Education

Studies involving clients of numerous drug rehab centers have shown that young people that abuse drugs and alcohol tend to fall behind in their educational goals. Drug and alcohol addiction tends to cause people to place less importance on life goals and directly affects the capacity to learn and retain information while using or recovering from drug use. Some of the consequences of drug use include short-term memory loss and short attention span. Young people that actively use drugs fall behind in classes and tend ultimately to quit school altogether. This is in direct contrast to the fact that most chemically dependent persons are highly adaptable individuals with a good capacity for learning and change. The inability to meet educational goal ultimately causes low self-esteem in individuals that know they can excel if they just could get it together. Shorecliffs Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center has a program that addresses educational needs of people recovering from alcohol or drug addiction. Shorecliffs Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers EDU program is an educational program developed in conjunction with Saddleback College in Mission Viejo California. Participants enroll at an accredited college and work towards one of several goals: starting work towards a major, graduating high school, or receiving a GED. By enrolling in the EDU program, students begin on a life journey, which they once may not have believed possible. Self-esteem is raised and the educational component has the added effect of helping the healing process by challenging participants and broadening exposure to supportive peers that are moving in similar directions. Participants are given support in learning work skills and entering the job market. Those who enroll in the EDU program are provided transportation to classes, books, and learning materials. After completion of classes, participants may continue on at Saddleback or transfer units to another college.