Resilience, Addiction, and Psychological Recovery: Mechanisms, Interventions, and Health Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

Addictions continue to represent a major challenge for individuals, families, and communities worldwide, particularly in an era marked by biological, psychological, and social vulnerability. From a public health standpoint, addiction is not only a clinical or individual condition but also a societal issue, with profound implications for prevention, health equity, and community wellbeing. 

Recovery, therefore, should be conceived not as a linear or purely clinical process but as a multidimensional phenomenon involving neurobiological, psychological, relational, and contextual transformations. Strengthened resilience—both individual and collective—emerges as a key protective factor capable of promoting sustainable recovery, preventing relapse, and enhancing health outcomes across populations. 

This Special Issue will promote an integrated and interdisciplinary understanding of addiction and psychological recovery, bridging micro-level mechanisms and macro-level determinants of health. 

We welcome contributions on the following topics:

• Cognitive, emotional, and behavioral components of resilience and their role in prevention and recovery;
• The influence of family, social, and community networks on health promotion and relapse prevention;
• Public health and policy-orientated approaches to addiction care, including early detection, health literacy, and community-based interventions;
• The impact of social inequalities, stigma, and digital environments on vulnerability and access to care;
• The application of innovative tools and methodologies—such as artificial intelligence, serious games, digital interventions, and neurophysiological monitoring (e.g., EEG, fMRI)—to prevention, treatment, and recovery trajectories.

We welcome empirical studies (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods), systematic reviews, theoretical papers, and innovative case studies addressing both substance-related and behavioral addictions. Contributions that integrate public health perspectives—such as population-level interventions, health systems, policy frameworks, and community resilience—are particularly encouraged.

Dr. Natale Salvatore Bonfiglio
Guest Editor

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