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Medically Reviewed

Can I Continue My College Courses During Rehab? Balancing School & Treatment

- 7 sections

Medically Verified: January 10, 2025

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

Struggling with drug and alcohol abuse is never easy. When you are in college, substance abuse is something you will see often and maybe even experience yourself. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “More than one-third of full-time college students aged 18 to 22 engaged in binge drinking in the past month; about 1 in 5 used an illicit drug in the past month.”[1]

If you develop an addiction to alcohol or drugs during college, you might believe it’s impossible to get help while finishing your classes. While balancing school and rehab can be difficult, it is possible to achieve with the right type of support. Thanks to outpatient programs and treatment centers that offer flexible hours, you can continue your college courses while attending addiction treatment.

Outpatient programs allow you to receive addiction care while you live in the comfort of your own home. You also have free time outside of treatment, which gives you the ability to attend classes. That being said, there are some steps you need to take to make sure you are balancing rehab and college appropriately.

You should examine how many classes you are taking to determine if your course load is too high. Additionally, it’s important to learn how to manage stress healthily, set firm boundaries with your peers in college about substance abuse, and lean on your support during times of need.

In this article, you will learn:

  • Can you continue attending college while receiving addiction treatment?
  • What type of treatment program is the best for college students?
  • How can you balance school and rehab effectively?

Can You Take College Classes During Rehab?

College students are at a high risk of developing substance use disorders due to the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse on college campuses. Because of this, you might find yourself wondering if it is possible to get help for addiction while maintaining your college classes. Thankfully, the answer is yes.

Drug rehab programs are designed to help you, rather than punish you. This means that programs are happy to let you continue working in your college classes while you attend treatment. While there may be some challenges to overcome, it is possible.

You might have to take a week or two off to focus on detox, however, once you complete that step, balancing school and rehab becomes easier. There are several treatment options to choose from, with outpatient programs being the best choice for college students.

Outpatient treatment programs offer individual therapy, group counseling, support groups, and relapse prevention planning to help you recover from addiction. These rehab centers allow you to live at home or in your dorm while you commute to treatment sessions 3 to 5 days per week. Depending on your course load, you should have plenty of time to get to in-person classes.

You can also choose to shift your in-person classes to online courses. If being around your peers is triggering for you, online college classes might be the best option while you are in an addiction treatment program.

Mandala Healing Center accepts the following insurance providers

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How to Balance School and Rehab

Continuing education during rehab is possible, however, there are some things to consider. You need to learn how to balance school and addiction treatment without adding too much stress to your life. Thankfully, there are tips and tricks you can use to make this possible.

Tips for juggling school and addiction treatment include:

Don’t Take On Too Much

If you have a heavy course load, you might need to consider dropping a few classes while you are recovering. Having too many classes can lead to unnecessary stress during a vulnerable time in your life. Thankfully, there are resources on college campuses for people struggling with addiction, which means a counselor can help you determine what classes to keep and which ones to take later on.

Manage Stress in Healthy Ways

College can be extremely stressful, which is one of the main reasons college students engage in binge drinking frequently. You cannot use drinking as a coping mechanism anymore. Instead, you have to find healthy ways to manage your stress.

The best ways to manage stress include:

  • Working with a mental health counselor
  • Exercising regularly
  • Eating healthy and having a good sleep schedule
  • Yoga and deep breathing exercises
  • Taking time away from social media
  • Engaging in self-care and setting aside time for fun activities

Have Firm Boundaries

If you are continuing to attend in-person classes or still live in a dorm, you might need to set firm boundaries with your fellow students and roommates. For example, if your dorm roommate likes to drink or smoke weed, it might be time to ask them to avoid bringing substances around you for the time being. Additionally, if people invite you to parties, you should have excuses ready or explain to them why you cannot attend.

Lean on Your Support

Addiction treatment can be difficult, especially if you are also attending college. You might need a little extra support from your close friends and family members. When you are having a hard time coping with stress, things brought up in therapy, or simply being sober, you should reach out to someone for support.

Get Help With Balancing School and Addiction Treatment at Mandala Healing Center

If you or a loved one is considering attending addiction treatment while in college, you should consider working with the Mandala Healing Center. We offer individualized treatment plans and flexible schedules for college students.

Contact us today for more information on how to continue college courses during rehab.

References:

  1. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): A Day in the Life of College Students Aged 18 to 22: Substance Use Facts