Campus Surge for Addiction & Mental Health Recovery
Summary
In 2025, Mobilize Recovery committed to launching Campus Surge, a comprehensive two-year initiative for 25 college campuses nationwide with intentions to expand to additional colleges in the future (goal is to double participation over 2 years) . College campuses across the United States are facing a significant crisis related to substance use and mental health. A substantial percentage of students experience substance use disorders, depression, and anxiety. There is also an alarming rise in overdose risks, yet students lack immediate access to necessary recovery and prevention support. Mobilize Recovery will leverage its expertise in community organizing, advocacy, and recovery to empower student leaders and build sustainable, recovery-ready campus environments. The core strategy involves educating students on addiction, mental health, and overdose prevention; empowering them with leadership and advocacy skills to champion policy changes; engaging the broader campus community through town halls and peer support networks; and equipping students with life-saving resources like naloxone.
Approach
Mobilize Recovery commits to launching “Campus Surge,” a comprehensive two-year initiative targeting college campuses nationwide. Mobilize Recovery will leverage its expertise in community organizing, advocacy, and recovery support to empower student leaders and build sustainable recovery-ready campus environments. The core strategy involves educating students on addiction, mental health, and overdose prevention; empowering them with leadership and advocacy skills to champion policy changes; engaging the broader campus community through town halls and peer support networks; and equipping students with life-saving resources like Naloxone. Mobilize Recovery will facilitate the establishment of student-led chapters, provide Mental Health First Aid training, and develop peer-to-peer support cohorts. Partners like End Overdose will contribute by providing resources and training. Funding partners such as Meta, iHeartMedia, Indivior, Braeburn, and SAMHSA’s ORN will provide financial backing and help amplify awareness. This multi-pronged approach aims to create a self-sustaining movement for change driven by students themselves.
Action Plan
Campus Surge will unfold over two years, commencing September 2025.
Phase 1 (Year 1: September 2025 – August 2026) :
Q3 2025: Finalize partnerships with 10 flagship universities. Develop and adapt training curricula (Mental Health First Aid, leadership, advocacy) . Recruit initial student leaders.
Q4 2025: Launch initiative on flagship campuses. Conduct initial training workshops for student leaders and staff. Begin distribution of educational materials and Naloxone kits in partnership with End Overdose. Host initial campus town hall meetings.
Q1-Q2 2026: Establish and support peer-to-peer support cohorts and new student-led campus chapters. Conduct campus-wide awareness campaigns to reduce stigma. Collect baseline data on student wellness, resource awareness, and help-seeking behaviors.
Phase 2 (Year 2: September 2026 – August 2027) :
Q3-Q4 2026: Expand programming to an additional 15-30 campuses based on learnings from Year 1. Scale up training activities and resource distribution.
Q1-Q2 2027: Support student-led advocacy campaigns for policy improvements. Host regional student leadership summits.
Q3 2027: Conduct final impact assessments. Develop and disseminate a comprehensive impact report and a sustainability plan for continued campus engagement.
Background
College campuses across the United States are facing a significant crisis related to substance use and mental health. A substantial percentage of students experience substance use disorders, depression, anxiety, and there is an alarming rise in overdose risks. Many students lack immediate access to necessary recovery resources, mental health support, and preventative education. This environment not only hinders academic success and personal well-being but also contributes to a broader public health challenge. The stigma surrounding these issues often prevents students from seeking help, exacerbating the problem. Mobilize Recovery recognizes the urgent need to empower students directly and foster supportive campus communities. Campus Surge is designed to proactively address these challenges by bringing vital resources, education, and peer support networks directly to students, creating a generation of advocates for recovery and well-being.
Progress Update
Partnership Opportunities
Mobilize Recovery is seeking additional university partners committed to enhancing student well-being and addressing substance use on their campuses. We are looking for opportunities to collaborate with academic researchers to further evaluate and refine the program’s impact. Additional media partners are sought to help amplify the message and reach more students nationally. We also seek continued engagement with public health organizations and policymakers to support the systemic changes needed to create recovery-friendly environments across all institutions of higher learning.,Mobilize Recovery offers its extensive expertise in grassroots organizing, recovery advocacy, and building national networks. The commitment provides a proven model for student engagement, leadership development programs, and access to a national community of recovery advocates. We offer best practices in peer support program development, stigma reduction campaigns, and strategies for effective campus-based interventions. Furthermore, Mobilize Recovery offers access to educational materials, training curricula like Mental Health First Aid, and connections to resource partners such as End Overdose for Naloxone distribution.