Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC)

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The Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC) is a comprehensive, 50-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure the full range of resources and supports available to individuals in recovery from substance use. It operationalizes the concept of “recovery capital”—the personal, social, and community assets that help people sustain long-term recovery.

The ARC is widely used in both clinical and peer-support settings to track recovery progress, tailor treatment, and identify areas for intervention. It offers a holistic alternative to deficit-based measures by focusing on strengths, stability, and resilience.

Recommended Frequency: Every 2–3 months during recovery treatment or support programs

About the ARC

Developed by Dr. David Best and colleagues, the ARC builds on the theoretical framework of recovery capital proposed by Cloud and Granfield. It includes 10 domains with 5 items each:

  1. Substance Use and Sobriety
  2. Global Psychological Health
  3. Physical Health
  4. Citizenship and Community Involvement
  5. Social Support
  6. Meaningful Activities
  7. Housing and Safety
  8. Risk-Taking
  9. Recovery Experience
  10. Coping and Life Functioning

Each domain represents a critical element of sustainable recovery. The ARC not only tracks recovery over time but also provides direction for individualized care plans.

Who is the ARC For?

The ARC is intended for individuals who are actively pursuing or maintaining recovery from substance use. It is best suited for:

  • Clients in structured outpatient or residential programs
  • Individuals in long-term recovery supports
  • Peer recovery coaching or continuing care programs

Use the checklist below to assess fit:

  • Is the client in active recovery or post-acute treatment?
  • Are they working toward long-term goals such as housing, employment, or stability?
  • Is there a need to better understand personal and social resources for recovery?

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Note: The ARC is not a diagnostic tool. It should be used in conjunction with other assessments to inform a comprehensive understanding of recovery progress.

The Scale

The ARC contains 50 items, rated on a 5-point Likert scale:

  • Strongly Disagree (1)
  • Disagree (2)
  • Neutral (3)
  • Agree (4)
  • Strongly Agree (5)

Each item belongs to one of the 10 recovery domains, with 5 items per domain. Responses reflect the client’s current perception of their recovery resources and life functioning.

HiBoop displays both domain-level scores and an overall recovery capital score, enabling practitioners to see both strengths and areas needing support.

Scoring the ARC

Each domain score ranges from 5 to 25, with a total possible score of 50 to 250. Higher scores indicate greater recovery capital and stronger supports for sustained recovery.

Score Range

  • 50–129: Low recovery capital
  • 130–189: Moderate recovery capital
  • 190–250: High recovery capital

Scores can be tracked over time in HiBoop to visualize growth trajectories, identify stagnation points, and adjust care plans accordingly.

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TIP FOR PRACTICE

The ARC is most powerful when used collaboratively with the client. Review the domain scores together. Ask which areas they feel strongest in—and which ones they want to work on. Use their self-perception as a starting point for goal setting, not just treatment compliance.

The ARC in Practice

Examples of how the ARC can be used:

  • At intake, to understand the client’s baseline across recovery dimensions
  • At mid-treatment and discharge, to demonstrate measurable progress
  • In group or peer coaching, to support goal-setting and resource-building
  • To triage support services like housing, employment, or mental health referrals

HiBoop’s platform supports domain-level visualizations and longitudinal trend analysis, offering a powerful tool for measuring progress across recovery pathways.

Copyright

Developed by Dr. David Best, William Cloud, and colleagues. The ARC is free to use for non-commercial clinical and research purposes.

References

  • Best, D., Gow, J., Taylor, A., Knox, T., & White, W. (2012). Recovery from addiction: A review of recovery capital.Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 3, 147–156.
  • Cloud, W., & Granfield, R. (2008). Conceptualizing recovery capital: Expansion of a theoretical construct. Substance Use & Misuse, 43(12–13), 1971–1986.
  • Groshkova, T., Best, D., & White, W. (2013). The Assessment of Recovery Capital: Properties and psychometrics of a measure of addiction recovery strengths. Drug and Alcohol Review, 32(2), 187–194.

Disclaimer

The ARC is a validated, research-based tool for assessing personal and social strengths in recovery. It is not a diagnostic instrument and should be used to support, not determine, treatment decisions.

Permissions

The Assessment of Recovery Capital is copyrighted and commercial use is restricted. Permission must be obtained from the original authors or rights holders.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What’s the difference between the ARC and BARC-10?

    The ARC provides granular, domain-level insights across 10 areas of recovery. The BARC-10 is a briefer alternative for quick check-ins or constrained settings.

  • How long does the ARC take to complete?

    Approximately 10–15 minutes. It’s more in-depth than the BARC-10 but offers richer insights.

  • Is the ARC only for clinical settings?

    No. It can also be used in community-based programs, peer support, and recovery coaching.