1. Home
  2. Program Models
  3. Recovery Reinvented

Recovery Reinvented

An ongoing anti-stigma campaign in North Dakota provides public education to the general population and resources for those in recovery

Initiated in 2017 by the Governor's Office of North Dakota, Recovery Reinvented (RR) seeks to reduce addiction stigma and support recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) and other addictions by conducting public education and addressing the causes of stigma. The program hosts an annual event involving multiple stakeholders to promote the disease model of addiction, share strategies to combat stigma, and disseminate information on recovery resources available in the state. 

The RR website provides links to treatment programs, including those offering medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) such as buprenorphine and methadone. It also lists recovery resources and toolkits and opportunities for individuals and communities to participate in recovery activities such as family support groups, training to become a peer support specialist, and becoming a recovery community organization (RCO).

An 2021 report by RR in collaboration with the University of North Dakota and the Addiction Policy Forum analyses data from an annual survey about addiction stigma and its correlates, finding that stigma in North Dakota decreased from 2018 to 2021, even as misperceptions about OUD and MOUD persist. 

By helping to normalize conversation about addiction, Recovery Reinvented reduces the stigma surrounding it and enables people to reach out for help when they are in crisis.

Continuum of Care
Treatment
Recovery
Type of Evidence
Report with evaluation
Response Approach
Educational
Family Support
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Peer-reviewed Article
North Dakota Stigma Survey
Related Resources
Anti-Stigma Toolkit: A Guide to Reducing Addiction-Related Stigma
Stigma as a Fundamental Hindrance to the United States Opioid Overdose Crisis Response
Understanding Drug-Related Stigma: Tools for Better Practice and Social Change
The Effectiveness of Interventions for Reducing Stigma Related to Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Review
Words Matter: How Language Choice Can Reduce Stigma
Stigma Reduction to Combat the Addiction Crisis — Developing an Evidence Base
COVID-19 During the Opioid Epidemic – Exacerbation of Stigma and Vulnerabilities
Stigma, Discrimination, and Substance Use
f6f10d_3fe41daf9c0a4b818e79b878bef6ff0c.pdf

Evidence of Program Effectiveness

An independent evaluation in North Dakota found that addiction stigma has been decreasing in the state, coinciding with the rollout of Recovery Reinvented. Although other factors could have contributed to this decrease, Recovery Reinvented is associated with reduced stigma. 

"People who attend Recovery Reinvented events are motivated to extend their knowledge about recovery and addiction into their own communities. After attending the event, Minot State University students wanted to develop something for those in recovery at the University. These students worked closely with the school’s administration and the vice president of affairs to help create a recovery culture on campus, which assists those struggling with this disease."  - Spotlight, 2018.