Using multiple recruiting sources to reach untapped segments of the recovery community in research

The broad construct of recovery is increasingly guiding substance use services and policy. Research on recovery remains scant, hindering service development. Studies often focus on treatment populations that represent only one ‘recovery path'. Preparatory to developing a recovery scale, we used a multi-source recruiting strategy to maximize the diversity of individuals surveyed about their recovery experiences. Recruiting was conducted via general media (e.g, Craig's List: 42%), treatment alumni groups and recovery services (17%) grassroots organizations (e.g., Faces & Voices of Recovery-31%) and word of mouth (10%). Demographics, recovery paths and definition were examined as a function of recruiting source. The sample, representing 27 US states, was diverse in race, gender, age, education and residential setting; 70% reported treatment + 12 step as their recovery path, 15% 12-step only, 3% treatment only, and 12%: neither. Key differences were observed across recruiting sources in (a) Demographics including race and age; (b) Recovery paths- e.g., 79% of those who reported neither treatment nor 12-step were media recruited while 68% of grassroots subjects had gone to treatment + 12-step; (c) Recovery definition: e.g., Significantly fewer media recruited (65%) selected total drug/alcohol abstinence as their recovery definition (vs. more moderate goals) than did persons recruited through other sources (85%). Key sample characteristics differ across recruiting sources; in particular, general media recruiting reached an untapped segment of the recovery population and may represent a cost effective strategy worth incorporating in future recovery studies to maximize the diversity of experienced surveyed.