (Best et al, 2011a; Best et al, 2011b)
More time spent with other people in recovery
More time in the last week spent:
Childcare
Engaging in community groups
Volunteering
Education or training
Employment

7. Mapping the associations between social network factors and treatment outcomes: Melbourne Youth Cohort Study (Best et al, 2016)
Proportion of users in network
Number of friends
R=-0.05, ns
R=-0.49***
R=0.36***
R=0.33**
R=0.29**
R=0.30
R=-0.35***
Social dysfunction
Offending
Substance use (n of substance types)
Life satisfaction
Psychological distress

8. REC-CONNECT COMMUNITY CONNECTORS
Building local pathways to community capital, social capital and connectedness to improve wellbeing outcomes: A pilot project to build professional networks in local communities

9. Assets: recreation and sport

10. Assets: mutual aid

11. Assets: peer and community support

12. Assets: volunteering, education and employment

13. Public perceptions of addicts – Phillips and Shaw (2013)
Social distance study using vignettes
Four populations: smokers, obese people, active and recovering addicts
Addicts most discriminated against
US population generally do not believe in ‘recovery’
This is negative recovery capital, particularly if it is true of professionals

14. Phillips and Shaw
“Individuals who are actively using substances and even individuals in remission from substance misuse are still targets of significant stigma and social distancing.”

15. Extending the stigma research to trainee professionals
303 criminal justice and allied health students across all three years at Sheffield Hallam
Liaised with Lindsay Phillips about vignettes
Amended to four new populations active or recovering / desisting:
Heroin addicts
Alcoholics
Violent drinkers
Child offenders

16. Social distance scores for four key groups

17. Social Identity Model of Recovery

18. Conclusion Rehabilitation is a social contract
It is not without risks but its rewards are shared and cumulative
Prejudice and exclusion are self-perpetuating and damage communities
Active citizenship is the connection that builds communities and society