Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital (BARC-10)
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The BARC-10 is a 10-item self-report tool designed to quickly measure recovery capital—key personal and social strengths that support sustained recovery from substance use. It is a shortened version of the original ARC, suitable for use in time-limited or community-based settings.
Recommended Frequency: Every 1–3 months during treatment, peer support, or recovery planning; particularly useful for progress monitoring and outcomes reporting.
About the BARC-10
The BARC-10 was developed to offer a rapid yet valid measure of recovery capital, drawing from the longer 50-item Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC). It includes items covering domains such as housing, employment, coping, purpose, and social support. The tool is appropriate for use in outpatient settings, community recovery programs, and research studies requiring frequent or repeated assessments.
Psychometric Properties
The BARC-10 has demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α ≈ 0.90) and excellent correlation with the full ARC scale. Factor analysis supports its unidimensional structure, making it suitable for use as a global recovery strengths index.
It has been validated in adults recovering from alcohol and drug problems across multiple care settings.
Source: Vilsaint et al., 2017
The Scale
The BARC-10 consists of 10 statements, each rated on a 6-point Likert scale from “Strongly Disagree” to “Strongly Agree.” Items assess confidence in staying clean, stable housing, supportive relationships, ability to handle stress, and community connection.
Example item: “There are more important things to me in life than using substances.”
Total scores range from 10 to 60, with higher scores indicating greater recovery capital.
Score Range
- 10–29: Low recovery capital
- 30–44: Moderate recovery capital
- 45–60: High recovery capital
These categories are informal guidelines and should be interpreted within the context of the individual’s recovery goals.
Copyright
© 2017 Center for Addiction Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Authors: Vilsaint, Kelly, Bergman, Groshkova, Best, and White.
References
- Vilsaint, C. L., Kelly, J. F., Bergman, B. G., Groshkova, T., Best, D., & White, W. L. (2017). Development and validation of a brief assessment of recovery capital (BARC-10) for adults in recovery from alcohol and drug problems. Addiction, 112(1), 58–68. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.13551
- 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
Disclaimer
This summary is provided for informational use only. HiBoop does not interpret assessment scores or offer clinical guidance. Use of the BARC-10 should be accompanied by professional judgment in the context of ongoing recovery care.
Permissions
The BARC-10 is available for non-commercial clinical and research use with appropriate citation. Commercial use or adaptation requires permission from the original authors or affiliated institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I introduce it to clients?
Frame it as a tool to help understand what’s going well and what could use support in their recovery journey—not as a test or evaluation.
How often should the BARC-10 be used?
Monthly during active recovery care is ideal to track growth. It can also be used at intake, mid-treatment, discharge, and follow-ups.
What should I do if a client scores low?
Use the results to identify where the client feels least supported and co-create strategies to build those areas (e.g., housing, support networks, purpose).
Can it be used for harm reduction clients or only abstinence-based recovery?
It can be used across recovery pathways—abstinence, moderation, or harm reduction—as it measures recovery resources, not substance use behavior.
How long does it take to complete?
Less than 5 minutes. It is brief, accessible, and easily repeated.
Can the BARC-10 diagnose substance use disorders?
No. It measures strengths and supports, not symptoms or diagnoses.