In current substance abuse treatment, post-modern concepts such as quality of care and life after care, are clearly linked to recovery careers. Former and current users of treatment facilities depend for their recovery on the quality of the treatment system and ongoing support in the world around them. This symposium: Recovery Careers: the quality of care and life is the 12th initiative of the European Working Group on Drugs Oriented Research (EWODOR), a network of addiction researchers closely aligned to the European Federation of Therapeutic Communities (EFTC). The programme of the symposium will not only examine the story of the crisis and rejuvenation of the European therapeutic community movement but will also explore the ideological and methodological background to this remarkable development. More importantly, the symposium will consider the successful life careers of former users and examine what can be learnt from quality of care and life research in other fields. The symposium, will contain a mix of plenary presentations, panel discussions and and workshop sessions.

Symposium Themes:

• Quality of care in treatment

• Therapeutic communities as a creative force

• Quality of life in recovery careers