Beyond Abstinence: Building a Recovery Plan That Actually Works

For years, addiction treatment in the United States relied on a single expectation: achieve abstinence, and the rest will follow. But modern research, and the lived experiences of thousands of BrightView Health patients, proves that recovery is far more nuanced, personal, and dynamic. It’s not a single destination. It’s a process of improvement in health, stability, purpose, and connection.

At BrightView Health, we combine medical expertise, national guidelines, and compassionate support to help individuals find the path that truly works for them. And that expertise matters: the evidence is clear that people succeed when treatment is tailored, accessible, and judgment-free.

Abstinence: One Path, Not the Only Path

“Abstinence” is one of the most debated terms in the addiction field. At its simplest, it means not using substance, but even that varies. Some people define abstinence as avoiding substances they’ve used problematically in the past. Others extend it to any illegal, addictive, or psychoactive substance. Some include nicotine or caffeine. Some include certain prescribed medications.

Because of this variation, abstinence cannot be the sole measure of whether a person is “in recovery.”

As Dr. Gilbert Schmidt, one of BrightView’s state medical directors, explains: “Recovery is about restoring health and stability, not about checking a single box. For many people, abstinence is a goal. For others, it’s one piece of a broader journey.”

This perspective aligns with leading authorities like SAMHSA and ASAM, which define recovery as a process of change, not a single behavioral outcome.

BrightView’s Expert Framework for Recovery

BrightView’s care model is built around SAMHSA’s four major dimensions of recovery, dimensions we reinforce through every program, every center, every interaction:

1. Health: Managing symptoms, reducing harm, and improving physical and emotional well-being. This includes evidence-based practices such as medication for opioid and alcohol use disorders, counseling, and peer support.
2. Home: A stable, safe place to live. Case managers help patients secure housing resources, food assistance, transportation, and vital care connections.
3. Purpose: Daily activities that bring meaning: work, school, creativity, caregiving, faith, or community roles. Our teams help patients rebuild routines and restore identity.
4. Community: Supportive relationships that encourage hope and resilience. BrightView centers create welcoming environments where connection drives healing.

These aren’t abstract ideals – they’re outcomes we see every day.

Personalized Treatment: The BrightView Way

While many programs still offer rigid, abstinence-first approaches, BrightView leads with a flexible, individualized model grounded in science and compassion:

Immediate access. Same-day appointments, walk-ins welcomed, and rapid connection to care.

Full continuum of outpatient services. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), therapy, individual and group counseling, case management, peer support, and harm-reduction tools.

Trauma-informed & judgment-free. Our teams treat addiction as a medical disease — not a moral failing.

Plans that evolve. As a patient’s health and goals change, their treatment changes with them. Recovery becomes a partnership, not a prescription.

This approach offers one of the highest success rates in the field. Research shows that people who engage in medication plus counseling are 3–4 times more likely to sustain long-term recovery compared to those receiving abstinence-only support.

What Sets BrightView Apart?

BrightView’s leadership in the addiction space is more than reputation – it is backed by data, outcomes, and expertise.

Measurable Patient Outcomes

Across tens of thousands of patients:

• Overdose risk drops significantly upon entering MAT.
• Health and stability increase steadily the longer patients remain engaged.
• Patients report high satisfaction with the dignity and respect they receive.

Recognized Clinical Authority

BrightView’s medical directors, clinicians, and peer recovery staff regularly train community partners, law enforcement, and healthcare organizations in evidence-based practices.

Community Impact

We collaborate with hospitals, courts, EMS teams, and social service networks to ensure people in crisis receive immediate, effective care.

A Model That Works and Is Being Replicated

Our approach has been shared with state agencies, policy leaders, and community partners nationwide, helping raise the standard for outpatient addiction care.

More Than Abstinence: A Life Rebuilt

Recovery is not defined by what someone avoids, but by what they gain:

• A stable place to live.
• A meaningful daily routine.
• Stronger relationships.
• Improved health.
• A sense of purpose and possibility.

Abstinence may be part of that growth for many people, but it is not the only measure of healing. BrightView focuses on the whole person, not a single behavior.

As one of our peer recovery specialists, Missy Adams, puts it: “Recovery is about becoming who you were meant to be, with support, with dignity, with hope, one step at a time.”

When You’re Ready, BrightView Is Ready

If you or someone you love is ready to start a path toward recovery, BrightView’s expert teams are here to help. There is no wrong door, no judgment, and no requirement to know exactly what your journey will look like. We’ll walk alongside you — every step of the way.

Learn more at brightviewhealth.com or reach out anytime. Help is always available.