"It Has Made College Possible for Me": Feedback on the Impact of a University-Based Center for Students in Recovery

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 57; no. 6; pp. 650 - 658
• Main Authors: Bell, Nancy J., Kanitkar, Kirti, Kerksiek, Kimberly A., Watson, Wendy, Das, Anindita, Kostina-Ritchey, Erin, Russell, Matthew H., Harris, Kitty
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Heldref 01.05.2009; Heldref Publications; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Alcohol Abuse; Barriers; Campuses; Cohort Studies; College admissions; College campuses; College Environment; college student recovery; College Students; Colleges & universities; collegiate recovery programs; Critical Incidents Method; Diagnostic Teaching; Drinking; Drug Abuse; Drug Rehabilitation; Falls; Feedback; Female; Humans; Individual Counseling; Interviews; Interviews as Topic; Male; National Programs; National Standards; Outcomes of Treatment; Performance Factors; Recovery; Rehabilitation Centers; Rehabilitation Counseling; Rehabilitation Programs; Residence Characteristics; School Health Services; School Holding Power; Semi Structured Interviews; Semistructured interviews; Student Attitudes; Student Health Services - organization & administration; Student Personnel Services; Substance Abuse; substance abuse recovery; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers - organization & administration; Substance-Related Disorders - rehabilitation; Undergraduate students; Universities - organization & administration; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.3200/JACH.57.6.650-658

Objective: The authors aimed to gain information on (1) the challenges for recovering students on a university campus and (2) the most helpful components of a collegiate recovery program. Participants: The 15 students in the study were all in recovery from substance abuse. They entered the university and also entered the campus recovery program either in fall 2002 or fall 2003. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with students multiple times during their first academic year. Results: Participants identified several challenges on the university campus. Many believed they would have dropped out of school or relapsed without the support of the recovery program, and they described aspects of the program that were particularly important to them. Conclusions: Support from a campus recovery program is essential for many recovering students. There are a variety of recovery program components that can foster the sense of community that was so important to the students in this study.