From the ARHE Board of Directors & ARHE Staff: A Call to Action
Your Voice Matters: Help Protect Funding for Collegiate Recovery and Peer Support Services
Dear ARHE Supporters:
We are writing to you today with urgency and hope. As leaders and advocates within the collegiate recovery movement, you know firsthand the life-changing impact of recovery support services — services that are now at risk.
The Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE) proudly serves as a subgrantee under SAMHSA’s Center for Addiction Recovery Support (CARS) grant. Through this critical federal investment, ARHE provides technical assistance to collegiate recovery programs nationwide and supports institutions seeking to build on-campus recovery support for students in or seeking recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs). In 2024, we were able to serve 58 institutions of higher education, 5 system- and state-wide initiatives, 3 regional initiatives, 2 coalitions/consortiums, 5 treatment-focused programs, and 1 identity-based network with over 578 hours of technical assistance because of this funding.
This funding directly advances the 2025 National Drug Control Strategy, which calls for expanding access to peer recovery support services, strengthening the recovery-ready workforce, and ensuring that evidence-based recovery supports are available across all systems — including colleges and high schools. Without sustained federal funding, these vital services — and the future of recovery-ready campuses — are at risk.
We need your voice now. Congress is shaping the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) federal budget, and some proposals threaten to cut funding for recovery support services. We must ensure legislators hear how crucial these services are, especially for young people in recovery who are pursuing higher education.
We urge you to:
- Call your U.S. Representative and Senators and ask them to protect and expand funding for peer recovery support services.
- Send a letter sharing your experience and the importance of collegiate recovery.
- Share this message with your networks to amplify the call.
Your advocacy ensures that the progress we’ve built together continues — that students across the country can access recovery supports and thrive.
Together, we are building a healthier, more resilient future. Let’s make sure policymakers keep their commitment to recovery, as outlined in the National Drug Control Strategy. Please help us take action today.
In solidarity and hope,
The ARHE Board of Directors and ARHE Staff
Click on the templates above to download customizable templates to use when advocating.