A group of about a dozen UofSC students who have suffered from drug-and-alcohol addiction are pushing the university to join a family of 88 colleges in creating a ‘collegiate recovery program,’ consisting of a recovery support-group, designated hangout space + school-sponsored sober events.

UofSC, who already bans underage drinking on campus, has showed interest in being part of this program for years, but says they’re restricted due to lack of funding (they received a $10,000 grant for program research in 2013, but said more is needed for program creation). College of Charleston started a recovery program last year (the only in the state) with $300,000 of donated funds, attracting 14 students during its first semester. They hope they’ll be able to run for three years on those funds.

It’s no secret that college campuses across the nation have a drinking culture (if not also a drug culture). UofSC students say recovery can be hard in a college town, where often making friends and bonding is done over alcohol-centric events at bars, tailgates + parties.

Substance-use stats:

1 in 5 college students have a substance-use disorder (national)

1 in 4 college students say drinking set-back their studies (national)

40% of college dropout cases have something to do with substance abuse (national)

3% (~170) of this fall’s incoming freshman will want more info on recovery programs (UofSC)

30% of UofSC students say they never drink or, at least, haven’t in the past month (UofSC)

88 U.S. colleges + universities have recovery programs

UofSC makes incoming students take a mandatory alcohol-education program, and the Substance Abuse Education office works with student-run program Gamecock Recovery to reach the student body.

10 min read / The State