National Recovery Month – Campus Health

QUICK RESOURCES

Sept. 18, 2025

To: All USC Students, Faculty, and University Staff

A message from:

Sarah Van Orman, MD, MMM, FACHA, Vice President for Campus Health and Chief Campus Health Officer

Broderick Leaks, PhD MHA MAT, Associate Vice President, USC Student Health; Vice Chair of College Mental Health, Dept. of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of USC

Steven Siegal, MD PhD, Vice President for Behavioral Health, Franz Alexander Chair in Psychiatry, Chair of the Dept. of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of USC

As you may already be aware, September is National Recovery Month—a time to promote and support the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of community members and service providers across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible, and new evidence-based recovery practices.

National Recovery Month celebrates the gains made by those in addiction and mental health recovery, just as we celebrate improvements made by those who are managing other health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. It culminates on Sept. 30, with the International Recovery Day celebrating stories of recovery.

Locally, California and Los Angeles County are responding to the continuing dangers of fentanyl in drugs shared or sold outside of prescribed medications. At USC, the Naloxone SC program can provide vital information and assistance to USC students in preventing overdoses or substances laced with fentanyl. Developed by the USC School of Pharmacy graduate students in AAPP, this website includes a video training on opioid reversal using naloxone—this training is available to all USC students, is free, and provides a free twin pack of Narcan-brand naloxone nasal spray and drug testing strips to all who complete the video training.

Narcan is a covered benefit of the USC Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP/Aetna); all students on this plan can obtain Narcan without a prescription (in CA); it is available at the USC Pharmacies and other retailers.

Narcan and fentanyl testing strips are also available for pickup at the Engemann and Eric Cohen Student Health Centers, and at USC Student Health outreach activities on campus.
Please help share the word about these programs. Access to information, training, test strips and naloxone can potentially save a life.

For those interested in the research and academic programs on addiction, The USC Institute for Addiction Science website provides valuable insight into the transdisciplinary scientific study of the nature, causes, consequences, prevention, and treatment of addiction-related problems.

For members of our community who are in recovery or reflecting on the impact of alcohol and other drugs on their lives, please know that treatment is effective and available for addiction and substance use disorders. Your mental health care provider or medical provider can help with a treatment plan.

Counseling and Mental Health Services in USC Student Health has recently expanded its team to include a specialized substance use counseling team that offers services to students who want to make changes in their use of substances, including alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs. Available for appointments in MySHR, or by calling 213-740-9355 (WELL).

For faculty and staff, the USC Workwell Center can provide brief counseling and referral to treatment programs covered by your health plans. The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life provides a home for 12-step recovery programs for all members of our community.

We celebrate the work of those in recovery, and offer hope, help, and support to all USC communities affected by alcohol and other drugs.