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s
8B Wednesday, September 14, 20/ a
RECOVERY
from Page 5B
better life now, without drugs and
alcohol than what I did," she said.
Smith said she never had reser-
vations about seeking help while
attending the University and
wants to make her peers aware
that students are actually dealing
with addiction on a daily basis.
"I feel like there is such a stigma
put on recovery, and if me talking
about my experience helps some-
one else, then it's worth it for me,"
Smith said.
She mentioned that because of
the college atmosphere, some peo-
ple make excuses for alcohol and
drug abuse.
"It's so easy to hide substance
abuse
said. "
face ev
ple rea
substar
won't b
be offer
With
ris at'
25-year
Progra
able to
meet tI
diverse
Har
for 10
tence.
issues in college," Smith has a 94-percent success rate,
Being young, it's in your which means the students have
erywhere, and if more peo- remained sober. Eighty students
lize how many people have are currently participating in the
nce abuse issues, drinking recovery program.
e such a big deal or won't According to Harris, the pro-
red at everything." gram at Texas Tech has four
important facets to recovery:
Rebirth and health, community support, aca-
demic aid and civility.
the new CRP The federal dissemination
grant awarded to her program in
the help of Dr. Kitty Har- Jan. 2007 to replicate nationwide,
Texas Tech, the home of a has allowed her and her colleagues
r-old Collegiate Recovery to train those involved with the
m, Desprez and Cervi were University's CRP. Last January,
form a program that could Harris came to the University to
he needs of the University's work with Desprez and E. Royster
student population. Harper, vice president for student
ris has headed the center affairs, to jumpstart the program.
years of its 25-year exis- Harris said in her experience of
The program she runs replicating Texas Tech's program
at 15 other schools, she has never
met someone with as much dedi-
cation and persistence as Desprez.
"The program is going to be a
great opportunity for the Univer-
sity to really set the stage for doing
some work with students," Harris
said. "I couldn't be any more com-
mitted to this program being a
real positive thing for the Univer-
sity and the students involved."
Harris believes the program
has been a success because of the
feeling of belonging individuals
develop in groups that offer social
support.
"With drug use, you think a lot
about peer pressure, and people
being pressured to use drugs, and
recovery - especially for the col-
lege population - kind ofturnsthat
around so that you are pressured to
be clean and sober to remai part
of that community. That's key."
To Harris, a program like the
CRP helps students become who
they were meant to be.
"These programs are opportuni-
ties to go forwardiwith your hopes,
dreams and a future that really
matters," Harris said. "The most
exciting thing about a Collegiate
Recovery Program is that it allows
you to flourish. It is a great chance
at being the kind of person you were
supposed to be before the drugs and
alcohol got a hold of you."
Recovery in college allows stu-
dents to start again in a new place
with a new potential, Desprez said.
"Who do you know that doesn't
believe in a second chance? Col-
legiate recovery support is most
fundamentally a second chance."
the
EPtat m nt
SEPTEMBER 14, 2011
A Place
without
Pressure
September 15th
and October 6th
11-3pm
Michigan Union
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables a Local Farms
WE'RE GIVING AWAY
AN IPOD SHUFFLE.
YOU KNOW YOU
WANT IT.
JUST TAKE OUR
OFF-CAMPUS
HOUSING SURVEY.
GO TO
WWW.MICHIGANDAILY.COM/
HOUSING-SURVEY FOR YOUR
CHANCE TO WIN.
Tips for Healthy Eating
The University's new
Collegiate Recovery
Program is helping
students with
addictions find sobriety
Page 4B
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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
DVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
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