Friday, April 11, 2025
4/11/2025
Collegiate recovery programming in the U.S.: An implementation science and mixed methods study - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Substance use is a critical public health problem among college students in the US. Roughly 600,000 college students report being in recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD). To support students seeking to maintain or attempting to initiate SUD recovery, a growing number of US higher education institutions (at least 138) have established collegiate recovery programs (CRPs). CRPs have expanded by 500% from 2013 to 2020, but there are no current evidence-based standards to guide college staff, administrators, and communities on how to establish a maximally beneficial CRP. This is at least partly because little empirical evidence exists on CRPs’ design, development, and implementation. To address this critical gap, I propose a mixed-methods study to investigate CRP programs and create a pragmatic, context-sensitive, implementation toolkit for colleges across the US. In Aim 1, I will conduct an ethnography at four well-established, geographically dispersed CRPs (Texas Tech University, Augsburg University, Penn State University, and University of California at Santa Barbara) to identify core characteristics and related barriers to and facilitators of CRP best practices. In Aim 2, I will conduct a national survey among CRP program directors (n=50) and students (n=500) to characterize current CRP programming and the evolution of CRPs over time. The survey results will be compared and contrasted with a smaller national survey completed 7 years ago. In Aim 3, findings from the ethnography (Aim 1) and national surveys (Aim 2) will be used to develop a CRP implementation toolkit. The toolkit will provide colleges with appropriate insight on strategies to best disseminate and implement evidence-based interventions and practices for students who are contemplating or in SUD recovery. Through the award period, I will build upon my clinical training as a SUD counselor, doctoral training in experimental psychology, and experience conducting research in SUD treatment to develop new knowledge and skills in ethnography, SUD recovery among emerging adults, survey design, and implementation of CRP best practices. My proposed research plan integrates coursework, formal training, practical experience, applied training, and mentorship from experts (Drs. Keith Humphreys, Mark McGovern, Christine Timko, John Kelly, Alison Hamilton, and Kitty Harris) in addiction recovery, mutual-help organizations, SUD treatment, quantitative and qualitative methods, and implementation science. This Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) will help me achieve my long-term career goal of being an independent investigator with an established program of research focused on the development, testing, and implementation of interventions for SUD treatment and recovery. In summary, the proposed research and training plan will result in timely, innovative, and impactful findings on CRPs, ultimately leading to substantial findings, high-quality publications, and improved health outcomes in the US.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).