In the midst of Georgia Southern’s vibrant campus, a quiet but powerful community thrives, dedicated to supporting students engaged in recovery. For college students at Georgia Southern, recovery is not merely a process but a pathway to a brighter future. The Georgia Southern University Center for Addiction Recovery CAR helps support these college students as one of the nation’s longest-standing collegiate recovery programs CRPs. A CRP provides a safe environment for students seeking help for substance use issues and supports them in their recovery. Recovery is a unique process for every individual. What works for some might not work for others, but a fundamental part of every recovery journey is a nurturing support system.
Since its founding in 2008, CAR has supported Georgia Southern students in recovery from substance use disorders, defined as persistent use of alcohol and other drugs despite substantial harm and adverse consequences to self and others. CAR provides a wide range of services to college students in recovery including weekly seminars, social activities, early registration, help with the admissions process, and student scholarships. CAR holds all-recovery meetings on campus which allows students to engage in meetings regardless of their type of addiction or recovery path.
“Over the last 16 years, CAR has supported hundreds of college students who have gone on to achieve a wide range of successes after graduation,” said Assistant Professor of the Department of Health Policy & Community Health for the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health and CAR member Dr. Robert Bohler.
CAR was founded through a collaboration between the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health and an addiction treatment facility called Willingway Hospital with the goal of providing a program to support college students in recovery from alcohol and other drug addictions.
“Data collected by CAR show that students have maintained higher-than-average GPAs and the large majority have sustained their recovery, graduated, and gone on to do great things in their lives,” said Bohler.
The Core of CAR
Many students who are part of the program are non-traditional and often work full or part-time jobs, so the main goal of CAR is to help provide support for students balancing recovery and school. Students in CAR can register for classes early which helps them create a flexible schedule.
Georgia Southern has given CAR a dedicated space on campus, including 24/7 access to a large study room with a computer lab and a drop-in room for community gatherings.
“The goal of a CRP is to create a nurturing and secure environment for students in recovery to advance their education within an alternative social setting that fosters their recovery journey, while also shielding them from potentially harmful influences,” said Bohler.
In one way or another the bonds shared by these individuals run deeper than those in your average extracurricular club.
“The students in CAR have a group of friends and allies that they can count on – in good times as well as bad,” said CAR member Dr. William Mase from the Department of Health Policy & Community Health and Division of Health Policy and Management from the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health At Georgia Southern University.
With so much happening in the lives of a college student, it can be terrifying for someone to realize they need help for substance use disorder. Students can come in and just talk about what’s going on. There is no pressure to stay sober, there’s no pressure to go to rehab, and there’s no pressure to come back.
The students and faculty who run the program don’t do it because they have to, they do it because they get to. They understand the power that fear and addiction holds over people struggling with addiction.
“From seminars on meditation and yoga to help me relieve some of my stress, to going out bowling and playing laser tag at the end of the semester, CAR has given me many opportunities to connect with other students in recovery,” said student and CAR member Tom Harris.
Challenges
CAR serves college students in the prime of their lives. Many students feel like they should not get help or seek guidance because they don’t want to miss out on the fun associated with the college lifestyle. This mindset can often lead the individual to neglect the early signs of addiction and, before they know it, their substance use has become a significant problem in their lives.
“I feel that stigma is one of the biggest limiting factors to students who can benefit from this recovery program. There is a lot of pressure for students to ‘fit in’ to a culture that glamorizes alcohol and drugs in campus life across America,” said Mase.
The goal of recovery is to take positive action helping you live a more fulfilled life without dependence on drugs or alcohol. The idea of recovery can be very scary for the individual but a pivotal piece of advice from the 12-step program is taking things one day at a time.
“It is estimated that about 2% of college students identify as being in recovery from alcohol and other drug addictions, meaning that there are likely several hundred Georgia Southern students in recovery, and one of our goals is to identify and connect with these students,” said Bohler.
Future Goals
CAR employs various methods to get its name out there, letting the community know its mission.
“We are working on various ways to find Georgia Southern students in recovery who might benefit from being involved in CAR, such as collaborating with Greek organizations on campus, reaching students during orientation, and being a part of campus events,” said Bohler.
In recent years, CAR has begun building a research arm focused on addiction and recovery research.
Success stories from older members provide hope for students starting their path to recovery.
Harris noted how “Seeing former students, like Bret and Dr. Bohler, maintaining long-term recovery and coming back here to give back and help others do the same,” has helped him see tangible success stories.
Everyone understands the struggles and hardships faced by individuals plagued by addiction. Members of CAR build life-long friendships and look out for one another.
“We are connected with our alumni who have been part of CAR. Our alumni have served as mentors for current students who have similar career goals. The connections of CAR alumni is similar to Greek life in that there are many doors opened for students by alumni who are in careers and positions where they can be of support,” said Mase.
No student in recovery should go through their higher education journey alone. With its combination of academic support, community, and recovery-focused services, CAR offers a safe and supportive environment where students can thrive.
“CAR students have become medical doctors, physician assistants, nurses, psychologists, news anchors, lawyers, financial analysts, accountants, professors, doctoral students, and business owners, just to name a few,” said Bohler.
When asked about what this program meant to him Harris said “It is one of the main reasons I came back to school. I saw how much fun you could have being in recovery during school.”
The path to recovery is not a clean and paved road, but one with many bumps and potholes along the way. If you are starting to notice negative effects coming from your substance use, don’t hesitate to reach out or attend a meeting. It takes a very strong and courageous individual to admit they are powerless to the vices of this world. The only person that can save you is yourself and you are not alone in this fight.
CAR members are ready to add to their community. For more information regarding the program visit Center for Addiction Recovery Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health. All recovery meetings are held every Tuesday in Room 3031 Veazey Hall from 4 – 5 p.m. These meetings are open to students, faculty, and staff who are interested in learning more about pathways to recovery and the recovery lifestyle.