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The one-year pilot began in September at Cascade Corridor, the place 4 sober college students are rooming collectively in the identical suite.
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A substance-free housing pilot undertaking at one of many College of Calgary’s residence buildings is underway this yr, catering to college students who’re recovering from substance-use problems or in search of a sober life-style.
The one-year pilot began in September at Cascade Corridor, the place 4 sober college students are rooming collectively in the identical suite.
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Dr. Victoria Burns, an affiliate professor within the school of social work and the founder/director of the College of Calgary Restoration Centre (UCRC), stated the pilot undertaking intends to destigmatize sobriety and restoration amongst college college students.
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As somebody in long-term restoration herself, Burns stated for these in search of to get away from substance abuse, post-secondary campuses can look like drug-friendly environments, the place ingesting alcohol to extra and utilizing leisure medicine is commonly normalized.
“If you happen to’re an individual seeking to in the reduction of or can’t use in security, it may be a very difficult surroundings,” she stated.
“You’re undoubtedly within the minority (when you don’t drink alcohol).”
That’s backed up by the Canadian Postsecondary Schooling Alcohol and Drug Use Survey, which discovered that 84 per cent of undergraduate college students consumed alcohol in 2019-20. In the identical survey, 48 per cent of respondents indicated they used hashish, whereas 36 per cent stated they used an opioid ache reliever, stimulant or sedative.
Extra just lately, the Canadian Campus Wellbeing survey discovered 11 per cent of U of C college students self-identified as recovering from substance abuse.
For college students who’ve struggled to eat moderately or who’re in search of addiction-recovery assist, Burns stated being on campus can carry lots of stress.
“Or, when you’re a high-school pupil transitioning to college, what we see lots is individuals relapsing after they come to college as a result of they wish to slot in,” she stated.
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“We’re offering that in-built neighborhood so these individuals do have buddies and don’t really feel like they’re the one ones not going to the occasion.”
Whereas she wasn’t certain what the uptake of the pilot could be, Burns stated UCRC carried out its personal analysis on campus and 40 pupil respondents indicated they have been both battling substance abuse or have been in restoration and could be thinking about substance-free housing.
This yr’s pilot solely had capability for 4 college students, however 12 finally utilized, Burns stated, after one week of selling the undertaking.
There are roughly 3,000 college students residing in residence on the College of Calgary.
“You may assume, primarily based on statistics, that about one-quarter of them in some unspecified time in the future will battle with a substance-use dysfunction,” Burns stated.
The U of C College students’ Union’s vice-president pupil life, Ermia Rezaei-Afsah, referred to as the substance-free pilot “essential.”
“It gives individuals with a chance to get well or to keep away from substances they’ve had points with traditionally,” he stated. “These kinds of surroundings assist individuals get well and flourish who’re substance-free or on their path to restoration.”
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Rezaei-Afsah did add, nevertheless, that he feels the U of C must have extra hurt discount efforts on campus to assist substance-free initiatives. He cited protected consumption areas or insurance policies for instance.
“I consider restoration is nice, however when there isn’t an lively effort for hurt discount…and inspiring protected substance use, you solely succeed a lot.”
UCRC’s plan is to increase the substance-free housing pilot subsequent yr, in line with Burns.
“We’re hoping to proceed, be sustained and hopefully simply hold it rising, as a result of it’s sorely wanted,” she stated. “Particularly within the wake of COVID, we’re seeing college students and employees actually battling psychological well being and substance use.
“I feel it advantages your entire campus as effectively, once we normalize help-seeking, diminished hurt, and restoration.”
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