Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital (BARC-10)
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The BARC-10 is a brief, validated tool used to measure “recovery capital”—the internal and external resources that support a person’s recovery from substance use. It offers a rapid way to assess strengths across personal, social, and community domains that influence long-term recovery.
- Format: Self-report questionnaire
- Length: 10 items
- Population: Adults (18+) in substance use recovery
Recommended Frequency: Every 1–3 months during recovery-focused treatment
🧭 What It Measures
The BARC-10 captures recovery capital, a holistic concept that includes housing, relationships, self-esteem, purpose, and access to care. Rather than focusing on symptoms or severity, this tool helps highlight protective factors and resources that may influence recovery progress and stability.
🧪 Psychometric Properties
The BARC-10 was derived from the original 50-item Assessment of Recovery Capital (ARC) and demonstrates strong psychometric properties in both community and treatment settings. It has shown high internal consistency (α = 0.90+) and strong correlation with the longer ARC.
Factor analysis supports a unidimensional structure, validating its use as a brief overall index of recovery resources. It is widely used in outcome monitoring and peer-based recovery programs.
Source: Vilsaint et al., 2017; Sterling et al., 2009
📋 The Scale
The BARC-10 includes 10 statements rated on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from “Strongly Disagree” to “Strongly Agree.” Items assess areas like optimism, coping ability, stable housing, meaningful activities, and supportive relationships.
Example item: “I have people I can count on.”
Scores are summed to generate a total recovery capital score (range: 10–60). Higher scores reflect stronger recovery resources.
Copyright
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.
References
- Vilsaint, Corrie L, Kelly, John F, Bergman, Brandon G, Groshkova, Teodora, Best, David, & White, William. (2017). Development and validation of a Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital (BARC-10) for alcohol and drug use disorder. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 177, 71–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.03.022
Disclaimer
HiBoop clinicians can use this tool to support tracking of recovery strengths over time but HiBoop does not interpret scores. This page is informational only and is not a substitute for clinical expertise.
Permissions
The BARC-10 was published in open-access academic literature and is intended for non-commercial clinical and research use.
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.