Metaphors as Storying Practices of Youth in Recovery From Addictions

This research report draws on storying, narrative inquiry, and poststructural research methods and theory to document metaphors of emergence. Metaphors of emergence are a literacy tool that youth in recovery from addictions (both behavioral and substance-based) use to connect the quality and potential of concrete objects to the abstract experiences of addiction in order to more effectively story their experiences. These metaphors are important as they mark a unique asset that young people in recovery from addictions bring to literacy spaces, and they can be used in society to interrupt the stereotypes related to addiction. This work was conducted with seven youth in recovery from various addictions. Implications of this work include the recognition that drawing on student culture in literacy spaces continues to be important and provides future directions for literacy learning and research with youth in recovery as a unique and important group of underserved youth.