Learn to be an Ally
It’s important to acknowledge the challenging reality that college campuses can often be inhospitable to recovery, creating an environment where maintaining recovery is not only difficult but also heavily stigmatized. While individuals bear the primary responsibility for their recovery journey, it is our shared duty as a community to foster an inclusive atmosphere where every student can thrive and reach their full potential. Learn more about becoming a Recovery Ally.
Recovery Ally
Being a recovery ally can be as simple as doing the following things:
- Educate yourself: Learn about the bio-psycho-social dimensions of addiction and recovery. Spend some time researching and learning about the experience of students in recovery. Notice your biases and blind spots when it comes to your understanding of substance use. Take a look at some of the resources, podcasts, and blogs linked below!
- Shift Personal Norms: Do not assume that everyone uses substances. Consider that the sight, smell, and sound of substance use can be an immediate trigger for those in recovery. Be respectful and mindful of common areas.
- Advocate and Amplify: Part of being an ally is recognizing where you have power. Students in recovery are often minoritized by their peers, whose voices tend to be the loudest. When we say and/or echo things like, “Well everyone drinks on campus,” or “this is college, they should just expect that alcohol is going to be around,” we further marginalize and exclude those in recovery. Taking on the perspective of a student in recovery when deciding how to approach in policies, or directives is crucial to advocacy.
- When deciding on collective norms in your house/residence, keep those in recovery in mind and amplify those voices.
- Do not speak on behalf of someone in recovery without their consent and do not disclose anyone's recovery journey without their consent. That is their story to tell. That said, you can support them when they choose to speak up and you can also speak more broadly about your support for the recovery community and put on that lens when in conversations with others.
- It is important to center the voices of those in the recovery community when advocating. Ask yourself, “Where is this information coming from and what it is that those in recovery are asking for?” Use your voice to amplify the voices of recovery.
- Advocate for more substance free social events on your campus. An all-campus party where alcohol is present, or people show up under the influence may not feel inclusive to those in recovery; even if no one is handing them drinks or pressuring them to use substances.
- Support, don’t stigmatize: Consider the language you use when discussing substance use. Use person-centered language when talking about the variety of experiences around substance use.
Recovery Spoken Here Training
Recovery is Spoken Here: Recovery Ally Training, is a 2-hour program that equips faculty and staff with essential information and resources to support students in or seeking recovery from substance use. This training aims to create a more inclusive and compassionate campus community and to reframe the narrative around recovery from one of stigma to one of understanding, empowerment, and celebrating the courage of those overcoming addiction. The training will provide you with the tools to embrace a recovery-friendly culture that promotes student well-being and success. For more information, contact CAPS at 513-556-0648.
Podcast, Webinars, Blogs and Books
Looking for more? Here you can access a variety of materials that may prove useful on your journey.