It goes without saying that coping with drug addiction is a lengthy and taxing process. Most people understand the difficulties of rehabilitation, and even the pain leading up to it; yet, very few people realize college students struggle with this as well.

While the stigma on substance abuse has diminished lately, there is still an assumption that those facing issues with addiction are adults. The general line of thinking is that students using drugs, yes, including alcohol, are simply experimenting or experiencing college. 

But the truth is, students are highly susceptible to addiction, and many colleges fail to realize this and take action. Through the Peer 180 Recovery Community Organization (RCO), Colorado Mesa University (CMU) hopes to provide this vulnerable population with an important resource: each other.

Peer 180 RCO is a recovery support group run locally here in Grand Junction, aiming to help all in the local community to both overcome challenges and celebrate major steps in sobriety. In order to provide outreach into the student body, Peer 180 began piloting their weekly “All Recovery Meetings” here at CMU for the first time this fall. 

The intentions of the All Recovery Meetings are to provide support for students seeking recovery with or without a strict plan by providing a space for peers to express their recovery experiences. By creating this environment, participants can learn more about recovery and healing from people their age.

The All Recovery Meetings also provide support for all those who have been externally impacted by substance abuse in their life, which is just about anyone. 

With the program having just started here at CMU, I wanted to check it out myself. At first I was quite anxious, worrying I would find myself in a depressing, sensitive and exclusive meeting on mistakes and pain. 

Though as soon as I walked up to the door where the meeting was being held, I was instantly greeted with a warm smile and offers of hot chocolate. I knew I had nothing to worry about. 

Once the meeting had begun I found myself extremely invested in the conversations, from stories of the past to learning from to present stories of success and rehabilitation. What may have been my favorite part is that everyone in the room welcomed one another and their contributions with an open mind.

At the end of the hour, which only felt like ten minutes, the two Peer Recovery coaches who facilitated the meeting brought the conversations back to their central themes of hope in recovery. Afterwards, they offered their help with any further incomplete thoughts and dismissed us for the night. 

Despite the difficult subject matter, I felt that everyone left the room content with the discussions and progress made. For anyone struggling with substance abuse, or coping with someone struggling with addiction, I highly recommend attending one of these meetings.

Peer 180’s All Recovery Meetings are held at CMU’s Wellness Center in room 150 every Thursday at 7 pm.