Recovery Housing Rutgers University

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Recovery Housing Rutgers University

• Lisa Laitman MSED, LCADC
• Director
• Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program for
  Students

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introduction

• Recovery Housing on a college campus provides
  an alcohol and drug free environment -but more
  importantly offers a community that supports
  recovery.

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development

• Rutgers has offered Recovery Housing since
  September 1988. Unbeknownst to us at the time,
  it was the first of its kind on a college campus.
• The idea came from discussions with students in
  recovery during 1983-1987.

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how it works.

• What has made it work?
• Development has always been student-driven
• Recovery Housing was conceived of as a college
  residence hall and not a treatment facility
• Clear goals for students of supporting recovery
  in the context of working toward a college degree

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how it works

• What we look for in selecting our
  student/residents
• A personal commitment to recovery from
  alcohol/drug addiction
• Completion of an inpatient or intensive
  outpatient program
• Regular and active membership in a 12-step
  program
• Minimum of one to two months of continuous
  abstinence

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how it works.

• What are our goals and guidelines for our
  student residents with the Recovery House?
• Maintain abstinence
• No visitors who are under the influence
• Maintain full time credits (part time is under
  special circumstances)
• Attendance at 12-step meetings
• Counseling if less than one year clean
• Contribute to a caring and compassionate
  community

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lessons learned.relapse

• Tom was nearly one year clean when he started
  becoming more depressed and isolated. Residents
  complained of his being rude and suspecting he
  was not going to meetings. We knew of problems
  at home and his parents were talking of divorce.
• Eventually Tom broke down and confessed to other
  residents of being in a relapse for two months
• He left Rutgers, went to treatment and returned
  more committed and sharing openly about his
  relapse.

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more lessons learned..

• How do we manage co-occurring psychiatric
  disorders?
• eating disorders?
• relationship problems?
• academic problems?
• graduation?
• anniversaries?

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Using a developmental model to understand young
adult recovery from addictions

• Developmental tasks and milestones for late
  adolescence/early adulthood
• Developmental tasks for recovery
• Young adults in early recovery a double dose of
  problems or a perfect combination?
• 12-Step programs as a model for healthy living
  for young adults in recovery

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Rutgers Recovery Reunions

• 1993 Ten Year Rutgers Recovery Reunion
• 2003 Twenty Year Rutgers Recovery Reunion
• Brought together 125 alumni and current students
  each time from all over the country to celebrate
  their college recovery days.

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next steps.

• Research Grants to help us learn how to
  understand and improve academic performance and
  recovery rates
• Develop a scholarship fund to assist recovery
  students financially or reward excellent
  performance
• Increase our capacity

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Association of Recovery Schools

• Mission
• The Association of Recovery Schools brings
  together students, secondary and post-secondary
  schools, and helping professionals to support
  students in recovery from alcohol or other drug
  dependence. As components of the recovery
  continuum of care, ARS members advocate for the
  strengthening and expansion of high school and
  college programs dedicated to achieving both
  academic and recovery goals.
• www.recoveryschools.org
• 4th Annual Conference, July 15-17, 2005
• Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN

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