The Need for a Continuum of Care: The Rutgers Comprehensive Model

Abstract

College drinking has been a concern of college administrators, parents of college-age students and health care professionals for some time. Over the last few years an increasing number of institutions have begun to understand that the problem is complex enough that it warrants attention and that a variety of strategies are necessary to attempt to reduce dangerous drinking and the unwanted attendant consequences (for example, . While some institutions have looked for a silver bullet that would serve as a cure all, over time it has become clear that institutions of higher education need to have comprehensive plans designed to address drinking behaviors and provide a continuum of care.The purpose of this article is to describe the Rutgers Program, a comprehensive model addressing the continuum from prevention to recovery support that can meet the complex needs of a college community who are involved in a wide spectrum of alcohol and other drug use from nonuse, social/recreational use, dangerous use, abuse, addiction, and recovery. The paper begins with a description of the problem of college drinking, which is presented as the backdrop for the Rutgers Model. We have combined the experience of the second author as a research scholar and the first author as a practitioner to create the description of the continuum. The differences in 238

Promoting recovery in an evolving policy context: What do we know and what do we need to know about recovery support services?

“…Department of Education Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention, 2010; Woodford, 2001). Although the CRC model is new and the range of services varies across sites (Bell et al, 2009), central elements of the model include a peer-driven approach informed by 12-step tenets, and services such as drug-free housing, onsite peer support and counseling provided by a small staff, as well as opportunities for sober recreational activities, relapse prevention and life skills workshops (Baker & Harris, 2010; Botzet, Winters, & Fahnhorst, 2007; Harris, Baker, Kimball, & Shumway, 2008; Laitman & Lederman, 2007; Smock, Baker, Harris, & D’sauza, 2011). As described in the few published reports, CRCs seem consistent with the continuing care paradigm within a “recovery management” system that experts recommend (Godley, Godley, Dennis, Funk, & Passetti, 2002).…”

Communal-Living Settings for Adults Recovering from Substance Abuse

“…This introduction to that special edition sets a context for the papers that follow by reviewing studies that document the importance of social support and housing stability on recovery outcome. The focus then shifts to a review of the history of communal living arrangements for alcoholics and addicts, starting with the early “dry hotels” or “lodging houses” (Wittman, 1993) and moving to contemporary abstinent living environments, such as sober living houses in California (Polcin, 2001; Polcin & Henderson, in press) and sober houses on college campuses (Botzet, et al, in press; Laitman, et al in press). Finally, the Oxford House model is briefly described in terms of its history, structure, and operations (see Jason, Ferrari, Davis & Olson, 2006).…”

“…A different model of sober housing was developed at Rutgers University in 1988 to address the needs of the growing number of college students with alcohol and drug problems (Botzet, et al, in press; Laitman, et al in press). Because of widespread drinking among students in the general population it was felt that separate dormitories designed for students in recovery would provide them emotional, social and environmental support that would increase their chances at successful recovery.…”

“…Unlike California SLHs, students can only reside in the dormitories while they are students at the college. Although peer support for recovery is emphasized, these living arrangements are integrated into an overall treatment approach that requires regular sessions with alcohol and drug counselors on campus (Laitman, et al in press). …”

Building on Our Foundations

“…Their study of sustainable recovery and storytelling in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) represents the second article to be published in this journal by Lederman (Laitman & Lederman, 2008), whose first article appeared in our special issue on recovery from addiction in the educational community. Their study of sustainable recovery and storytelling in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) represents the second article to be published in this journal by Lederman (Laitman & Lederman, 2008), whose first article appeared in our special issue on recovery from addiction in the educational community.…”