About the Collegiate Recovery Program
The mission of the BU Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP) is to provide a welcoming community where students in recovery from substance use are empowered to advance their academic, personal, and professional potential.
At its core, the CRP connects students in recovery with a substance-free support network of BU students in order to support student wellness and long-term recovery. Members share the common goals to develop long-term sobriety and not use alcohol or other drugs. The CRP is an anonymous group and is not affiliated with any specific recovery program.
Being a CRP member looks like:
- Social events such as movie nights, trivia, and coffee connections with other students in recovery
- CRP meetings and other recovery-focused activities like Recovery Book Club
- Virtual chat forum with other CRP members
- Recovery education & advocacy opportunities in the BU community (if you choose!)
BU students who are in, or considering recovery, can complete this form or email recovery@bu.edu to connect with the CRP and learn more. All communications are private.
Connect with the CRP
If you’re a BU student in recovery, or considering recovery, connect with the CRP.
Connect with the CRP
Ask a CRP Member
What is it like being a part of the Collegiate Recovery Program?
“For me, being a member of the CRP has really involved finding ‘my people’ at BU. I did undergrad at a school without a recovery community, and during my time there, I felt isolated from most social spaces because of my relationship to substances. The BU CRP has given me a community of people who are not only my classmates, but who understand that intimate and sensitive part of my life. I’ve really treasured having an overlap between my recovery world and my professional life.”
“As a CRP member, I have really loved having regular contact with other students in recovery. The CRP has an active Groupme with other BU students in recovery and hosts social events where we can connect outside of a school setting, such as movie nights, bowling, trivia, and coffee meet-ups. I’ve also really loved engaging the broader BU community through panels, BU Today articles, and other opportunities to reduce stigma about substance use disorder.”
What did entering recovery look like for you?
“I didn’t know what recovery or life without alcohol was going to look like. I just knew that things were getting out of control, and I had run out of options. Everything looked okay on the outside, but I never felt emptier.”
“It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t simple. I made attempts at abstinence over the years but it never stuck. Sometimes I only lasted two weeks. Then, I finally entered recovery in June 2016, which for me means I ceased using any alcohol or drugs. It meant actively trying to live healthier, to give more to myself and others, to find stability in myself as well. Collegiate recovery played a pivotal role in taking the big leap. Because I had other folks to relate to, and share validation and talk with. For the first two years I lived in sober housing and that really helped.”
“When I got to college, I realized I was a bit different — most people my age were having their first real experiences with alcohol and drugs, but I was already grappling with an addiction that had started years before. My peers drank for fun, but I drank because I needed to. Entering recovery as a freshman, I was resigned to believing I would live out the rest of my college years in boredom, away from anything exciting. But I’ve found the exact opposite. Being in recovery has been such a joy.”
What is one thing that has surprised you about recovery?
“I’ve been surprised by how full and fun and vibrant my life has been in recovery. Before I got sober, I could barely pull myself out of bed. I was me, but I wasn’t the true or best version of myself. In recovery, I’ve been able to do what I love, show up for the people in my life, and just be a functioning human.”
“There’s this idea that once someone gets sober, they’re bound by their past. In my experience, recovery has been the exact opposite. It’s extremely liberating and opens up so many doors to a better, more joyous way of living.”
What does the Collegiate Recovery Program mean to you?
“The CRP is a part of my recovery support system. It provides me comfort knowing there are other folks out there like me, navigating the little daily stresses of school or work while also managing recovery. Also they are fun and hilarious. I enjoy our outings and the times we meet up.”
“Just knowing that CRP exists has given me so much peace of mind. Knowing that there is a support network I can use and that there are people who I can relate to around campus makes me feel less ashamed and more empowered.”
“The CRP has been a wonderful part of my BU experience. It has provided an opportunity for me to connect with other BU students from all different schools as well as an opportunity to be of service to BU students who are new to sobriety.”
“The CRP is extremely grounding for me. It’s a chance at togetherness that students in recovery might not otherwise have. Connection and community have been the cornerstones of my recovery, and the CRP begins to offer it to everyone who wants it at BU — from first year to graduate students, to STEM and film majors. As it is, it’s easy to be socially pigeonholed in college, but the CRP allows us to meet people from all around campus who also happen to be in recovery.”
Read more about BU students’ experiences in recovery from the series Recovery at BU.
Learn More
Recovery Support Options
The CRP supports the many pathways to recovery, and CRP members are a part of many recovery communities. If you have a question about a recovery community or a particular meeting to attend, please contact us and someone from CRP will reach out to you. Learn more about some recovery support options.
Mental Health Support
If you are a BU student who would like to speak with a mental health provider about your substance use, please reach out to schedule an appointment with BU Behavioral Medicine at 617-353-3569.
Virtual Recovery Supports
Virtual Recovery Meetings:
Virtual Recovery Communities:
Recovery Books & Podcasts
Substance-Free Housing at BU
BU has housing options for undergraduate students that are alcohol and drug-free. Students in the Wellness Housing Specialty Community commit to live in a smoke-free and substance-free environment. BU students can apply for Wellness Housing online and contact BU Residence Life at 617-353-4380 for more information.
Allies & Families
Entering and maintaining recovery can be challenging. Support from allies and family members is important for students who are in recovery, considering recovery, or may be struggling with substance use.
Learn more
Press
Recovery at BU Photo Project Aims to Promote Awareness
Students in Recovery Face Challenges from Social Distancing
Collegiate Recovery Program Shows Students They’re Not Alone
The BU CRP is a proud member of the New England Collegiate Recovery Collaborative
