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Kitty Harris was awarded a two-year grant to help analyze the impact of these recovery programs.
Written by Karin Slyker
Harris
When it comes to collegiate recovery programs, a Texas Tech University professor is working to determine what works, what doesn’t and why.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recently awarded
The study will involve at least 29 programs and approximately 700 students, Harris said. And it will continue the CSAR’s efforts of sustaining a database with which to explore students participating in collegiate recovery communities nationwide, and to analyze the students’ outlook on such programs.
“We’d like to know things like which services they utilized, which was most important to them, and how it changed their college experience,” Harris said.
Harris is principal investigator for this study alongside Alexandre Laudet, of National Development and Research Institutes. They are joined by co-investigator Ken Winders of the University of Minnesota, and Paul Moberg of the University of Wisconsin as consultant.
The results will be used to design a rigorous evaluation study to be submitted to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for potential funding toward a best-practices model.
CSAR provides peer-based support, 12-step support and academic support for more than 80 students in recovery from drug and alcohol addictions, as well as eating disorders.
Now with collegiate recovery programs in place at more than 30 institutions nationwide and 75 programs in different stages of development, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) cites Texas Tech as the model for others to follow.
“The ONDCP is very excited,” Harris said. “I think part of that is because this is the first time that the NIH and NIDA have acknowledged the importance of recovery, not just addiction.”
It is the difference between a short-term fix and a long-term solution, she said.
“It’s fairly simple to get people clean and sober,” Harris said. “The real challenge is in giving an emerging adult population the tools necessary for life-long recovery.”
2 Responses to “Faculty Member Receives Grant to Study Campus-Based Recovery Projects”
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CSAR
The Center for the Study of Addiction & Recovery is committed to achieving six primary goals
- Quality, long-term recovery for the student population.
- Development of resiliency in recovering students.
- Education about the disease of addiction and effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of its consequences.
- Service within the university, local, state and national communities.
- Creation of a replication model that will allow other institutions to offer similar programs to their students.
- Research that impacts the way addiction is viewed from an individual, familial and social perspective..
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July 27th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Dr. Harris you are an inspiration to all that know of you and your work. My husband and I work at the Ranch @ Dove Tree and I have never see so many employees in one place so dedicated to their cause and the clients. It is a real pleasure to be a part of such an elite group of people. Congratulations on your award for the awsome work you do.
July 28th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Congratulations Dr. Harris. Your continuing effort to change lives is a grand example for all who know you. I’m happy and proud to be one of those people. Thank you.