Road to Recovery is a new event being held weekly at Sinclair Community College. The goal of this event is to provide a support system for students at Sinclair that are either in recovery or have been affected by drug abuse.
The first meeting was Thursday, March 15 and will continue to be held every Thursday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in building 6 room 142.
The leaders of the support group are Brenda Smith and John Potter, who work in the counseling department at Sinclair. At the first meeting there was a guest speaker, who is also a graduate of Sinclair, that came to share her story of abuse and recovery.
This is intended to provide regular, consistent support for those who need it as well as resources and education about recovery. It is a safe and confidential environment to share feelings and experiences. Support comes from peers, leaders and speakers who all wish to help students along their road to recovery.
Effects of drug abuse on college students has risen substantially since the early 1990’s. The number of students that use marijuana on a daily basis has more than doubled, and the use of drugs like cocaine and heroin has grown by 52 percent.
There has been an explosion of the abuse of prescription opioids, stimulants and tranquilizers by students. From the years 1993 to 2005, the number of students abusing the use of prescription painkillers like Percocet, Vicodin and OxyContin, rose by 343 percent.
Use of stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall, rose by 93 percent. Tranquilizers like Xanax and Valium, rose by 450 percent and the use of sedatives like Nembutal and Seconal, rose by 225 percent. This information is according to www.centeronaddiction.org.
For more information you can visit the website above, or the AA site if you are having problems with drugs or someone you know is.
Kali Macklin
Reporter
Justin A. Baker
Staff Writer