Indiana University Bloomington recently started offering more options for students wanting treatment for substance abuse.
They can go to the Collegiate Recovery Community for counseling, recovery coaching, academic support, and other resources. The Community also holds weekly support meetings for students to talk about their experiences.
Collegiate Recovery Community Coordinator Travis Lawson says the program serves as a judgement-free environment for students to get the help they need to be successful.
"We’re here to simply support them in their academic pursuits and in their professional endeavors in trying to give them what they need to succeed," Lawson says.
Lawson says students often don’t seek out help because they feel there is a stigma associated with substance use.
He says, according to research, students in recovery who have support systems on campus have a graduation rate of around 80 percent.
"We know that having a collegiate recovery program, having a house, having a dedicated space is something that helps students graduate," Lawson says.
In the future, the program hopes to be able to expand its services and resources.
