Recovery in mental health and substance misuse services: a commentary on recent policy development in the United Kingdom

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which the two visions of recovery that are now being developed in the UK are consistent with each other and question what impact the development of parallel approaches will have on people at the intersections between them. esign/methodology/approach - The paper looks first at the origins and current implementation of the two approaches and then examines the commonalities and differences in the context of what they might mean for people using both sets of services simultaneously. Findings - The ideas behind Recovery in mental health and substance misuse services have some differences but significant common ground in focusing on improving quality of life. Research limitations/implications - This paper points to the need to understand recovery in both services from the perspectives of those who have a dual diagnosis and need support from each service. Practical implications - This paper could be used to develop new approaches to supporting people with a dual diagnosis with a consistent Recovery focus. Originality/value - Placing personal recovery at the heart of both mental health and substance misuse services may, over time, improve their efficiency and effectiveness.