From Abstinence to Acceptance: Exploring Harm Reduction in Campus Recovery
by ARHE Admin | Feb 14, 2026 | Webinars | 0 comments
Facilitated by Noel Vest, PhD
Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) have historically emphasized abstinence-based recovery, often marginalizing harm reduction approaches. This roundtable presents qualitative findings from interviews across five universities that identify key barriers to integrating harm reduction in CRPs—including stigma, institutional resistance, and funding constraints—alongside practical opportunities for change through education, policy shifts, and differentiated recovery spaces. The session will engage participants in a candid discussion of how CRPs can reconcile harm reduction approaches and abstinence frameworks to better support diverse recovery pathways without diluting core program goals.
The Compassionate Care Strategies Series will continue for the 2025-2026 academic year on the second Thursday of every month at 12pm ET / 11am CT / 10am MT / 9am PT.
First published on collegiaterecovery.org
