Collegiate Recovery Communities Programs: What Do We Know and What Do We Need to Know?

• Published in: Journal of social work practice in the addictions Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 84 - 100
• Main Authors: Laudet, Alexandre, Harris, Kitty, Kimball, Thomas, Winters, Ken C., Moberg, D. Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 01-01-2014
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Addiction; College Students; Government Agencies; Literature Reviews; recovery; recovery support services; Relapse; Substance Abuse; substance use disorder; United States of America; Universities; substance use disorder; Recovery; college students; addiction; recovery support services
• ISSN: 1533-256X; 1533-2578
• DOI: 10.1080/1533256X.2014.872015

As the broad construct of recovery increasingly guides addiction services and policy, federal agencies have called for the expansion of peer-driven recovery support services. The high prevalence of substance use and abuse in colleges and universities in the United States constitutes a significant obstacle to pursuing an education for the unknown number of youths who have attained remission from substance use dependence. Collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) are an innovative and growing model of peer-driven recovery support delivered on college campuses. Although no systematic research has examined CRPs, available site-level records suggest encouraging outcomes: low relapse rates and above-average academic achievement. The number of CRPs nationwide is growing, but there is a noticeable lack of data on the model, its students, and their outcomes. We review the literature supporting the need for the expansion of CRPs, present information on the diversity of CRP services, and outline key areas where research is needed.