Salem, Ore. – Oregon’s first recovery high school with on-site addiction recovery services opens to students next week.
Discovery Academy is a small public school in Salem, operating under the Willamette Education Service District. It initially opened last spring with just a handful of students, all in recovery. Principal Max Preminger says when the school reopens Tuesday, it’ll offer expanded services, marking a first in the state, “The first one that will have the community center, the clinical services, the family engagement and the recovery high school all under one roof.” He says will be allowed to stay on campus for 12 hours, with access to mental and behavioral health services and mentorship. “They’ll get three meals, have a safe space to be, and have recovery oriented activities and a full day of recovery.” The school day will run 9 to 3:30.
Willamette ESD partnered with 4D Recovery for the expanded services. Dr. Nicholas Crapser, with 4D, says students attending Discovery Academy can just walk down the hall when they’re ready for treatment, “Having it in the same spot, you can strike while the iron’s hot. With adolescents sometimes that motivation is just a quick spark.” It also fills a need for the broader region, “To be able to provide, not only services to the folks that are going to Discovery Academy, but also Salem and Marion County at large. There’s just not the services for youth that there should be anywhere in the state, but in Marion County, there’s just nobody providing services.”…