Ohio Opens Their First Recovery High School for Teens in Addiction Recovery

Community leaders and educators are opening more recovery high schools, like Heartland High School in Columbus, Ohio, to help teens overcome substance abuse and addiction issues.

Teen addiction is complex and can lead to a number of lifelong substance abuse issues. Heartland High School in Ohio recently became one of a few dozen facilities that provide a safe place for students in recovery to be educated. The Columbus-area school provides support for students with histories of substance abuse issues who are not ready to reenter a mainstream school.

One of the first studies to assess these educational institutions was published in 2017 in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. The study measured 194 students who attended a recovery high school (RHS) after treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). A six month follow up indicated a number of trendlines:

• Students who attended a RHS were 4.36 less likely to use drugs
• Reduced levels of marijuana use
• Reduced absenteeism from their school

While the prevalence of these institutions remains low, it is growing as schools like Heartland High School become available to students in need.

Recovery High Schools on the Rise

Before providing the study cited above on recovery high schools, researchers Andrew Finch and D. Paul Moberg conducted research in 2008 to understand the potential nature of these institutions. Sober high schools, they explained, had been developing as a recovery resource since 1987. They explained that multiple factors are essential for success:

• Association with the public school system, for financial and operational support
• Pre and post test analysis or ongoing assessments
• Supportive post treatment care

Recovery high schools can be of benefit for teens, most of whom acknowledge being offered drugs within the first 24-hours after substance abuse treatment by their friends or classmates. In their analysis, Finch and Moberg highlight how teen relapse is increased by multiple factors that include academic failure, drug availability and not having a social circle of people who don’t use drugs. Returning to a setting where they used drugs and have connections for drugs can set an adolescent up for relapse. A new setting, like a recovery high school, with positive and drug-free leadership and peers may be helpful for continued recovery.

Community leaders recognize the potential benefit for these kind of educational institutions and recovery high schools are on the rise. There are currently registered recovery high schools in:

• California
• Florida
• Indiana
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Washington
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

While some states may only have one school, the number of recovery high schools is growing nationwide. These schools are offering teens with addiction issues many opportunities to find help. Leadership at recovery schools in Massachusetts have explained that, while they offer an essential service, cost can be prohibitive for parents. Heartland in Ohio offered scholarships for their summer program as the cost for a recovery high school can often be over $20,000 a year.

Recovery High Schools Benefit Teens in Recovery

Teen recovery can be compromised by exposure to drugs in school. Teen peer pressure is a powerful dynamic that undermines adolescent sobriety. There are many effective prevention measures to help teens avoid drugs. Once they have entered into a lifestyle where drugs are common, recovery should be pursued. Treatment can be highly effective and better sustained by a positive social environment.

An Association of Recovery Schools was founded in 2016 and works to combat the isolation that breeds addiction. It offers preparation and operation services for communities who are starting their own recovery high schools. This body offers accreditation to multiple recovery schools. Their data from 2016 indicates that the average recovery school has:

• An average enrollment of 32 students
• An average of two episodes of treatment before admittance to the school
• An average GPA in recovery school of 2.75
• A typical enrollment period of one to two years
• Integrated curriculum that includes emotional, behavioral and familial development
• An incorporation of therapy

There are many initial options for addiction treatment for teenagers. Having access to a drug-free school environment after recovery may be a vital component for long-term recovery. Contact The Recovery Village to learn more about our teen drug rehab programs.

By – Joy Youell

Joy Youell is a writer and content developer with a background in educational research. Using sound pedagogical approaches and expert-backed methods, Joy has designed and delivered adult learning content, professional development, and company training materials for organizations. Read more