The Recovery Ally Training Program was launched campus-wide in January 2020. Students who have a strong support base have a greater chance of achieving long-term recovery from substance use disorders. Recovery allies, family members, and loved ones play a critical role in supporting a student in recovery from addiction. Addiction is a brain disease that affects entire families and communities. Friends, family, staff, and faculty can make a difference and positively influence a student on the path to recovery.
The Recovery Ally training program is a two-hour, highly interactive program, facilitated by people in recovery. You will learn the following:
- Understand the complex nature of addiction as a disease and that substance use disorders often cannot be resolved by the individual choosing to stop
- Confront the myths and stigma regarding addiction and recovery and how its negative impact deters individuals from seeking support
- Use empathetic language and effectively listen when a person chooses to honor you by disclosing that they are struggling with substance use
- Define and understand that recovery is a lifetime journey with multiple pathways to achieving wellness in recovery
- Know available recovery support resources that are on and off-campus and how to access them
To register, go to https://studenthealth.uconn.edu/alcohol-substance-support/#collapsepanel-2004-2-0-72, then complete the registration form selecting the class that works best with your schedule.
For more information, contact: Sandy Valentine at sandy.valentine@uconn.edu