Recovery center one of only six of it’s kind in the nation
CU has established a recovery center to help drug and alcohol addicts after noticing the struggles of its addicted students.
Jack Lavino, a psychologist for the Wardenburg Health Center, began the Center for Students in Recovery last March after receiving approval from the university. One of six recovery centers in the nation, it focuses on helping recovering addicts instead of being an actual rehab center.
This center is for students “who are already in recovery and have been for six months,” Lavino said. “We want students who are committed to their own recovery.”
Lavino said the organization gives guidance to addicts so they can find the right resources to help them in academics or another area they might be struggling in.
“People start abusing drugs and alcohol so young that when they are older, they have social or academic deficits,” Lavino said.
According to its Web site, the goals of the recovery center are to help students remain sober, graduate and become contributing members of the community.
The Center for Students in Recovery currently does not have a designated building where students can meet, but Lavino said that “it is definitely something (they’re) looking into.”
Consultants from Texas Tech University support the recovery center because it was originally their idea.
“Financially, we are supported by the (CU Parent) fund. They have provided $50,000 this year,” Lavino said.
According to Lavino, the organization needs $200,000 to successfully run the center and he is optimistic about future donations.
“I think this center is a good thing. If people knew that it was out there and that there were other people they could relate to, maybe they would try to find help and stay on top of things,” said Bentley Moore, a sophomore communication major.
According to Lavino, 6 percent of the student body meet the criteria for chemical dependency, but only 4 percent seek help.
“A lot of the students with a problem don’t address it because binge drinking is such a huge thing here. They just fit right in,” Lavino said.
Despite the alcohol abuse statistics, some students felt it wasn’t a big issue.
“It doesn’t really affect me. I don’t know anyone with a problem, so to me this isn’t really a need for Boulder. But if it works for them, that’s great,” said Natalie Wanner, a sophomore integrative physiology major.
Lavino said that their goal for the upcoming year, besides raising money, is to get at least 10 people enrolled in the program. There are currently only five.
“We are waking a sleeping giant of recovery on campus. We want students on the road to recovery to maintain recovery and to graduate,” Lavino said.