Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) provide structured support environments that promote social connection and academic achievement for students in recovery from addiction or seeking recovery. Despite the growing number of CRPs and calls from national agencies for comprehensive research, little is known about the students these programs serve. Critical gaps exist in understanding the demographic diversity, recovery experiences, and academic outcomes of CRP students. This study addresses these gaps by examining individual characteristics (demographics, substance use history, mental health, and academic profiles) and program features (programmatic and institutional characteristics) among students enrolled in CRPs across the U.S. and Canada.
This study recruited 246 students from 77 higher education institutions across the U.S. and Canada through CRP directors and the Association for Recovery in Higher Education listserv, targeting all recognized CRPs in both countries. Participants completed an online survey assessing demographic characteristics (age, race, gender, sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, employment status, housing situation, and criminal justice involvement), academic variables (academic year, enrollment status, GPA, student debt, financial aid received, and length of CRP involvement), clinical history (substance use and mental health diagnoses and treatment history), and recovery engagement (self-help group attendance and frequency, utilization of off-campus recovery supports, and participation in school- and CRP-level overdose prevention activities). Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample.
Participants (N = 246) had a mean age of 27.1 years and were predominantly white (82.1%), non-Hispanic (88.2%), and female (62.6%), with 50.4% identifying as women, 12.2% as gender queer/gender nonconforming/non-binary, and 51.6% as heterosexual. Most were undergraduates (68.7%) enrolled full-time (84.1%) with a mean GPA of 3.5, employed part-time (48.4%) or full-time (25.2%), and lived off campus (61.8%). Criminal justice involvement was reported by 32.9%. The majority (73.2%) reported resolving a substance use or behavioral problem (e.g., AUD, SUD), with mean recovery time of 3.0 years and mean age of first substance use at 14.2 years. Common recovery pathways included 12-step programs (57.3%), professional therapy (53.3%), and CRP involvement (47.6%). Mental health diagnoses were prevalent, particularly depression (79.3%) and anxiety (76.8%). Half of students reported peer stigma for being in recovery (50.4%), with lower rates for CRP-specific stigma (25.6%). Self-help group attendance included Alcoholics Anonymous (66.7%) and Narcotics Anonymous (47.2%), and 83.7% utilized off-campus recovery supports, most commonly professional counseling (52.0%).
Takeaway: CRP participants demonstrate diverse and complex recovery needs, underscoring the necessity for adaptable, inclusive support services that promote health equity and reduce stigma within higher education.