HEC/Op-Ed: Alcohol Recovery Program on Campus

Alcohol Recovery Program on Campus - - The Time Is Now
By Tom Brueck
President, Substance Abuse Recovery On College Campuses

Drinking to excess - - many college students consider it a rite of
passage. They fail to recognize that it can lead to alcoholism, which is a
disease.

Alcohol is the drug most frequently used by U.S. teenagers. It is consumed
more frequently than all illicit drugs combined and contributes to an
estimated 1,400 student deaths, 500,000 injuries, and 70,000 cases of
sexual assault or acquaintance rape each year on college campuses across
the nation, according to a report issued in 2002 by the National Institute
on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Unfortunately, as many as 360,000 of the nation's 12 million
undergraduates will ultimately die from alcohol-related causes. This is
more than the total number of students who will be awarded advanced
degrees.

Most college students' addiction to alcohol and other drugs began in high
school; for some it began even earlier. This is confirmed by a recent
Department of Education study that shows that 37 high schools have been
opened in the United States since 1998 specifically for students in
recovery. Nine school districts in Minnesota alone have recovering
students attending sober high schools. These figures may surprise you.
However, I believe it is more startling when one realizes there are only
four recognized college recovery programs in the country. That's right!
There are nine times more high school recovery programs in the country
than college recovery programs.

The recovering alcoholic or other drug-addicted college student, who has
often received and completed treatment while still in pursuit of his or
her high school education, must face the challenge of continuing the
difficult task of recovery while immersed in the world of drinking and
other drug use that is found on most campuses. Situations such as social
gatherings, fraternity or sorority events, intercollegiate athletic
competitions, and dormitory living can become, literally, life-threatening
situations for students in recovery; simple decisions such as identifying
a potential roommate, choosing a social group, or making leisure plans
become vitally important.

The services currently provided to recovering students appear to be
diverse and evolving. Services such as individual counseling, on-campus
12-step meetings, a recovery group, and a treatment/referral list seem to
be most common, while other services are offered sporadically. There needs
to be a consensus model that provides standards for services available to
this group of students. To date, the four college recovery programs
mentioned earlier are the only nationally recognized programs. However, as
Congress turns its attention more and more from abuse prevention to
recovery support, postsecondary institutions are beginning to look at ways
to encourage and sustain a student's recovery following treatment for
chemical abuse. As the new recovery movement gains momentum, more
institutions are coming to recognize the need to provide these bright,
creative individuals with the kinds of programming that will support them
in living a healthy recovery and allow them the opportunity to prepare
successfully for life experiences.

There are many students on college campuses as well as those still in high
school who have already realized a better way of life through recovery.
There are also many students who drop out of school each year because of
substance abuse problems. These students and those in recovery benefit
from a recovery program on campus.

One resource that provides assistance to those interested in learning how
to implement a recovery program on campus is Substance Abuse Recovery On
College Campuses (SARCC), a non-profit organization committed to this end.
SARCC provides a successful recovery model for schools to emulate while
offering assistance with structural setup, staff involvement, budget
preparation, program costs as well as implementing, monitoring and
evaluating the program. For more information visit our website: www.sarcc.com.

It is time for college and university administrators to embrace the idea
of a recovery program and to become leaders in helping change the alcohol
and other drug culture on campus. This is not only a humanitarian service
but it can be cost effective as well. Let's work together to provide
recovering students with a rebirth of learning and living as a basis for
their college and future life experiences.

<p><p><p>*********************************************************
HEC/News is a service provided by the Office of Safe & Drug-Free
Schools' Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention,
Contract No. ED-99-CO-0094 of the U.S. Department of Education.
No official support or endorsement by the Department of Education is
intended or should be inferred.
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HEC/News is a conduit for press coverage of AODV issues in higher
education. Negative coverage of these issues is pervasive and may serve to
reinforce exaggerated misperceptions of actual substance use norms.
Awareness of this should strengthen our resolve to advocate for news that
focuses on the responsible majority of college students.
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Received on Fri May 14 2004 - 15:51:30 EDT