School is back in session. Once again, college students are bustling around their campuses, meeting new friends (or reuniting with old ones) and beginning their get-to-class-on-time routines. At home, parents may be wondering what their kids are up to during this back-to-school season. Are they hitting the books, or going to college parties? Are they stressed, having fun, or a mix of both? Are they hanging out with the right crowd? Are they staying sober and safe? If you are thinking same, know you are not alone.
Substance use and college have a long-standing, conflicting and complex relationship. On one hand, drug abuse can destruct a student’s overall academic success – As detailed in a prior infographic, alcohol is a factor in 40 percent of academic problems and 28 percent of college drop-outs. Illicit drug use has an even more significant effect. Yet still, substance use is so incredibly common in college. According to a 2016 study, more than two out of five college students have used an illicit drug in the last year. Four percent of college students drink daily, and six percent smoke marijuana on an everyday basis.
Colleges are not only rich with substance use, but they are also rich with relapse triggers for those who are in recovery – stress, academic pressure, lack of sleep, social anxiety to make new friends, parties, the list goes on. So, how can a person in recovery feel comfortable and safe going to school after treatment, while living sober? Many will look into a recovery college, research colleges that offer recovery services, or choose a drug treatment program that is focused on a seamless transition from rehab to a successful sober college experience. Below, Turnbridge reviews those options in depth:
What is a Recovery College?
A recovery college is an institution that takes an educational approach to treating mental health issues, rather than using clinical or rehabilitation methods. Recovery colleges are primarily for treating mental health issues – but as we know, those often come alongside addiction. Some recovery colleges will adhere to substance use issues, as well.
According to OpenLearn, recovery colleges emphasize a person’s strength, rather than their problems. Each client develops an “individual learning plan which guides their journey through their studies.” Unlike traditional colleges, recovery colleges offer subjects such as understanding recovery, understanding mental health disorders, personal wellbeing and health, life skills, self-management skills, and more. These colleges are primarily based internationally, with the most in the United Kingdom.
If you are searching for a recovery college, you may be looking for a college that offers recovery programs for students who have struggled with drug use. Fortunately, these programs are increasingly growing. As cited in a recent NBC News article, there are at least 186 active substance abuse recovery programs on college campuses across the United States. Just five years ago, in 2013, there were only 29. The Association of Recovery in High Education (ARHE) deems these “collegiate recovery” programs.
What is Collegiate Recovery?
According to the ARHE, “collegiate recovery is support for students in recovery from addiction, seeking a degree in higher education.” These programs can consist of a campus-based infrastructure, designed to support sober students and promote their academic performance. Or, these programs can take the form of a community of students in recovery, on campus, driven by peer support.
As a young adult rehabilitation center, Turnbridge has close partnerships with colleges and universities throughout Connecticut and beyond, all of which have resources, communities, or programs to help ease the transition into a college environment. To learn about our various college affiliations, click here.
Drug Treatment with Academic Counseling for Young Adults
Some young adult drug treatment centers have academic programs incorporated into their service offerings. Turnbridge Academy, for example, is a recovery-informed academic program available to our clients – both male and female – who are in the healing process. Here, we believe that education can empower a person’s recovery journey. That is why we intertwine academic counseling and tutoring with drug treatment. It leads to self-discovery, as well as confidence, competence, and a positive self-image.
A recovery-informed rehab program (or, an academics-informed recovery program) like Turnbridge Academy helps both adolescents and young adults in recovery accomplish their educational goals. This could mean help with finishing high school, applying to college, transferring schools, achieving good grades, transitioning into a college community, and more. Young people battling addiction should not have to give up their academic goals completely when seeking out treatment. They should not have to feel like they are behind their peers, or set back because of the choices they’ve made. Young adults should never feel like college is impossible, because of their issues with substance use or mental health.
In a drug treatment program with academic counseling for (aspiring) college students, the following services should be offered. They should also be customizable, and tailored to each person’s individual needs, educational level and aspirations, as well as their addiction story.
- One-on-one academic advising
- Comprehensive education plan development
- Coordination with current and previous schools
- Review and management of transcripts and academic records
- Detailed help with college applications or school transfers
- Scheduled study halls for students in recovery
- Tutoring services from reputable instructors or institutions
- Facilitated educational workshops, in subjects such as academic writing, time management, college interview preparation, stress reduction techniques, and more
- Coordination with colleges and universities, to ensure that appropriate support and resources are available to students in recovery that are transitioning to college
In 2016, over five million young adults – or one in six Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 – needed treatment for substance abuse. For those who are in recovery and who wish to go to college, the need for academic services in treatment programs – and the need for recovery support services on campuses – are more real than ever before. Whether your son or daughter is battling addiction now, or is in the healing process, know that you have options for a successful recovery and a successful future. Call Turnbridge at 877-581-1793 to learn more about your recovery collegiate program options.