Recovery/Relapse Prevention in Educational Settings For Youth with Substance Use & Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders - 2010 Consultative Sessions Report

• NCJ Number: 242415
• Author(s): Norris Dickard; Tracy Downs; Doreen Cavanaugh
• Date Published: May 2011
• Length: 59 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Education
• Sale Source: US Dept of Education
• Publication Format: Document; Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This is a draft report on two consultative sessions sponsored by Federal partners for the purposes of gaining a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities in supporting youth in recovery from substance abuse in the context of educational settings.

Abstract

The specific goals of these sessions were to provide information on youth substance use and treatment, the role of recovery in educational settings, the Federal agenda related to recovery, and actions taken by the U.S. Department of Education in response to recommendations made at the two consultative sessions. The first section of this report presents background information on youth substance-use disorders, the relationship between substance use disorders and academic achievement, and the role of recovery in preventing relapse into addiction. This is followed by a review of the Federal policy response as presented in President Obama's 2010 National Drug Control Strategy developed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. This policy endorses a balance of prevention, treatment, and law enforcement. Actions involved in implementing this policy are expanded access to recovery programs, a review of laws and regulations that impede recovery from addiction, and the expansion of community-based recovery support programs. The latter include recovery schools, peer-led programs, mutual help groups, and recovery support centers. The concluding section of this report on the two consultative sessions outlines consensus recommendations for Federal action in the areas of practice, programs, research, communications, and policy. Also included are actions by the U.S. Department of Education in support of the effort of institutions of higher education to provide recovery support programs for students and employees. Participants in the consultative sessions included youth in recovery from substance use/co-occurring mental health disorders, parents, teachers, school administrators, providers, researchers, and policymakers. 35 references and appended supplementary information, including a listing of participants in the sessions