Self-Care in Addiction Recovery: A Scoping Review

Substance use disorders are a major threat to the health and quality of life of individuals. Self-care is a strategy that affects health promotion and can be relevant in relapse prevention, as well as contribute to recovery in substance use disorders. This study aims to explore the diverse meanings of self-care and the interventions that aligned with self-care approaches for individuals recovering from substance use disorders. A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Studies published between 2014 and 2023 that explored self-care (practices, definitions, or interventions) in adults (+18) undergoing treatment for substance use disorders, regardless of co-occurring mental health conditions and across diverse cultural, geographical, and healthcare contexts, using various study designs were searched in CINHAL, Web of Science, Scopus, Psicodoc, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and reference lists, using MeSH terms “Self Care” and “Substance-Related Disorders”, and free terms “addictions”, “addiction treatment”, “self care concept”, “interventions”, and “treatment”. Thirty articles were included in the final review. The meanings of self-care are related to physical, behavioural, interpersonal, psychological and social levels. The variety of approaches and the integration of strategies such as mindfulness and cognitive-behavioural group therapy highlight the importance of self-care in substance use disorders. Self-care is a key part of the recovery process and should be tailored to each person's unique experiences and needs. There is a need for consistent support in the implementation of self-care strategies, in addition to creating interventions that address the complex lives of the specific populations.