"Nowadays, everyone is affected by the disease of addiction," graduate student Tyler Crochet said about the efforts which he and a group of other students are putting forth to establish a Collegiate Recovery Program at USC. What is nicknamed "Gamecock Recovery" will, once it garners enough support and attention from the university, be one of over 130 programs which began in the 1980s that provide a community for college students who have fully recovered from addictions and wish to find support within the USC community.
In order to become an established organization, the program needs a staff member to serve as an advisor, a location to meet and a large enough number of participating students. The fight right now is to become well known enough to accomplish these goals.
"Once you have students on campus who are advocating for it and saying this is what we need, then that's how you get that, get the attention of the university to realize that it is a program that's in need," Crochet said.
There is very clearly a need. Approximately 374,000 people between the ages of 18 and 24 were in treatment for a substance use disorder, 12,000 of whom were enrolled in some form of secondary education. Furthermore, 37.6 percent of college students meet the criteria for substance abuse or dependency.
CRPs benefit students in surprisingly effective ways. Studies have shown that students involved in CRP programs usually have higher grade point averages than other students at the same universities and participants tend to have relapse rates as low as 8 percent.
The national CRP model includes opportunities for housing and scholarships but what those involved see as most important is the companionship CRPs provide. One of the current organizers is a USC student named Max who wishes to keep his last name anonymous.
"Right now, I think the biggest goal is just what the group really stands for is that undergrads have a place to go where they feel truly safe and comfortable and supported," Max said of what the group hopes to accomplish.
He explained that it can be challenging for students to find people who relate to their recovered lifestyle.
"As a young person there's a lot of pressure, particularly in college, to go out and experiment and try things and party, and for some people that's the right thing but for others, you know, it's really not," Max said.
Once established, they will holds social events announced through their monthly newsletter, which can be found on the "Gamecock Recovery" Facebook page. The newsletter features event announcements, articles like "How Do I Keep My Grades Up While Getting Sober," and information about campus activities.