Colleges With Substance Free Dorms in Southern California

Marissa Katrin Maldonado
3 min readAug 27, 2017

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A growing trend among the nation’s college campuses is a positive one — the offering of substance free dorms. There are a variety of reasons for this development. Colleges and universities hope to reduce capital and legal expenses caused by property damage, sexual assault occurrences, alcohol driven violence, and liability issues related to underage drinking, drug, and prescription drug use. In addition, colleges may be responding to cultural trends embracing health, fitness, and general wellness, providing a niche in the college marketplace.

When a student selects a dry campus they do so with clear intentions. Some of the possible reasons why an incoming student might prefer substance free housing include:

· They seek a quiet, peaceful dorm life where they will be able to study without the interference from partiers

· They may have religious beliefs that are not copasetic with smoking, drug or alcohol use, such as Muslim, Mormon, Seventh Day Adventist, among others

· They may have prior history of substance abuse or family members with addiction histories and choose to live in a sober environment

· They consider substance-free housing to be a safer living environment

Based on the increasing rates of campus violence, including crimes of rape, students may seek a safer learning environment, which can result from colleges with substance free dorm policies.

Substance Free Dorms in Southern California

There are several college campuses with substance free dorms in the Southern California region. These campuses strive to foster an academic environment that is less about partying and more about learning. For someone who has battled a substance use disorder and wants to return to a college environment that will help to reinforce his or her commitment to sobriety, a dry campus is a good option.

While true that dry campuses were once viewed scornfully as party pooper schools, schools attended by antisocial nerds. Over time, however, that perception has given way to a newfound appreciation for the existence of a clear option to drug and alcohol soaked campuses. Colleges with substance free dorms are quieter, cleaner, and more conducive to studying.

Some California colleges with substance free dorms include:

· Biola University, Whittier, California

· California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, California

· Hope University, Fullerton, California

· Pomona College, Claremont, California

· Mount Saint Mary’s, Los Angeles, California

· California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California

· Whittier College, Whittier, California

The overall cultural shift towards wellness is another reason for the surge in popularity for campuses with substance free dorms. Young people today are more tuned in to the dangers of certain substances that are toxic, including drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes, and desire clean food choices, active lifestyles, and emotional balance in their lives. For whatever reason, the trend toward substance free college housing is a positive one on many levels.

If your specific University does not offer substance free dorms, there are other options, like sober living and sober roomates.

About The Author

Marissa Katrin Maldonado is the founder of The Treatment Specialist, which is a free treatment referral service for those seeking addiction or mental health treatment for themselves or their loved ones. Marissa has been working in the addiction and behavioral healthcare field for the past 12 years helping adults, teens, and their family’s find treatment programs for recovery.

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Marissa Katrin Maldonado

Founder of The Treatment Specialist, a national resource for addiction & mental health treatment options. https://thetreatmentspecialist.com