Underage drug and alcohol abuse remains a significant issue in the United States. Alcohol is the most commonly used substance among today’s youth, with around 60% of 12th graders having tried it at least once, and 25% having done so before 8th grade. Here are some alarming statistics highlighting the extent of the problem:
Each year, alcohol abuse leads to over 4,300 deaths among underage youth and cost the U.S. $24 billion in 2010. In 2013, roughly 119,000 emergency room visits were due to underage drinking. The 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 19% of youth aged 12 to 20 had consumed alcohol, with 12% reporting binge drinking in the previous 30 days. Adolescents who start drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence later in life.
Despite the efforts of numerous prevention programs, many young people still fall into addiction, making them particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of these substances.
What is a Recovery School?
A recovery school is an educational institution designed to support individuals in their journey toward overcoming addiction. The Association of Recovery Schools (ARS), a national advocacy group, defines recovery schools as those providing academic services to students with a history of substance abuse or dependency who are actively following a recovery plan. These schools also offer therapeutic support to help students maintain their sobriety.
Recovery doesn’t simply end after leaving a rehabilitation facility. For many, sobriety is a lifelong process, and overcoming cravings and triggers requires constant vigilance. Unfortunately, research from the ARS shows that approximately 80% of students who return to their home schools after completing treatment relapse within the first year. Traditional high school and college environments, with their challenges like peer pressure and academic stress, are often unsuitable for those in recovery.
Recovery schools offer a safer alternative by removing students from environments that might trigger substance use. A significant study on recovery schools found that students who attended an ARS-affiliated school for at least three months experienced longer periods of abstinence reduced negative emotions, and a decreased desire to use substances.
The Need for Recovery Schools
Research indicates that brain development continues into a person’s twenties, with the frontal lobe—responsible for impulse control and decision-making—being one of the last areas to mature. Early exposure to alcohol and other mind-altering substances during adolescence can significantly harm this development, potentially stunting growth.
The National Institute of Mental Health notes that the body and brain are less equipped to manage the effects of alcohol during adolescence compared to later in life. Due to underdeveloped impulse control, underage drinkers tend to consume more alcohol per occasion than their older counterparts.
Marijuana and Inhalants
Recent surveys on teenage drug use reveal a 1.3% increase in marijuana prevalence across middle and high school students between 2016 and 2017. This rise is likely due to increasing medical and recreational marijuana legislation and growing public acceptance of the drug. At the same time, the overall index of illicit substance use rose slightly, and inhalant use, which includes any drugs consumed through inhalation, spiked by 2%, marking the first increase since 2013.
Prescription Drugs
The misuse of prescription psychotherapeutic drugs has steadily declined since 2009. These drugs, often prescribed in clinical settings, include sedatives, amphetamines, and antidepressants. Misuse of these prescriptions has dropped from 17% in 2005 to 11% in 2017, likely due to their perception of medical treatments.
Among high school seniors, misuse of pain medications (excluding heroin) dropped to 4.2% in 2017. Vicodin misuse fell from a peak of 10.5% in 2003 to 2.0% in 2017, while OxyContin misuse decreased from 5.5% in 2005 to 2.7% in 2017. Additionally, 12th graders believe that opioids are now harder to obtain; in 2010, 54% considered them easily accessible compared to 35.8% in 2017.
However, opioid usage remains twice as high among older adolescents and young adults aged 18 to 25 compared to younger age groups. While opioid misuse among youth has steadily decreased, the ongoing opioid crisis among older adolescents and young adults remains a significant concern.
Vaping and Hookah
Vaping involves inhaling vapor through devices such as e-cigarettes, Juuls, e-pens, and vapes. While vaping has seen consistent growth in recent years, its thirty-day prevalence decreased to 6%, 11%, and 13% among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders, respectively, last year. Despite this drop, vaping remains significantly more common than other tobacco products. Additionally, the percentage of students who view vaping as highly risky has slightly increased. Hookah, a popular water-based method of smoking tobacco, has been steadily rising in popularity among youth over the past decade but saw its annual prevalence drop to 10% in 2017 from 20% in 2016.
Recovery High Schools
With the widespread availability of harmful substances, some students inevitably become addicted to drugs and alcohol. Recovery high schools (RHSs) offer a supportive environment where students struggling with substance abuse can receive post-treatment education and recovery support.
A 2017 study led by Vanderbilt University professor Andy Finch found that students attending recovery schools were significantly more likely to remain sober compared to those in traditional schools, six months after the initial survey. The study also reported that the 134 students in recovery schools had fewer absences on average than those in regular schools.
Despite these promising results, recovery high schools remain relatively unknown. These schools first appeared in the late 1970s, and today, there are around 40 across the U.S. With the opioid crisis garnering national attention, both the number of recovery schools and enrollment have been rising.
Historically, there has been a treatment gap for adolescents struggling with substance abuse. Adolescents, often without financial independence and tied to school obligations, are sometimes overlooked for treatment, with parents opting to manage the situation at home. When treatment is provided, it may not always be tailored to the unique needs of adolescents, leaving a gap in care.
According to Finch, about 85% of recovery schools are publicly funded or receive public subsidies, while the remainder are privately run, and often affiliated with religious organizations or traditional treatment centers. In Delaware, advocates for a public recovery school in 2018 were unable to secure the $2 million required for staff, despite a local school district offering facilities and equipment.
Proponents of recovery schools emphasize their value, pointing to the increased risk of continued substance abuse the earlier a student starts. Traditional high schools often expose students to greater temptations and peer pressure to use drugs. In contrast, recovery schools foster a supportive community, helping students connect with peers who share their commitment to sobriety.
The success of recovery schools largely depends on the strength of this community. When students are surrounded by supportive faculty and peers, it creates a positive, reinforcing environment. However, like any school, challenges remain. For example, some students may fall behind in credits or struggle with authority, as seen at schools like Interagency at Queen Anne in Seattle.
Interagency is part of a broader network of alternative public schools serving homeless and incarcerated youth. Despite concerns from local residents fearing drug-related issues, these schools are often safer and more sober than traditional school settings.
What is Recovery School Like?
Recovery schools vary in structure but often share common scheduling and program elements. At Bridge Way Recovery School in Pennsylvania, students attend both group and individual counseling, receive personalized programs with structured activities, and undergo random drug testing. Unlike traditional schools, recovery plays a central role in many of the classes offered at Bridge Way and other recovery institutions.
Another initiative, APEX (Academic and Personal Excellence) Recovery School, launched by Rochester Public Schools in 2016, aims to expand the benefits of recovery education. APEX provides students with a curriculum that helps them regain academic credits while minimizing temptations to relapse. The school also supports at-risk students by offering access to showers, laundry facilities, and food.
According to an APEX teacher, “We strive to be the most stable part of their lives, even when they arrive in difficult circumstances.” While kicking students out can be part of the recovery process, they are never permanently excluded, except in extreme cases. However, students are expected to put in effort if they wish to remain enrolled.
Some APEX students only attend for a few weeks to stabilize their sobriety and stay academically on track, while others complete their high school education there. Since substance abuse often coexists with mental health challenges, APEX also provides an on-site mental health professional and a licensed drug counselor to offer comprehensive support.
In Conclusion
After completing drug or alcohol treatment, it can be valuable to reassess your social relationships. Positive influences from friends and family can play a crucial role in maintaining sobriety. However, if those around you are unsupportive or critical of your lifestyle changes, they may unintentionally enable relapse.
It’s important to choose relationships carefully and consider building new connections with sober individuals who can support your recovery journey.
At Sunrise Recovery in Clarksville Indiana, we offer both inpatient and outpatient rehab programs with a dedicated team focused on helping you restore a healthy lifestyle. To explore treatment options, contact our admissions team today.
