We are all going through recovery: College students and their family members navigate the recovery process

A strong social support network can be important to an individual’s recovery from addiction of alcohol, drugs, or another addictive behavior. A Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP) can provide college students an opportunity to attend college with a network that supports the choice to remain free from addictive substances and other addictive behaviors. While research has established a CRP can serve a purpose on the college campus, less is known about the connection of a CRP and the role of family in recovery. The following study reviews the role of family from the perspective of Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model of Human Development with emphasis on the family system to describe what behaviors of the family support or hinder the recovery process and how the college student impacts the family through the recovery process. By reviewing a southeastern CRP and reviewing the research regarding the behaviors and relationships of the family in the recovery process, a foundation for future work with college students was established