About
Wouter Vanderplasschen is a Full Professor and Department Chair at the Department of Special Needs Education (Orthopedagogiek), Ghent University, Belgium. He coordinates the Addiction & Recovery research group and has led over 25 years of studies in substance use treatment and recovery. His work spans accessibility, effectiveness, and quality of care in addiction recovery, with a focus on vulnerable populations, therapeutic communities, and recovery capital.
- Teaches 'Substance Abuse: Prevention and Treatment' at Ghent University
- Supervises master’s and doctoral students in addiction and recovery themes
- Co-editor of the journal Drugs: Education, Prevention, Policy
- Over 100 peer-reviewed publications and multiple book chapters
Research Interests include:
- Recovery pathways for substance users
- Case management and continuity of care
- Quality of life assessment in addiction
- International comparative studies (Belgium, UK, South Africa)
- Migrants’ recovery experiences and cultural adaptation
- Mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions
Article Trends (2025–2024) reveal cross-continental analyses (Africa, Europe), recovery capital measurement tools (SURE-NL), patient-reported outcome/experience measures (PROMs/PREMs), and cultural adaptations in mental health interventions. Key subfields: therapeutic communities, migrant health, longitudinal recovery studies, and behavioral replacement strategies.
Advising involves mentoring students on addiction recovery, quality of life, and forensic mental health. His scientific contributions focus on:
- Developing recovery assessment instruments
- Global mental health system comparisons
- Forensic care trajectories for mentally ill offenders
- Intergenerational trauma in parental substance use
Labs/Teams: Leads the Addiction & Recovery research group at Ghent University, collaborates with international teams (REC-PATH, FENIQS-EU), and works with European recovery colleges across 28 countries.
Research fields
