Recovery from addiction is a long and difficult process. A sense of belonging and acceptance can provide a strong foundation for rehabilitation. It can help combat the isolation that increases the risk of relapse and creates a safe space where clients feel supported and understood. Feeling accepted by a community can reduce feelings of shame and guilt while increasing accountability and building self-esteem.
Addiction treatment centers are ideally placed to provide that crucial sense of belonging and acceptance alongside professional treatment, helping give patients the best chance of recovery.
What do we mean by a sense of belonging?
Belonging goes beyond concepts of representation and inclusion to focus on the core emotions that patients feel. In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a pyramid demonstrating the core necessities that motivate human behavior, belongingness is positioned at the third level of human needs after psychological and safety needs.
A sense of belonging is a subjective feeling but can be described as feeling accepted for who you are and being able to express your thoughts, opinions, and emotions freely. A belonging environment means having your voice heard and valued, and feeling empowered to share your personal perspectives. It is this sense of connection and community that can offer clients a support system when they need it most.
Belongingness also means equal access to opportunities and resources, which is of particular concern in healthcare, with research showing discrimination across the lines of race, sexual orientation and identity. Any client, no matter who they are, should be able to access the services and support they need to ensure their recovery.
Why is it important to feel accepted?
Minoritized groups can experience increased levels of drug use and addiction. Research shows elevated illicit drug use among multiracial people, with family discrimination thought to play a role, while scientific studies also link sexual orientation with an increased likelihood of SUDs.
This sense of othering and non-acceptance can also affect access to treatment and treatment outcomes. According to a 2024 survey by KFF, a leading health policy organization, BIPOC adults suffered higher levels of unfair treatment and felt more disrespected by healthcare providers than their white counterparts.
Further research into LGBTQ+ patients being treated for SUDs also documented reports of bullying, name-calling, sexual harassment, and social distancing by their peers during treatment.
Traditional SUD programs often lack cross-cultural training and may have language barriers and implicit biases that impact BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals. This can affect access and clients’ comfort levels in seeking treatment.
The benefits of belonging
Creating a feeling of belonging is a powerful way to combat isolation and shame, while a supportive community can help build self-worth and confidence.
Research into the importance of social support in recovery looked at recovery homes to track how clients felt. Scientists found that all support measures were considered significant and positive, from friends and family to relationships with others abstaining from substance abuse and support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Not only does that support help clients remain in treatment longer, it can also lead to better recovery outcomes.
Further studies into social support also found that it can help reduce cravings and relapse behaviors, as well as enhancing the quality of life for people struggling with addiction.
When it comes to treatment for SUDs, feelings of isolation can be a major trigger for relapse. Loneliness, depression, and a lack of support can set people back on their recovery from addiction, while creating a sense of belonging helps people to feel accountable to the group and their own personal recovery goals.
Moreover, a supportive community can help rebuild self-worth and confidence, which are both essential for long-term recovery from addiction. Meanwhile, shared experiences and stories of resilience can be extremely powerful in demonstrating that recovery is possible.
Creating a sense of belonging through community building can help close treatment gaps and ensure that everyone feels represented and respected while in recovery. Individuals who feel respected, valued and empowered can enjoy a sense of self-agency, enabling them to protect themselves from the influences of negative relationships.
How to create a culture of belonging
Addiction treatment centers play a vital role in creating communities and enhancing a sense of belonging when treating clients. From gender and social orientation to race, class and gender, addiction affects everyone and everyone deserves to feel a sense of belonging in recovery. The National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors has created a guide to cultural considerations in addiction treatment. And to ensure a truly welcoming space, you can also consider the following:
Competent staff, safe spaces
Train staff about the nuances of different backgrounds and cultures, giving them a deeper understanding and awareness of the diverse needs related to recovery and addiction. Also focus on creating a safe space for people to share their addiction recovery stories, challenges, and successes. This space should inspire open dialogue and active listening, with no room for judgment.
Respect and empathy
Cultivate a positive workplace environment and encourage respectful and empathetic communication among clients and staff. Provide a selection of programs and support groups that address a variety of needs, including cultural, religious, spiritual, and gender identities. Support groups can be established for clients based on language and culture, race or sexual orientation, in a way that promotes a true sense of belonging.
Embrace diverse cultural needs
Show appreciation for all aspects of a diverse community. Examples include creating a diversity and inclusion committee, implementing diverse hiring processes, celebrating diverse cultural holidays and providing all recovery center materials and communications in a variety of languages and formats.
Encourage autonomy
Empower clients to actively participate in decisions regarding their treatment planning, giving them agency and respecting their autonomy. Create a collaborative approach to treatment planning and keep clients involved in decision-making when it comes to their recovery and addiction treatment.
Open communication
Ensuring a sense of belonging for all means keeping all communication channels open. Invite feedback from clients and be sure to act upon it. Eliminating all instances of discrimination and microaggressions can be challenging, so if they occur, make sure they are dealt with swiftly and effectively.
A trauma-informed approach
Recognize that there is a high prevalence of trauma among all individuals with SUD, but even higher among BIPOC clients with SUD, and create a safe and supportive environment that avoids re-traumatization. Work to understand the source of their trauma, whether it is racism and systemic discrimination, violence, family conflict, injury or abuse, and tailor treatment to each unique circumstance.
