Collegiate Recovery Programs in Rhode Island

Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) play a critical role in supporting students in recovery from substance use disorders and related behavioral health challenges within higher education settings. These programs provide comprehensive recovery support, wellness resources, and peer-based communities that enable students to sustain their recovery while successfully pursuing their academic goals.

The first collegiate recovery programs began emerging in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as colleges recognized the need for safe, supportive communities for students in recovery.

Over the decades, the movement has grown significantly, with more than 140 institutions across the United States now offering formal CRPs. States such as Texas, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Minnesota have become leaders in expanding these programs across their higher education systems.

Here in Rhode Island, Brown University became the first institution in the state to establish a Collegiate Recovery Program, setting the foundation for recovery-friendly campus environments. Building on that success, the University of Rhode Island (URI) and Rhode Island College (RIC) are now launching their own CRPs—expanding access to recovery support for students statewide.

With the addition of URI and RIC, Rhode Island is joining the growing number of states ensuring that students in recovery have the resources, peer community, and safe spaces they need to thrive academically and personally.

These programs also align with best practices from the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE), the only national organization exclusively supporting collegiate recovery. ARHE provides guidance, training, and research to help colleges build strong, sustainable recovery communities on campus.