Sober High Schools Help Teens Pursue Long-Term Recovery

By Hugh C. McBride

It's no secret that achieving long-term recovery from drug addiction or alcoholism can be a challenging proposition for even the most dedicated individuals. The process can be particularly difficult for young people, though, as they attempt to remain drug-free while also dealing with the confusing stresses of adolescence and the pressures of high school.

To help formerly addicted young people maintain their recovery while completing their education, a number of communities have opened special high schools for recovering teens. Commonly referred to as recovery high schools, sober high schools, or rehab high schools, these learning centers usually feature a standard high school curriculum that is augmented with both academic assistance and recovery support services.

"Most [sober high schools] follow the 12-Step model of recovery," CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, said in a news video that first aired April 13. "All of them offer state-certified diplomas."

During a visit to Northshore Recovery High School, a sober high school in Beverly, Massachusetts, Dr. Gupta learned that the support provided to students is accompanied by high standards for personal behavior. "Here, students sign a contract. They can't use drugs, or be around known users," he said, noting that the students are also subject to strict oversight. "There's random urine testing at least once a week."

High School Students & Addiction Recovery

Every year in the United States, more than 340,000 adolescents and teenagers enter a rehabilitation program in an attempt to overcome a problem with alcohol or other drugs. Though many of these young people experience success while they are completing their program, the stresses and temptations of "normal" life often cause them to relapse once they have returned home and re-enrolled in school.

Following in the footsteps of Sobriety High in Edina, Minnesota (the first recovery high school, which opened its doors in 1989), dozens of communities have attempted to mitigate the risks facing students who are working to maintain their newfound sobriety.

The Association of Recovery Schools (ARS), an independent organization designed to promote and strengthen recovery high schools, reports that member schools should adhere to the following standards:

Recovery schools provide academic services and assistance with recovery (including post-treatment support) and continuing care. However, they do not generally operate as treatment centers or mental health agencies.
Recovery schools require that all students enrolled in the program be in recovery and working a program of recovery determined by the student and the school. Consequences of relapse are addressed by the individual school.
Recovery schools offer academic courses for which students receive credit towards a high school or college degree. At the secondary level, schools assist students in making the transition into another high school, college, or a career.
Recovery schools address the needs of students in crisis, therapeutic or other. These procedures can involve full- or part-time licensed counselors on staff, or out-sourced counseling contracts through which a specific outside agency consults with staff in the event of a student crisis or relapse.

Private Recovery Schools for Teens

While publicly funded sober high schools such as the ones described above offer enhanced support to students who are pursuing recovery, they are limited both by geography (ARS lists 21 participating high schools throughout the nation) and class size (many schools can only accept a few students).

For families who are not located near a publicly funded recovery high school, or who are looking for more support than can be provided at one of these schools, private residential recovery schools may be the answer.

At a private residential recovery high school such as SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center in St. George, Utah, students benefit from both superior academic guidance and intensive therapeutic rehabilitation and recovery services. Under the direction of master's level therapists, licensed substance abuse counselors, and other professional staff members, SunHawk provides an integrated program of recovery, clinical, and academic services.

Featuring a self-paced curriculum that is fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, SunHawk provides significant academic support while also offering more than 30 weekly hours of counseling, therapy, life skills education, and relapse prevention instruction.

A few hundred miles to the north of SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center, The Oakley School offers both a rigorous college preparatory curriculum and an intensive slate of individualized therapeutic programs to teens ages 14 to 19. While completing the school's challenging college prep curriculum, Oakley students also have the opportunity to participate in competitive interscholastic athletics and fine arts education. At the same time, they are working through the Oakley Social Model, a unique therapeutic approach for high school students who are pursuing long-term recovery.

A New Beginning in New England

Across the country from SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center and The Oakley School, the Academy at Swift River offers both superior academics and highly effective therapeutic recovery services on a lush forested campus in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts.

Committed to meeting the objective of "reuniting students with academic success," Swift River's academic team guides once-struggling teens through a liberal arts college preparatory course of study. While preparing themselves to pursue academic excellence, Swift River students are also completing an intensive program of therapy that is designed to provide them with the skills and strategies they will need to pursue long-term recovery.

By helping students address their addictions and co-occurring disorders while simultaneously achieving academic success, the Academy at Swift River provides not only a sober high school experience, but also a foundation for lifelong success.