Substance Free Living Environment

Since 1988 Rutgers University has offered this unique option as part of its on-campus housing program.  It is co-sponsored by Rutgers-Camden Office of Residence Life, and the Rutgers University Health Service's Alcohol / Drug / Nicotine Assistance Program for students.  Substance Free Living Environment offers a supportive and safe environment for students who have had a history of struggling with alcohol and/or drug use and have made the decision to live alcohol and drug free.  The benefits of selecting this housing option is:

1)     Experiencing a home environment free of the presence of alcohol, nicotine, or other drugs.

2)     Participating in a home environment that is supportive of continued recovery from alcohol/nicotine or drug use.

3)     Receiving support from professional staff (Alcohol / Drug / Nicotine Assistance Counselor) to constructively handle the pressures inherent in living on a college campus.

How Do I Qualify

Anyone interested in Substance Free Living Environment at Rutgers-Camden needs to contact the Alcohol / Drug / Nicotine Assistance Program by calling 856-225-6005, or e-mail rrusso@camden.rutgers.edu. All interested must be undergraduate or graduate students at Rutgers University.  They must also be committed to living without any use of alcohol or other drugs, and will not use nicotine-related products in their living quarters.

Substance Free Living Environment Guidelines

Ongoing participation in the Substance Free Living Environment  is maintained in conjunction with staff of the Rutgers-Camden Alcohol / Drug / Nicotine Assistance Program and the Office of Residence Life.  Monthly meetings with staff from the Alcohol / Drug / Nicotine Assistance Program is required of all who participate in this program.  Maintenence of a safe environment supportive of ongoing recovery for all who participate in the program is the primary goal. 

If it is discovered that a student living in the Substance Free Living Environment has returned to use of alcohol or other drugs, or uses nicotine-related products in the living quarters, a meeting with counseling staff is arranged as soon as possible to review and evaluate the situation. Treatment recommendations will be made with the goal of helping the student involved, and safeguarding the Substance Free Living Environment for others who live there. Every effort is made to handle this circumstance in a non-punitive, treatment oriented manner.  Hovever, if the student refuses to comply with the treatment recommendations identified, s/he will be asked to move out of the Substance Free Living Environment within 24 hours.