<p>There are some interesting changes going on in the college marketplace. Substance-free halls are available on many campuses. While many students are there because of a parental decision, and while the “substance-free” model doesn’t always work perfectly, it is still a great option to have.</p>
<p>A few colleges are taking this even further, with a Sober House (Minnesota and Washington State), recovery support (Rutgers and Brown) and even a ground-breaking, extensive 12-step recovery program (currently at Texas Tech, and spreading to other campuses like UC Boulder and UT Austin).</p>
<p>1 in 10 people will suffer from some form of substance abuse in their lifetime. I think every college should have an recovery program (the need is certainly there).</p>
<p>Does anyone out there know of other schools who are doing a great job in this area? Also, how does Brown’s program work?</p>
<p>UWashington has a terrific program in “controlled drinking” - where it helps move students from heavy/binge drinking to moderate use. It doesn’t work for those with a propensity toward alcoholism, but has been shown to be effective otherwise.</p>
<p>American University and University of Oklahoma have gone totally dry (and it doesn’t matter if you are over 21). Doesn’t mean there isn’t any alcohol on either campus, but it pretty much has eliminated on-campus bingeing. (Some go to frat houses are elsewhere to binge, but the policies have cut down majorly on the number of incidents of binge drinking, as it doesn’t happen spur of the moment.) Both require alcohol education after first infraction; after second infraction, parents are informed, and AA meetings are required.</p>
<p>I would not want to live in Rutgers’ recovery housing. It’s one thing to live in a substance-free dorm that anyone can choose. A dorm specifically for people who are recovering (which Rutgers’ provides, according to their website) sounds like a bad idea to me. Anyone can find out what dorm you live in, and if you happen to live in recovery housing, people can identify you and judge you without your consent. I would not want my classmates, professors, or parents to be able to know that I lived in recovery housing.</p>
<p>The 12 step recovery program also sounds iffy to me. If you’re at the point where you need an intensive 12 step program like AA or NA, then you should probably take time off from all your school obligations, not stay on campus. Intensive recovery can’t occur concurrently with academics, extracurriculars, and socializing. You simply can’t do it all at once. But the idea is a really good one. I agree, every college needs a recovery program of some type that is easily accessible.</p>
<p>I can see that living in recovery housing could compromise anonymity. Maybe if it were a part of a big apartment complex, that could help. On the other hand, young addicts have usually jeopardized their very lives with their substance abuse. For example, most young people will do just about anything (polysubstance dependence) at some point (whatever they can get their hands on if their disease is in an active phase) unless something comes between them and their addiction. Adults, on the other hand, more typically are “specialists” in one or two substances. Because adolescents as a rule have poorer decision-making, higher levels of impulsivity, and weaker abilities to delay gratification as compared to adults, they are at much greater risk when confronting their early-onset addiction disease. It’s a life or death issue, frankly. Anonymity is great, but unfortunately if a kid wants a degree and is in recovery from addiction, specialized housing may be the only way to go.</p>
<p>Another point I wanted to make is that when you have the disease of addiction, you have it for life. Addicts/Alcoholics don’t use the word “recovered”, they say “recovering” (even if they have 25 years sobriety). 12-step programs are lifestyles - you never stop going to meetings if that is your program for recovery. A student could have been sober since he was 15, yet a college campus environment could be rife with triggers and temptations. They are a really tough place to be for someone who needs to maintain sobriety to survive. A true addict in recovery is on a permanent program to support sobriety. Once a person’s primary treatment is out of the way, AA and NA are there to support them for the rest of their lives. They have no choice but to do college and meetings at the same time. Without the meetings (if that is their program), the sobriety will disappear (and then the college opportunity will disappear with it).</p>