ALBANY – A measure that
would allow creation of up to five recovery high schools in the state
has passed in the Senate. The bill, sponsored by Senator David Carlucci
(D, Nanuet), was to be introduced in the Assembly by Linda Rosenthal (D,
Manhattan).
If approved, the bill would allow BOCES to operate the high schools in
coordination with the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.
“Research has shown that after treatment for substance use disorder,
approximately 70 percent of students who return to high school relapse
within six months to a year,” Carlucci said. “When implemented
as a pilot program in other states, recovery high schools have proven
to be an effective model to help youth in recovery stay healthy and graduate.”
The bill would authorize the state agency to approve five BOCES in the
state to provide recovery high school programs for students diagnosed
with a substance use disorder who have demonstrated a commitment to recovery.
“We have to leave no stone unturned as this has become the public
health epidemic of our generation,” said Carlucci. “That means
providing resources for prevention and recovery at the earliest stages
possible and exploring new strategies like recovery high schools that
have worked in other states.”
