For families in Michigan worried about a college student’s drinking or drug use, the University of Michigan has expanded a model of addiction treatment that pairs medical care with peer support on campus.
The university’s Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP) widened its outreach during the fall 2025 semester and has partnered with the campus University Health and Counseling (UHC) Addiction Clinic.
The collaboration links clinical services with abstinence-based peer networks, giving students more than one path through recovery at a stage of life when staying sober can be especially hard.
What the Partnership Does for Ann Arbor Students
The Collegiate Recovery Program began in 2012 after students pushed for an on-campus recovery program.
It provides clinical support, therapy and peer community through Wolverine Wellness, and it often connects with harm-reduction wellness coaching and mental health support from Counseling and Psychological Services.
The UHC Addiction Clinic adds the medical side. According to the clinic, services include medical evaluations for health complications, interventions and prescribing medications used in recovery.
The clinic works closely with U-M Addiction Treatment Services in the Department of Psychiatry, and both use evidence-based practices.
UHC Medical Director Christopher Frank described recovery as a team effort. “There are lots of different pathways for recovery for people, and people need lots of different things at different times in their recovery,”
Frank told The Michigan Daily, adding that the goal is to provide a full spectrum of care on campus.
Understanding College Substance Use
Substance use disorder is a treatable medical condition marked by recurring use despite harm, and it can look different on a college campus, where drinking is often treated as normal.
CRP senior program manager Matthew Statman said campus culture can marginalize students in recovery, who benefit from having that part of their identity recognized and supported.
Common warning signs in a student can include pulling away from friends, slipping grades, changes in sleep or appearance, and using more to feel the same effect.
The clinic and CRP take complementary approaches. Frank noted evidence supports group models for abstinence-based programs, while the addiction clinic primarily focuses on harm-reduction approaches, meeting students where they are.
Local Resources and Next Steps
A college recovery program is one option among many. Some students do well with on-campus peer support, others need outpatient or more intensive care, and many use a combination over time.
If you are helping a student in Michigan, it helps to know what addiction treatment centers and drug rehabs are available near campus and at home.
Addictions.com lists verified recovery centers in Michigan to help you find local facilities. Call
800-681-1058
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