Adhesive compositions for medical and non-medical uses are provided. The adhesive compositions can include cyclic disulfide monomers, oligomers of reactions between the cyclic disulfides, polymers of the cyclic disulfides, solid articles formed formed from the polymers, and any combination thereof. Methods of making, using, and recycling the adhesive compositions are provided, including use of the adhesive compositions on a variety of substrates that include biological tissue; biomaterials, including synthetics and natural such as bone, wood, and cellulosics; metals and alloys; polymers, plastics, and rubbers; ceramics; composites; and, any combination of these materials. The adhesives can adhere to substrates in a variety of environmental conditions that include ambient atmospheric conditions, wet conditions that include adhering materials underwater, and in a wide variety of temperatures and pressures, such as those temperatures and pressures found in medical environments, including in living tissue, as well as many residential, commercial, industrial, and manufacturing environments.