What is 'recovery'?

 

http://www.addictiontoday.org/addictiontoday/2008/09/defining-recove.html

The link above relates to an article addressing the way we define recovery.  The key question, as highlighted by Addiction Today, is  "if today’s search for outcome statistics is to lead to clinical effectiveness and clinical cost-effectiveness, what definition will help us to measure outcomes, for both comparative purposes and to feedback into programme improvements? ".

How is recovery characterised, what impact does this have on treatment and will one definition ever be all encompassing?