Collegiate Recovery Programmes, or CRPs, are designed to support students and staff who strive for recovery from substance use, alcohol, or behavioural addictions, while achieving success in higher education.
CRPs create environments within existing campus cultures, and wellbeing programmes, where people in recovery feel safe, supported and valued. Research from the 150+ CRPs in the United States has found that CRPs contribute to both successful recovery from addiction, and improved academic outcomes when compared to the general student population.
While CRPs are often different from university to university, these predominantly peer-led programmes include features such as recovery-friendly events, spaces and accommodation, opportunities to challenge addiction-related stigma, and enhance the scope of existing student wellbeing and support services
Harnessing the expertise, experience and energy of pioneers in the field, we have created a user-friendly toolkit, and extensive open-source knowledge hub of Collegiate Recovery best practices. Built on decades of experience, research, and work that supports tens of thousands of students in recovery from addiction globally, this platform brings the opportunity of recovery at university to students at any Higher Education Institution in the UK.
Any student, Higher Education Administrator, student support or wellbeing service, or other professional working with students, who shares the vision of creating recovery-focused environments within higher education in the UK.
Enhancing student wellbeing and support services with free, step-by-step guidance on building peer-led, community-driven, recovery-friendly educational environments
Ensuring students and staff in recovery from any addiction, and loved ones affected by it, enjoy a meaningful, rewarding University experience delivering on academic, professional and personal goals.
Inclusivity & Equity
Creating connections to support Collegiate Recovery Programme efforts nationwide
Placing the Lived Experience of all pathways of Recovery at the core of our work
Ensuring students in recovery are recognised, valued and celebrated
Building peer-led community environments
Making full use of proven best practices and latest research in CRPs
Overall, almost half (45%) of UK adults are affected by addiction, either personally or through someone close to them
Statistics
45%
Over half (53%) of those affected feel they cannot openly discuss it. Action on Addiction. Almost Half of Brits Impacted by Addiction, Yet Stigma Continues to Silence The Nation (2023)
Statistics
53%
Research indicates that Collegiate Recovery Programmes are linked to relapse rates in graduates of between 2.2% & 10.2% compared to average relapse rates between 40% and 60% in people treated for drug dependence.
Statistics
32%
44% of students do not know if their university has a specific drugs policy
Statistics
44%
A review of 94 studies with 237,657 participants from 40 different countries found an overall prevalence of behavioural addiction of 11.1%.
Statistics
Texas Tech University, Department of Community, Family & Addiction Services
Associate Professor in Criminology, Department of Criminology and Social Science, University of Derby
Alcohol and Drug Treatment and Recovery, Health Improvement Directorate, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
Chief Executive Officer, Recovery Connections
Project Manager, Better Than Well - Collegiate Recovery, University of Birmingham
Marketing & Communications Lead, Recovery Connections
Assistant Director, Student Journey, University of Sunderland
CADC, MBA, Assistant Director Recovery support, Virginia Commonwealth University
Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary
Clinical Reader in Addiction Psychiatry, University of Birmingham
Executive Director of Communications and Development, Teesside University
Director, Student Mental Health Community, Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies, Texas Tech University
Assistant Professor, Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health
