A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS’ RECOVERY EXPERIENCES IN A COLLEGIATE RECOVERY PROGRAM

This study examined the experiences of recovery among African American college students participating in collegiate recovery programs (CRPs). A phenomenological qualitative approach was utilized to collect and analyze data. The purpose of this study explored the role of collegiate recovery programs in the recovery process for African American college students who identify as being in recovery from substance use disorders. The study answered the following research questions: 1. How does engagement in CRPs promote recovery for African American college students in recovery from substance use disorders? 2. How do CRPs enhance the recovery capital of African American college students in recovery from substance use disorders? 3. How does racial identity affect recovery capital for African Americans in the CRP pursuing recovery? To gain an in-depth understanding of participant recovery from substance use, data was collected through a background and demographic questionnaire (BDQ), semi-structured interviews, and a reflexive journal to gain rich, thick descriptions of their six-month recovery journey thus far. A comprehensive review of the existing literature indicated a void in the inclusion of African American college students’ lived experiences in recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs) while attending college. Thus, this study sought to fill a gap in the counseling and substance use research and utilized a recovery capital theoretical framework to examine the recovery experiences of African American college students in recovery participating in CRPs. Based on the data analysis, three themes emerged: (a) advocate for recovery in the CRPs, (b) pro-recovery supports in the CRPs, and (c) recovery barriers and resiliency factors for African Americans in recovery in the CRPs.