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What We Do

Rocky Top Recovery is dedicated to helping students, faculty, and staff of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville through individual and peer support, community building, and education.

You do not have to be abstinent from substances to benefit from Rocky Top Recovery services. We ask that you are sober while attending events or meetings.

Support

Our most popular service are the supports we offer. These include one on on meetings with the coordinator as well as peer support from fellow students!

BASICS

  • Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) is a brief intervention program for students who meet criteria for being at higher risk of alcohol related harm and are interested in learning more about their use. Our staff conducts BASICS in two one-on-one meetings with students. Motivational Interviewing techniques are the foundation for BASICS to meet students where they are to elicit change. The purpose of these meetings is to assess current pattern of use, engage students in a dialogue about their use, and provide resources. During these sessions, the student completes the online eCHECKUP TO GO – Alcohol assessment.

CSI

  • Cannabis Screening & Intervention (CSI) is a brief intervention program for students who have violated the drug policy at the University of Tennessee and meet criteria for being at higher risk. Our staff conducts CSI in two one-on-one meetings with students. Motivational Interviewing techniques are the foundation for CSI to meet students where they are to elicit change. The purpose of these meetings is to assess current pattern of use, engage students in a dialogue about their use, and provide resources. During these sessions, the student completes the online eCHECKUP TO GO – Cannabis assessment.

Email nicole@utk.edu if you are interested in setting up a voluntary one on one session.

Rocky Top Recovery provides three different peer support meetings throughout the week. These mutual aid meetings are facilitated by Rocky Top Recovery Ambassadors, the student leadership team.

We currently offer:

  • Bite Back– Eating disorders can effect anyone, and this group works to provide a understanding and empowering space for those seeking to recover. Led by a peer, this group utilizes science, activities, and open sharing. This occurs weekly on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm in Hodges Library 212.
  • Resilient Minds– This psychoeducational group focuses on a wide array of mental health disorders and aims to build skills and resiliency. This meeting is a hybrid format. Join at 6:00pm on Wednesdays in Hodges Library 212 or on Zoom using this Zoom link.
  • All Recovery– Utilizing principles of Recovery Dharma, this recovery meeting is open to students in recovery, interested in recovery, or has been affected by any type of addiction. This occurs weekly on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in Hodges Library 212.

Community

Recovery happens in community. We aim to organize group events and outings throughout the semester in order to foster connection. Seeking or maintaining recovery during college is no small feat! Build relationships with fellow members of Rocky Top Recovery to surround yourself with students with similar goals. Join the Rocky Top Recovery GroupMe to meet fellow students!

Rocky Top Recovery Hangout

  • We host a dedicated time each week to gather with other students in recovery to play games, talk, do homework, or just hang out in the same space together!
    • Mondays from 7:00pm – 8:00pm
    • Hodges Library 212


“The opposite of addiction is human connection.”

Education

We offer education to students, faculty, and staff in a variety of modalities. Our most popular educational opportunities are presentations:

This one hour training is designed to equip participants with knowledge needed to help a friend or fellow Vol who may be experiencing problems related to substance misuse- including education about substance use disorder, what recovery is, how to be an ally, and how to help a friend/student. This training is for undergraduates, graduate students, student organizations, faculty, and staff alike. We all play a role in making UTK a recovery friendly campus.

We find that many people want to learn more about the Rocky Top Recovery Program. We have developed a 15 minute overview presentation that describes the details of the program and allows for Q&A.

We are happy to build a custom presentation for your group as capacity allows. There is an option to request this and give more details on the presentation request form.

Request a presentation today!