Abstract
This paper looks at the concept of recovery in addiction. Alcoholics Anonymous promoted the message of recovery as abstinence. In the 1980s, researchers started talking about the concept of recovery from mental health problems, replacing the rehabilitation model. It acknowledged the unique perspective of the individual sufferer. Four key elements were identified from the service user literature. These were Hope, Identity, Meaning in life and Empowerment. Slade and colleagues added Connection, and the CHIME model was born. The model had a major impact on mental health services. The second author co-developed C-CHIME, suggesting Creativity was also critical. Along with the first author they co-developed the G-CHIME model for addiction recovery, arguing Growth was critical for people in addiction recovery. We developed Positive Addiction Recovery Therapy, based on the G-CHIME model. We suggested G-CHIME and recovery protection, are of value in addiction. This work offers more than ‘bringing coals to Newcastle,’ as it provides a positive way forward for an often negative field. Both authors are in recovery from alcohol addiction, which offers a unique perspective. The paper moves from academic to the personal and utilises collaborative autoethnography to bridge the personal and the academic and clinical.