{"id":40199,"date":"2016-01-15T13:19:00","date_gmt":"2016-01-15T20:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stage.headlessnauedu-b6hgdzckfdgxgzhe.westus-01.azurewebsites.net\/?p=40199"},"modified":"2016-01-15T13:21:06","modified_gmt":"2016-01-15T20:21:06","slug":"collegiate-program-supports-students-recovery-substance-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/collegiate-program-supports-students-recovery-substance-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Collegiate program supports students’ recovery from substance abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thanks to grants from the Arizona Governor\u2019s Office of Youth, Faith and Family\u00a0and non-profit organization Transforming Youth Recovery,\u00a0Northern Arizona University is establishing a program that will provide support for students in recovery from substance abuse and expand\u00a0the number of social events on campus.<\/p>\n

Similar recovery programs exist at more than 130 colleges and universities across the country, and it is estimated that more than 8 percent of Americans need treatment for substance abuse. Research suggests students in these programs have higher GPAs, graduate at higher rates and have a lower likelihood of relapse into substance abuse. Leisure activities are a key part of these programs.<\/p>\n

“What I hear from people who are drinking excessively is \u2018well, there\u2019s nothing else to do,\u2019” said Kelsey Pruett<\/strong>, a graduate service assistant at Campus Health Services<\/a> who screens students for substance abuse problems. \u201cA lot of them say, \u2018if there were other things to do, I\u2019d love that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

All events hosted by SUN Entertainment and Unions and Student Activities are alcohol-free, but many students\u00a0have given feedback that they desire even more opportunities to socialize without alcohol.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a ton of students who say, \u2018I\u2019m not really into drinking. I\u2019d like to have more fun with sober activities on campus,\u2019\u201d said Melissa Griffin<\/strong>, NAU Health Promotion manager, who is co-managing the program with a colleague in Counseling Services.\u00a0Attendance at such events supports those claims: more than 700 people attended this year\u2019s Homecoming Flannels and Flapjacks breakfast, a 37 percent increase over last year\u2019s numbers.<\/p>\n

Alcohol-free\u00a0events provide more than a safe night out; they’re also\u00a0opportunities for students in recovery to build a network of friends to support them. For Iridian Nunez<\/strong>, a biomedical science student and president of the Student Health Advocacy Committee, the collegiate recovery program is an extension of the care individuals in the university community show for each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cNAU is very big on creating a communal support system for everybody,\u201d said Nunez. \u201cYou should feel that support from the people you\u2019re surrounded by.\u201d<\/p>\n

The program will kick off in January\u00a0with\u00a0a \u201clive-free\u201d weekend that asks students to pledge to be sober all of that weekend.<\/p>\n

Friday, Jan. 29<\/strong><\/p>\n