Gender sameness and difference in recovery from heroin dependence: A qualitative exploration

Findings are consistent with increasing feminist interest in intersectionality and contribute to a more gender-sensitive understanding of recovery. Gender was an important structure in shaping our participants' experiences, but there was no evidence of an 'essential' female recovery experience and women did not necessarily have less recovery resources than men. Whilst useful, the concept of recovery capital has a number of definitional and conceptual limitations that indicate a need for more empirical research to improve its utility in policy and practice.