Addiction Recovery as a Pathway to Socioeconomic Empowerment among Women with Substance Use Disorders in Urban Nigeria: A Qualitative Study from Ibadan, Nigeria

Substance use disorders (SUDs) among women are increasingly recognized as a significant public health challenge globally and in Nigeria. Although treatment and rehabilitation efforts often focus on abstinence and symptom reduction, less attention has been paid to the broader socioeconomic outcomes of recovery. Recovery extends beyond cessation of substance use to encompass improvements in personal wellbeing, social functioning, and economic participation. This study explored how addiction recovery contributes to socioeconomic empowerment among women recovering from substance use disorders in Ibadan, Nigeria. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed to explore the lived experiences of women who had undergone treatment and recovery from substance use disorders. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and key informant interviews involving women in recovery and stakeholders engaged in addiction treatment and rehabilitation services in Ibadan. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The study drew on Empowerment Theory and the Capability Approach. Participants described recovery as a transformative process characterized by restoration of personal identity, enhanced self-worth, and renewed life purpose. Recovery facilitated improved economic participation through employment, vocational skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and income-generating activities. Women reported increased decision-making power, improved family relationships, and greater social participation following recovery. However, persistent stigma, discrimination, limited access to financial resources, and inadequate institutional support constrained full socioeconomic reintegration. Findings demonstrate that recovery from substance use disorders serves as an important pathway to socioeconomic empowerment among women. Recovery outcomes extend beyond abstinence to include economic independence, social inclusion, and personal agency. Integrating economic empowerment interventions into addiction recovery programs may enhance sustainable recovery and improve quality of life among women with substance use disorders.