Treating college substance abusers. The New Jersey Collegiate Substance Abuse Program

Area of Science:

• Addiction Medicine
• Higher Education Health Services
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• University students with serious substance use disorders often require tailored interventions.
• Maintaining academic pursuits during treatment presents unique challenges for student populations.
• Existing treatment models may not adequately address the integrated needs of students in higher education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the structure and evaluation of the New Jersey Collegiate Substance Abuse Program (NJCSAP).
• To assess the characteristics of university students with substance use disorders receiving specialized treatment.
• To explore the feasibility of integrating substance abuse treatment within a university setting.

Main Methods:

• NJCSAP utilized a three-level continuum of care to match client needs with treatment intensity.
• The program facilitated the development of peer support networks and campus-based recovery activities.
• An evaluation assessed the demographic and clinical profiles of the student client population.

Main Results:

• The client population comprised university students with a history of severe substance use.
• Students experienced significant substance-related problems requiring intensive intervention.
• The program integrated treatment with ongoing academic engagement.

Conclusions:

• Specialized, multi-level treatment programs can effectively serve university students with substance use disorders.
• Integrating treatment within the university environment supports continued education and recovery.
• NJCSAP demonstrated a viable model for addressing substance use in higher education.