Universities across the country are responding to the growing opioid problem by introducing recovery programs on campuses.
Lorain County Community College, Ohio University, The Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University are the four universities that have introduced recovery programs to students battling addiction.
The program at Case Western Reserve University started in 2004, long before the drug epidemic gripped the lives of students and communities in Northeast Ohio.
Students can opt to live at the recovery house on campus to help maintain a clean, sober lifestyle while pursuing their studies.
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Students who want to live in the house are required to do three things:
- Two activities per week
- One meeting with a counselor
- Attend a house dinner
Research shows students who live in recovery housing have a lower rate of relapsing.
Jennifer McCarthy of the health and counseling services at Case Western Reserve said research shows peer support can make a difference in a person's recovery and the chances of maintaining a clean and sober lifestyle.
In the past five years, 25 students have gone through the program, averaging three to five students per school year.
