College and Sobriety - Can Kids Recovering from Addiction Stay Sober on Campus with Keith Murphy, Rutgers University

ABOUT THE EPISODE:
Parents of kids in recovery from substance use disorder may not think college is a good or even realistic option - who would be crazy enough to send their child who struggles with alcohol or drugs to a place where those things tend to be rampant and "normal?" 

This episode will be a beacon of hope for those parents who want their kids to continue on to higher education but are skeptical of the idea and don't know where to start in the process. 

Keith Murphy is the Senior Substance Abuse Counselor at Rutgers University where he heads up The Rutgers Recovery House, a 12-month, on-campus housing option that offers students the opportunity to have a fulfilling residential college experience living within a supportive community with other students in recovery. Keith provides so much information and perspective in this episode including:

• how he went from being a cocaine and heroin addict to heading up the Recovery House at Rutger's University
• why college recovery programs are the worst/best kept secret in the world of higher education
• his massive respect for parents who persevere and find college recovery as an option for their child
• what day to day life looks like for a college student in recovery - pre and during-COVID
• the reality that there are tons of activities and options for students on campus that have nothing to do with getting high or using substances
• the path he highly recommends to kids coming out of treatment before they step foot on a 4-year campus
• how and why he'd like to see collegiate recovery be a more equitable and equal space for marginalized populations
• how a Eurocentric Western philosophy around recovery wasn't and isn't necessarily accessible or even understandable for many Black and other people of color
• his thoughts on what the word diversity actually means
• the disparities he sees in substance use and recovery among marginalized communities
• why the word "stigma" is too soft when you're talking about addiction and recovery
• what it took for him to personally be able to say "there's no shame in addiction"

For parents who may have written off college for their child with substance use issues, this is an absolute must-listen show. You'll walk away with encouragement, hope, reassurance, and most of all, an appreciation for the dedication of those who work in collegiate recovery and the gift they're providing to kids who may not have pursued their eduction after treatment.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

• Keith Murphy, ADAP Recovery Counselor, 848-229-4762, or email [email protected]
• Rutgers Recovery House
• Association of Recovery in Higher Education: CollegiateRecovery.org
• Prince Sign "O" the Times podcast

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