Elizabethtown College now offers SMART Recovery meetings on campus. This program is a support group designed to help those who are suffering from addiction.
These meetings are held twice a week. Wednesdays, they are held at 6 p.m. in the Mosaic House. These meetings are facilitated by Stephanie Diaz. Thursdays, they are held at 3 p.m. in Steinman 101. These meetings are facilitated by Joni Eisenhower. Those interested in participating can attend whichever one works best with their schedule.
Last year, the College formed the Committee on Alcohol Regulations and Education (CARE).
During one of these committee meetings, the discussion arose about the need to help those with an addiction on campus.
“We wanted there to be a way to address their concerns and help them through the process of abstaining from whatever it is they define as their addiction,” Eisenhower said.
As a result of this discussion, the decision was made to hold the SMART Recovery meetings.
Across the nation, there has been an increase in students who begin college while working to combat an addiction. The College wants to support its students and provide this support before they need it, since asking for help can be difficult, according to Diaz.
This is the first program at Etown specifically for addiction.
Meetings are typically about one hour long. They start with a welcome and then the group creates an agenda for the meeting. Next, the group has a period of discussion, which is what most of the meeting consists of, and the meeting ends with a conclusion.
Every student has an opportunity to introduce themselves and talk about their reason for attending. Depending on what happens during the discussion and what the group needs, the facilitator shares techniques and exercises to help them.
Those in the group share their experiences, and by doing so, they decide how the meeting goes.
Those not comfortable speaking in the group don’t have to speak; the meeting and the information shared will still be beneficial to them, and they will feel a connection with those dealing with similar situations.
Currently, only two meetings have been held.
Eisenhower’s group did not have any participants, but she said that this was expected, since it takes time for any group to become active.
According to Diaz, many people have reached out with questions about the program.
The groups will continue to meet at their scheduled times, and students are welcome to attend whenever they are ready.
Eisenhower hopes that when a few students begin to attend, “it will open the doors for others.” The SMART Recovery Program recognizes that it may take time for a group to become active.
This program is a valuable source of support for those dealing with addiction. It is designed to be specific to those attending and is an inclusive, non-judgmental environment.
This program is based on research that has been done on addiction as well as the behavioral change model. The techniques learned in this meeting can be applied throughout many different types of addiction from substance abuse to gambling and emotional eating.
As well as participating in discussions with those who are experiencing similar situations, students can also learn tools and techniques to begin to change their habits.
Even though there are topics that the facilitators are encouraged to talk about in the SMART program, the program is still flexible, so it can be adjusted to the lives of those who attend. This program will also improve the campus by encouraging wellness and giving more support to students.
“A college campus can be a difficult environment for individuals dealing with addiction—by incorporating SMART Recovery on campus, we hope students needing additional support will feel cared for in regard to both their academic process and more importantly, their overall well-being,” Eisenhower said.
Eisenhower chose to become a facilitator because the program focuses on self-empowerment, and she believes empowerment is important.
“Once a person feels empowered, they are unstoppable. I want students to feel empowered, and I want them to acknowledge that even through struggles, they are able to recover and lead fulfilled/successful lives. Addiction does not have to define you. You define yourself,” Eisenhower said.
Diaz decided to become a facilitator because she has loved ones in recovery.
“I think that if they had the chance they would have found sobriety sooner. I took classes on addiction in grad school, and as a social worker, I have experience working with this population. Addiction is a lifelong problem, and I want to help as many folks as I can,” Diaz said.
Students who are interested are invited to attend. If anyone has any questions about the program, they are encouraged to reach out to either of the facilitators.
“It is ok to need help, and there are people on this campus willing to help if you ask,” Diaz said.
