The Collegiate Sector Findings

Virginia Tech is the largest university in Virginia and employs roughly 5,000 people on its Blacksburg main campus, making it the largest employer in the New River Valley and in Montgomery County. A leader in Hokie Wellness, Virginia Tech’s umbrella organization for the Recovery Community on campus, has already begun reaching out to other NRV employers, including leading the conversation with Volvo. 

In regards to student recovery, our research found that Virginia Tech still lacks an ideal recovery environment. 3 of the 11 participants we interviewed identified themselves as being involved in the Virginia Tech recovery community.

Students reported that there is a lack of resources for students like them. Likely due to stigma, the recovery community sees relatively small numbers, which contributes to a lack of momentum in creating strides for an ideal recovery environment. One interviewee said “There's 12 people in the VT recovery out of a school with 35,000 people and I know schools that are a lot smaller with hundreds of people so I just don’t think the message is getting across. I’m sure there are people seeking help that just are not able to find it.” 

Virginia Tech has an opportunity to set an example as a stigma free, recovery conscious environment that can set the standard for its student body and surrounding community.

Given Virginia Tech’s expertise in health education around substance misuse, it is poised to model a healthy, positive environment for both employees and students in recovery. Some specific steps we identified through our research are to train RAs in naloxone use and to work with university leadership to support a recovery dorm on campus. Risk of overdose on university campuses is common, whether due to a relapse by a student in recovery, a suicide attempt, or an accidental overdose on the part of a student prescribed opiates post-operation. 

Although Naloxone distribution is allowed on campus and it can be accessed through the health department, Virginia Tech should give direct access to students, as well as make it readily available in dorms and to staff. We believe every Resident Advisor should undergo both naloxone and CPR training. This is feasible to implement, because Hokie Wellness already has certified instructors. Policies that normalize naloxone in a university setting work not only to provide needed health care for students but also reduce stigma. 

 Second, we recommend establishing housing specifically for students in recovery. Having a safe space dedicated solely to recovery is vital for any program to be successful and may lead to greater acceptance of recovery housing within the NRV, which is a top priority need based on our interview results.

The recovery ecosystem of the New River Valley spans multiple sectors including the individual and interpersonal level, community level, institutional level, and policy level. 

Returning to our main findings from our interviews, stigma is the primary barrier in the NRV for people in recovery that affects many other aspects to recovery, including access to harm reduction services, housing, transportation, and ultimately fulfilling and sustaining work. This research was inspired by the people the students spoke to throughout the semester, and emphasis is placed on bringing attention to the importance of treating interviewees as people and not just data. Increasing awareness efforts to improve understanding of substance misuse as an illness can increase empathy for those impacted by the opioid crisis.