Sober Student Goes To College

I got my first acceptance letter to a college today and I’m pretty excited. I’ve come a long way since going to rehab. As a teen , I never thought that I would ever get it together enough to go to college. I really didn’t think I had it in me. After finishing adolescent drug treatment , I continued in the outpatient program and attended sober high school. I maintained my support system which helped me finish high school, even though my ADHD made it really difficult. In treatment, I learned how to keep going even when things were difficult, frustrating, or seemingly endless. These tools have now enabled me to keep going towards a great, rewarding life. If you had told me a few years ago that I would go to rehab, get clean, stay clean, and get into college, I would have never believed you. I’m so glad that other people believed in me and helped me get back on track. If I can do it, anyone can.

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It’s college Application Time

It’s college application time and being a young recovering addict can add a bit more stress to an already stressful situation for any teen. While most teens look at going away to college as a chance at freedom and unlimited partying, as a recovering alcoholic and addict, the idea of leaving my established support system and being surrounded by college binge drinking makes me uncomfortable. Fortunately, in adolescent treatment, I learned the value of how to set up safe situations for myself.
Many colleges now offer sober college experiences, or “dry” dorms, or floors of dorms where students agree not to drink, smoke, or use drugs. AA and NA meetings are available across the country whether it be in New York, California, Dallas Texas, etc. There are nationwide calling plans and internet access allow for an easy connection to sponsors and 12-step support. As I research schools, I am also checking out the availability of 12-step meetings and housing options at each school. I am considering living off-campus in order to avoid crazy dorm life. Some schools even offer scholarships to students who pledge not to drink while in school. I feel that with my strong recovery foundation, I will be okay no matter where I go, as long as I take the steps necessary to keep my recovery a priority. I am used to being a teen that doesn’t drink, but sometimes it is hard to explain my sobriety to people who don’t know me. I am excited to be going to college. Before I got sober, I didn’t think I would be able to do it. Sobriety is the reason I have the freedom to go to school, and remembering that will help me succeed wherever I end up attending college.

Sober College, Sober Dorms and Secrets

Several recent studies have suggested that it is beneficial for parents to talk to their teens about their own teen drug use in the past. Studies by Hazelden which has a sober college, Brigham Young University that has a sober dorm, and the Partnership for a Drug Free America that supports sober university, all suggest that an open dialogue about drug and alcohol use is beneficial to teens- because if anything, the doors of communication are left open.
For me, a lot of my drug use was motivated by the thrill of secrecy, and the feeling that I was not under my parents’ control. especially while I was away at school. However, my parents had always been fairly open with me about drugs and alcohol. Alcoholism runs in my family, so knowing a parent’s particular struggles actually made it easier for me to go to them when things got really bad. I knew that they might be disappointed that I had chosen to use drugs, but I also knew that they would be understanding of my inability to stop. I feel really grateful for that. I was still in big trouble- don’t get me wrong- but I was offered a chance to get help as well. I feel that honesty amongst parents and teens benefits all parties. It seems like disclosing some “secret” information about past drug use is a good bartering tool for parents: they give a little and hopefully the teen will feel safe giving a little as well. Communication between parents and teens has been historically difficult, but today we all have a chance to break those patterns by opening up the lines of communication. While I'm not attending a sober college I am living in a sober dorm. Please contact us if your teen is struggling with alcohol or drug dependence and needs treatment in the Los Angeles area.