School-Based Programs Work
School-based programs have a history of working to prevent and treat addiction. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program is offered to millions of elementary school age children each year. Although it had a positive impact, DARE has become less popular over the years. Many schools are switching to programs more focused on choice and behavior. Some of these programs include ProjectAlert.com, Life Skills Training, and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Addiction Recovery High Schools
Addiction recovery high schools serve the function of combining academics with teaching the skills and support teenagers need in their substance abuse recovery time. Right now, the US has 38 addiction recovery high schools and plans for five more in the future. These types of high schools have three main goals. “They exist to educate as many students with substance abuse disorder and co-occurring disorders (such as anxiety disorders) as possible. Secondly, they must meet state education requirements for awarding a diploma. Finally, they aim to support students by creating a program of addiction recovery,” writes Amy Simcox, an educator at BoomEssays and EssayRoo.
College Recovery Programs
College recovery programs, also known as collegiate recovery communities, ensure access to social and educational supports for college students recovering from addiction. There are differences depending on the individual sites, but generally speaking, they offer housing on campus, meetings (similar to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings), counseling services, sober social gatherings, and seminars designed to inform them on topics that can help them with their everyday lives (such as managing stress). People in the 18-25 year-old range experience substance abuse disorders at much higher rates than other groups, so having these programs at the university level makes a lot of sense.
Education Keeps You Busy
“When you’re recovering from an addiction, one of the most important things is to keep yourself busy. The more productive and active you are, the less time you have to slip back into old patterns and get back into the addiction cycle,” recommends Jasper Stone, a health writer at UKWritings and State Of Writing. People outside of the post-secondary world often opt to take a class or begin reading up on a subject to keep their minds off their addiction. Keeping your brain focused on something and working towards a goal can be powerful tools in recovery from substance abuse. Combining recovery services with education is an excellent way for a person to meet their addiction recovery goals.
Education Can Make You Healthier
Education gives you the knowledge and skills to live a healthier lifestyle. Not only that, but your education correlates with the job you get and the money you earn. The more money and resources you have at your disposal, the better your medical and nutritional opportunities become. A better job can even benefit your health and recovery by providing you more vacation time for adventure and relaxation. Because of all the extra options, educated people tend to choose healthier lifestyles that are conducive to recovery from addiction.
Education Provides Extra Recovery Opportunities
Education can help you access “recovery capital,” which refers to ongoing opportunities that help a person stay free of their addiction in the long-term. These include social opportunities, new career options, exposure to new ideas and belief systems, and a better ability to remain accountable and functional in daily life.
Education is a powerful tool for anyone in addiction recovery, so it is no wonder there are so many programs that involve education. Education gives a person something to do and think about other than their addiction. It also leads to positive outcomes such as higher income, which is correlated with a healthy lifestyle.