The Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Center has started hosting a recovery peer talk for students to explore topics related to substance abuse recovery, said Trisha Seastrom, the program director.

“Substance abuse is not uncommon,” Seastrom said. “These programs can help students with their abuse and they can get support from other students going through the same thing.”

The group is facilitated by Seastrom and two CADEC student peer educators who are also in recovery, she said.

“The students facilitating it have walked this path and want to help their peers,” Seastrom said.

The program, which began on Oct. 3, is completely confidential and open to anyone, she said.

“It is not a 12-step model. We just want to support as many students as we can,” Seastrom said. “Just because you come once does not mean you have to come again.”

The forums are not abstinence based. Some students come who are still drinking or using drugs, she said.

“We’re really excited about it and the responses have been amazing,” Seastrom said.

The program is just the beginning of CADEC’s efforts to fully develop a collegiate recovery program at Chico State, she said.

Other campuses like the University of Texas at Austin and Michigan State already have successful recovery programs, she said.

“Collegiate recovery programs are really taking off across the country,” Seastrom said. “The ultimate goal is to develop a fully functional recovery center.”

CADEC applied for a $10,000 grant to support the effort and will find out whether they received it in January or February, Seastrom said.

For more information contact the Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Center located in the Student Services Center 180 or at (530) 898-6450.

Madison Holmes can be reached at [email protected] or @madisonholmes95 on Twitter.