The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has developed a working definition and set of principles for recovery. Recovery is defined as: "A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential."
Through recovery support programs and services, COSA-NCADD strives to do the following: enrich and enhance lives, help save lives by reducing barriers to healthy choices, and provide education/support to individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs), their families and the community as a whole.
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COSA-NCADD’s Recovery Support Services Department serves people with a history of alcohol and SUDs who are in or seeking recovery, along with their family members and significant others. COSA-NCADD believes the following four major dimensions support a life of recovery
Health
Home
Purpose
Community
About Our Services
The Council on Substance Abuse recognizes the IOM model and utilizes it throughout our prevention and recovery practices. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) Classification System, often referred to as a continuum of services, care, or prevention, classifies prevention interventions according to their target population.
Classification by population provides clarity to differing objectives of various interventions and matches the objectives to the needs of the target population. The Council on Substance Abuse prevention and recovery departments work together to ensure that our communities are being served according to these strategies (Include IOM Model)

Mrazek, P.J. & Haggerty, R.J. (1994). Institute of Medicine (IOM), Reducing risks for mental disorders: Frontiers for preventive intervention research. Washington D.C.: National Academy Press.