This guide has been developed to promote and explore the varied pathways of recovery. While comprehensive, this guide can not possibly contain all avenues to recovery. This guide is a beginning, and is intended to show people there are many choices in recovery. Much remains to be done nationwide to ensure recovery is available for all. 

This guide is an accessible resource for individuals, families, and treatment professionals seeking information by outlining and describing different pathways to recovery, sharing personal experiences of individuals who have found recovery in diifferent ways, and demonstrating the diversity of recovery. 

It is important to emphasize the distinction between pathways to recovery and pathways of recovery. We define pathways of recovery as those practices, programs, rituals and customs people use to maintain and sustain recovery. In comparison pathways to recovery can range from crisis events like treatment, experience within the criminal justice system, or a personal epiphany.