From Trauma to Growth: A Prize-Winning Substance Use Recovery Project

Dr Paul Toner

At the Drugs Research Network Scotland (DRNS) Annual Conference 2025 held at the University of Dundee, Dr Paul Toner won the best poster prize for the Post-Traumatic Growth in Adults in Recovery from Problematic Substance Useproject. The project combined a large-scale survey with in-depth interviews, so measurable patterns of growth and the lived experiences of people in recovery were captured.

What is post-traumatic growth?

Post-traumatic growth refers to the positive changes in how people see themselves and their lives that can emerge from struggling with challenging life experiences. Trauma is obviously negative, but the term recognises that people can develop new strengths, deeper relationships, and a renewed sense of purpose through adversity.

The studies included in the project showed that the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), developed to measure growth in adults who experienced traumatic events, can be used with people in recovery from problematic substance use. The work highlights that people in recovery from problematic substance use can experience positive personal change after hardship with a greater appreciation of life, better relationships, new meaning and possibilities.

Research findings that create hope

This research provides hope for those on a recovery journey from problematic substance use. Recovery from problematic substance use is often talked about in terms of loss, relapse, and risk. Instead of just being about stopping harmful behaviours, the journey can involve genuine personal change with new life meaning, strengths and opportunities.

Understanding recovery through the lens of growth encourages approaches that build on strengths, foster connection, and support meaning-making rather than just focusing on harm reduction or abstinence. If you are interested in reading more about the study findings, they have been published in academic journals. We have published one paper on the quantitative findings, conducted by Dr Sophia Chambers who was doing a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. We also published our qualitative findings, a study conducted by Jason McBurnie, Ciara Bell, and Niamh Hurst who were completing a Master’s in Clinical Health Psychology.

Dr Paul Toner is a Senior Lecturer and Substance Use Research Group Lead in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Dundee. He is passionate about carrying out high-quality research that makes a real difference to people’s lives, especially those affected by addiction. This blog was written to highlight prize-winning research that focuses on hope, growth, and positive change in recovery from substance use.

These student-led studies had no external funding associated with them.