A new study aimed at enhancing the understanding of the experiences of college students in recovery. Participants (N = 8) were college students attending a 4-year university that did not currently offer a Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) and were in recovery from a substance use disorder. Participants took part in interviews, which included a brief screening interview followed by two in-depth interviews that were audio recorded. The author used the hermeneutic phenomenological method for data analysis. Results indicated that participants reported six themes along with several subthemes related to their experiences of being a college student in recovery. For the first theme, “Navigating the Stigma of Addiction”, participants described their experiences of navigating the negative stigma often attached to substance use and addiction. For the second theme, “Balancing Recovery With Multiple Roles and Responsibilities”, participants expressed that although they had several roles and responsibilities as college students, their recovery remained a priority. For the third theme, “The Impact of Recovery on Academics and Work”, participants described how being in recovery affected their academic and career trajectories, as well as how academics and work affected their recovery. For this theme, two subthemes were found: relationship between recovery and academics, and relationship between recovery and career and employment. For the fourth theme, “Changes in Relationships as a Result of Recovery”, participants shared about making significant changes in their peer and family relationships and social activities. This theme included three subthemes: changes in social life and relationships with peers, changes in relationships with family, and stepping into a helping role. For the fifth theme, “Enhancing Overall Wellness”, participants talked about how their recoveries served as the foundation of their wellness. This theme included two subthemes: spirituality as a means of coping and mental health. For the last theme, “Utilization of and Recommendations for Recovery-Based Services and Resources”, participants shared their experiences with an wide variety of recovery-based services and resources as well as those that they believed would be helpful, even if such services or resources were not available at their institution. This theme included several subthemes: recovery-based meetings and communities, employing knowledgeable professionals and fostering greater awareness among the student body.

Take away: Through conducting in-depth interviews with college students, this study identified six themes related to their experiences of being a college student in recovery.

Iarussi, M. M. (2018). The Experiences of College Students in Recovery From Substance Use Disorders. Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling39(1), 46-62.