Addiction is a struggle among millions of individuals, even among college students. In fact, the NSDUH announced last month that 19.7 million individuals from the ages of 12 and older suffer from any sort of addiction. From all walks of life, college seems to hit a big chunk of the addiction population.
Two future students who have been inflicted by these struggling and crippling diseases in the past are hoping to change their future for the better. 24-year-old Justin Collins and 23-year-old Izaac Hippensteel are two friends that have battled similar addictions in the past.
“It was a long battle that only I brought myself into” Hippensteel said. “Drugs like fentanyl or percocets were how I lived in isolation, and it felt like the only way I could live when I thought I had no future.” That however, was last year. Both he and Justin both kicked their addictions in October in the hope of a brighter future.
The Behavioral Sciences study has profound interest in Justin as he has an interest in helping others kick their addictions. “GCC seems to be the perfect place for me to continue my education. I never wanted to stop (being in school) but hopefully now, coming this summer, I can kickstart my life and get it going again. I can finally help others like I have always wanted.”
GCC is on point with having great services too, especially ones to help the students cope with any sort of emergency in their private and personal lives. On a limited basis, there are appointments and walk-ins available for students who need them. On the GCC website, there is a link to email the counseling offices and a phone number.
“I know I am in good hands, certainly better than I actually was a couple of years ago” Collins joked.
The future for them and millions of others is certainly bright, but those struggling will still feel challenges if they want that extra change in life and go back to school. U.S. News announced a better turn out rate for those going to any sort of addiction recovery program.
Glendale Community College is a safe haven for anyone suffering or has a loved one suffering from addiction. With services and courses designed to help and even make careers for students, it is a source to help those achieve their dreams that were previously thought impossible.
If you are looking to meeting with a counselor, you may email them at counseling @ gccaz.edu or call the front desk at (623) 845-3064.
Hi Jacob! Thank you for sharing this article with us. Addiction is not only difficult to deal with, but it’s also a challenging topic to discuss. Unfortunately, when it is discussed, we often only hear about the negative impacts it has. So, it’s wonderful to read about the successes of our own classmates.It’s important that we support one another as a community and as classmates, making others feel like they’re not alone or embarrassed by their past. It’s amazing to know that we offer courses and services designed to help others, whether they’re battling addiction themselves or have a loved one suffering from addiction. I’m pleased to know that Justin and Izaac have each other’s support as they strive to overcome their addiction. Kudos to them! I’m genuinely happy for their progress and extremely proud of Glendale College for offering such invaluable services. While we may not fully comprehend the struggles of others, it’s reassuring to realize that we’re not alone and that assistance is available.
Hi Jacob! I initially was drawn to your article just by your headline itself, which I think does a really great job at serving as an attention grabber. However, as I started reading your story I was just as equally interested with what you had to say and the information you provided. Reporting on a topic such as addiction is definitely stepping out of the box, I believe. Even though society seems to have more of an awareness about addiction, it’s implications, and a willingness to bring attention to it, there is still a large audience that prefers to not talk or discuss anything related to this topic. Which is understandable, it’s an uncomfortable subject that is sensitive to a lot of individuals. So when I saw that this was a story you chose to write, I was very intrigued. I think it is really important that people continue to bring awareness to addiction and bring hope to those that are struggling. As far as the story itself, it is great to see that GCC students are turning their life around and pursuing an education. It is also a good reminder that GCC offers services to help students with these sorts of things. Overall, I think you did a great job on this article-the format of it made it easy to read, your writing was concise, and it was very engaging.
Hey Jacob, this was a very uplifting article to read. I enjoyed listening to others’ stories about their journeys of growth. I like how your article focused on one idea and centered around a central idea of growth. Despite addiction being a very common issue, I believe it is important to continue to raise awareness about it because people from all places should be able to have access to information about it. It was interesting to read about real-life examples of people struggling with addiction and to see how they were able to find help. Stories of people overcoming challenges like this are always able to inspire others facing similar if not the same, issues. One aspect I really appreciate about your article is that it informs the reader about the resources that can be found on campus. I like that it includes information on how to contact someone to help treat any struggles or challenges one might face. When discussing topics like addiction, I believe it is always in the best interest of the viewer to inform them of resources that are available. College should always be about focusing on growth as a person, whether it’s skills or learning one’s identity. That said, it is a great place to focus on yourself and utilize the resources given to you to aid in that growth.