Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC)
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The ARC is a 50-item self-report tool designed to measure recovery capital—the personal, social, and environmental resources that support long-term recovery from substance use. It provides a structured way to evaluate strengths and barriers across ten life domains.
Recommended Frequency: Every 3–6 months during recovery-oriented care or case management, or as clinically indicated during treatment milestones or follow-up.
About the ARC
The Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC) was developed to provide a comprehensive measure of the assets individuals draw upon to initiate and sustain recovery from substance use. It evaluates recovery as more than abstinence—encompassing psychological resilience, community support, housing stability, and access to meaningful activities.
The ARC is commonly used in residential treatment, outpatient programs, and peer-based recovery services to inform care planning and monitor progress over time.
Psychometric Properties
The ARC has demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.89) and construct validity in UK and U.S. studies. It correlates positively with measures of functioning and negatively with relapse risk.
The scale consists of 10 domains:
- Substance Use and Sobriety
- Global Psychological Health
- Physical Health
- Citizenship and Community Involvement
- Social Support
- Meaningful Activities
- Housing and Safety
- Risk-Taking
- Coping and Life Functioning
- Recovery Experience
Each domain contains five items scored on a 6-point Likert scale.
Source: Groshkova et al., 2013
The Scale
The ARC includes 50 items, each rated from “Strongly Disagree” (1) to “Strongly Agree” (6). Domain scores can be used to highlight strengths and needs across specific recovery-related areas, while the total score (range 50–300) offers a general index of recovery capital.
Score Range
- 50–100: Low recovery capital
- 101–200: Moderate
- 201–300: High recovery capital Interpretation should be contextualized within the individual’s recovery goals and stage of change.
Copyright
Developed by Dr. David Best, Teodora Groshkova, and William White. Widely used in clinical and research settings with attribution.
References
- 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. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1465-3362.2012.00489.x
- Cloud, W., & Granfield, R. (2008). Conceptualizing recovery capital: Expansion of a theoretical construct. Substance Use & Misuse, 43(12–13), 1971–1986. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826080802289762
Disclaimer
This summary is provided for informational purposes only. HiBoop does not provide diagnostic guidance or interpret ARC results. Use of this tool should be guided by clinicians familiar with recovery-oriented care.
Permissions
The ARC is available for non-commercial use in clinical and academic settings with attribution to the authors. Commercial use or adaptation requires permission from the copyright 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.