Student Health & Counseling

Peer Recovery Support

peer recovery support - people in a circle holding hands in support

What is Recovery

Recovery is a personal journey that often involves fostering connections, creating supportive communities, and learning self-management tools. It can take the form of moderation, abstinence, or harm reduction. At SHAC's Peer Recovery and Harm Reduction Center, we are dedicated to supporting your healing.

1 on 1 Support

The Peer Recovery Support Advocate provides one-on-one peer support to students who are in recovery or interested in exploring what recovery might look like for them. These engagements may include conversations around goal-setting, creating voluntary recovery plans, and/or learning more about recovery resources in the community, recovery meetings, recovery Fitness programs and events. In addition to one-on-one support, we are available to establish peer-to-peer support groups.

One-on-One Support Fall Term Schedule:

SMART Recovery Meetings

SMART stands for Self-Management And Recovery Training. SMART Recovery uses evidence-based tools and strategies to develop self-empowerment and skills in the individual seeking tools for lasting change. SMART Recovery is based on a 4 Point Program: 1) Building and Maintaining Motivation 2) Coping with Urges 3) Manage Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors 4) Living a Balanced Life

SMART Recovery Winter Term Meeting Schedule:

  • Fridays from 1-2 PM in the Peer Recovery Center (UCB Suite 340 E)

Affinity Recovery Meetups

Join our Affinity Recovery Meetup! Each Wednesday we focus on different communities.

Affinity Recovery Meetups Winter Term Schedule:

  • Wednesdays from 11-12 PM in the Peer Recovery Center (UCB Suite 340 E)

Sober Social Hour

The Peer Recovery Advocate also facilitates Sober Social Hour events: grab a coffee, talk recovery, or just enjoy creating new sober friendships. While this is not a formal recovery support meeting, a Peer Recovery Support Specialist is available to share resources and support.

Sober Social Hour Winter Term Schedule:

  • Thursdays from 1-2 PM in the Peer Recovery Center (UCB Suite 340 E)

Who we are

The Peer Recovery Support Advocate operates outside of punitive and clinical systems to support and advocate for students in recovery. We are mindful of the power imbalances inherent in all services, including peer support services, and strive to redress these imbalances by honoring students' agency in their recovery. We also recognize the impact of societal stigmatization of individuals in recovery, which individuals' intersecting identities may compound. Peer support workers maintain awareness of positionality while attempting to reduce stigma and break down barriers to recovery.

Peer Recovery Advocate Headshot

Meet The Peer Recovery Advocate - Sharif Rory Moonlight Maddox (they / them)

I am a full-time psychology student and a proud member of the Honors University College. I identify as non-binary and asexual, and I belong to the Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities. Based on my personal experiences with recovery, I am eager to use my skills to help others find their paths to recovery.

On-Campus Resources

SHAC Individual Substance Use Counseling

  • Services Provided: Counselors are available to meet individually with students to develop recovery plans and provide coping strategies.
  • Confidentiality: Confidential
  • Punitive consequences of disclosing use: None
  • Eligibility: PSU students taking 5+ credits can access SHAC Counseling Services
  • Cost: None. Costs are fully covered by mandatory student fees paid at the beginning of each term along with tuition.
  • How to Access: Call 503.725.2800 to schedule an appointment

SHAC Peer Recovery Support

  • Services Provided: Peer-to-peer drop-in group provides a space for students in recovery to support each other and build community. The Peer Recovery Advocate is available to meet individually with students to develop action plans and share coping strategies from personal experience.
  • Confidentiality: Confidential, although students who attend drop-in group will be visible to other group members.
  • Punitive consequences of disclosing use: None
  • Cost: None
  • How to Access: Contact peerrecovery@pdx.edu

Harm Reduction

  • People use drugs. Harm reduction is an inclusive, evidence-based, and non-judgmental approach to substance use. The Peer Harm Reduction Advocate is here to break the stigma of alcohol and drug use. We aim to provide resources, tools, and services to help reduce risk and encourage safer use. 
  • Services Provided: The Peer Harm Reduction Advocate can help you connect to community resources to support your overall health and well-being as well as safer use.  Visit the Harm Reduction website to learn more about Harm Reduction and to learn about state law, Portland State's campus rules and legal support services.
  • Confidentiality: Confidential
  • Punitive consequences of disclosing use: None
  • How to Access: Contact harmreduction@pdx.edu

Off-Campus Resources

Lines for Life Treatment Access Line

  • Services Provided: Treatment directory which can be filtered by insurance, treatment settings, issues, and therapy modalities, as well as patient identities, ages, and languages.
  • Confidentiality: Confidential
  • Punitive consequences of disclosing use: None
  • Cost: Costs depend on insurance coverage. Treatment options can be filtered by insurance provider.
  • How to Access: https://www.treatmentaccessline.org/ or call 971.244.4636 (24/7 hotline)

Recovery Network of Oregon

  • Services Provided: a directory of support services, providers, peers, and meetings designed to assist people with their recovery from drugs and alcohol. Everything you can think of from addiction treatment to housing, food pantries, safer use supplies, employment training and beyond!
  • Cost: None
  • How to Access: https://www.recoverynetworkoforegon.org/khloud/web/wa/resources

Alano Club of Portland

  • Services Provided: Daily meetings of 12 step groups, including groups specifically for women, men, LGBTQ people,  young people, non-religious people, Buddhists, and Indigenous people.
  • Confidentiality: Confidential, although people who attend group meetings are visible to other group members.
  • Punitive consequences of disclosing use: None
  • Cost: None
  • How to Access: https://www.portlandalano.org/ 909 NW 25th Ave. Portland, OR 97210

Outside In

True Colors Recovery Organization

  • Services Provided: Free recovery mentor services. A drop-in center located in North Portland, available 365 days a year where individuals can access mutual-aid groups, LGBTQIA2s+ focused events, access to on site STD and Hep C testing, resource navigation fairs, and skill-building opportunities.
  • Confidentiality: Confidential, although people who attend group meetings are visible to other group members.
  • Punitive consequences of disclosing use: None
  • Cost: None
  • How to Access: https://www.truecolorsrecovery.org / 3807 NE Martin Luther King Blvd. Portland, OR 97212 / (503)-266-2323

Additional Resources

PDX Area AA Intergroup

Portland Area AA Intergroup: POC Meetings

Recovery Dharma Groups

A BIPOC ONLY space. Based in Buddhist  principles, Recovery Dharma supports recovery from addictions of all kinds and explores a Buddhist approach to recovery.

White Bison & Wellbriety

Indigenous-focused Recovery Resources

Q Center

Located on N. Mississippi Avenue has addiction support included in their offerings and frequent meetings.

'Queer as Folk" meeting

LGBTQIA+ Narcotics Anonymous: 

- A weekly virtual meeting for LGBTQ+ identified people who want to stop using drugs

Recovery Dharma

Queer Paths:

- Based in Buddhist principles, Recovery Dharma supports recovery from addictions of all kinds and explores a Buddhist approach to recovery

Portland Deaf Access

Portland Deaf Access Committee of Alcoholics Anonymous

- Services Provided: database and resources for AA meetring interpretation (ASL) and support for people who are hard of hearing and do not use ASL

Portland Deaf Access Committee

The Portland Deaf Access Committee (PDAC)

- A group of AA members who work together to help make AA in the Portland Metro Area accessible to Deaf and Hard of Hearing alcoholics

Portland Rehab Directory

Portland Rehab Directory

Start Your Recovery

Start Your Recovery

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