Research Symposium

BIO

I'm a senior from Miami, FL, on the pre-dental track. Outside of school and work, I enjoy exploring photography and working toward my New Year's resolution—watching more movies!

Undergraduate Research Scholars’ Reflection: What I Learned about Collegiate Recovery Programs

Abstract

This presentation will exhibit what an undergraduate student learned during their year-long research project. This project strengthened the students' research and presentation skills by teaching them to write a literature review, conduct in-person interviews, and analyze transcribed data. This student is pursuing a research initiative under the Honors in the Major Program, which provides students the opportunity to collaborate with leading faculty to explore a topic in their major area of study comprehensively.

This poster session will showcase a collegiate recovery program's impact on the quality of life of college students at a large public research institution in the South. From semi-structured interviews of college students in recovery, the poster will demonstrate what I learned about the influence of campus resources, typical social interactions among student peers in and outside the LIFT (Living Intentionally, Finding Togetherness) program, and relationships with themselves and their family and friends. The study analyzes how young adults in recovery encounter the traditional challenges among college students but are also confronted by the need to abstain from social environments that enable drug and alcohol use. The research highlights the crucial role of campus interventions and other support resources to empower students in recovery to maintain sobriety without compromising their academic pursuits. The study results will allow a deeper understanding of college students in recovery and how collegiate recovery programs can enhance their services.

Keywords: Collegiate Recovery Program