Research to Recovery 2025

This panel will explore the challenges and opportunities involved for family members working to support their loved ones in recovery from addiction.  The panel will include parent/child, sibling, peer recovery support specialist and community support perspective all from a place of lived experience.  

A brief overview of Oxford House's history and model, a discussion of research on Oxford House specifically and recovery residences more generally. A discussion of best practices as informed by the research and certification standards (Oxford House, Inc. and National Alliance of Recovery Residences). A brief overview of current recovery residence legislation/regulation and its relationship to research.

In this presentation, we introduce Recovery Dharma (RD), a Buddhist-inspired mutual-aid program for addiction recovery,  highlighting its relevance and potential application in collegiate recovery settings. Based on a research study with 209 RD members, the session will delve into the core aspects of RD, including its focus on mindfulness, meditation, and emotional regulation.  Attendees will learn about RD's unique approach to addiction recovery, catering to a diverse range of addictions and not limited to specific substances like traditional mutual help organizations (MHOs; e.g., AA or NA). We will discuss RD's demographics, with significant representation from the LGBTQ2S+ community, and its practices encompassing meditation, mindfulness, and emotion regulation. In this session, we aim to equip students, educators, counselors, and program facilitators with comprehensive knowledge about RD, empowering them to consider it as a support option for individuals navigating recovery.

While the peer support profession was not official recognized in Virginia until 2016, people with lived experience have been integral to care for individuals with substance use disorders throughout the history of addiction treatment.  This panel will explore the wisdom of professionals who utilized their lived experience as critical part of care since long before peers could become certified in Virginia.  The panel will also explore the individual, organizational and systemic challenges and opportunities of a rapidly growing profession, and how to train and support Professional Peers within addiction treatment and recovery support services.

Join us as we come together to honor the strength, resilience, and growth of those in the recovery community, along with the allies who walk beside us in support. Our Recovery Celebration Lunch will feature a delicious meal catered by Midnight Soulfood & Catering, a heartfelt recognition of our recovery allies, and a recovery time countdown to celebrate milestones and progress.