The potential for recovery and the quality of recovery are determined by the synergy between recovery debits (personal and environmental factors that inhibit and limit recovery) and recovery capital (internal and external resources that serve to initiate, sustain and expand recovery). Recovery facilitating and inhibiting factors identified through the experiences of individuals in recovery exist at multiple, interacting levels:

·        characteristics of the individual (e.g., the presence or lack of hope, resourcefulness, self-reliance, recovery self-management skills);

·        characteristics of the environment (e.g., the presence or lack of safety-enhancing material resources-housing, transportation, health care, and a means of communication); and

·        characteristics of the interaction between the individual and the environment (e.g., the presence or lack of meaningful relationships and activities, choices, empowering and hopeful service and peer relationships).