Joining me on the podcast today is an incredibly insightful and well-informed individual within the recovery and substance abuse landscape. Executive Director at Hope Academy High School, Rachelle Gardner built her curriculum on trust, education and genuine connection with each of the students enrolled. 

In this episode, we discuss how her school is aiming to act as a preventative recovery program through their non-traditional classes. We also explore the existing stigma around substance abuse, particularly with young people, and why ‘normalizing’ certain drugs has made us move backward in our understanding of the significance of abuse. 

I encourage you to listen to today’s episode! I promise it will be one that will bring you insight and possibly challenge your perspective on substance abuse.

Some Questions I Ask:

• How many kids enrolled during your first year at Hope Academy? (8:13)
• What are schools doing today to help their students with substance abuse? (16:05)
• What’s the general demographic of your students? (19:46)
• What does a typical day at Hope Academy look like compared to a non-recovery focused High School? (23:50)
• Does every state in the US have a recovery High School? (27:38)
• What do you think Hope Academy needs in order to continue being successful? (35:37)

In This Episode You Will Learn:

• Some background on Rachelle Gardner & The emergence of Hope Academy (2:25)
• How cultural and societal stigma towards substance abuse and perceived risk has evolved (10:35)
• The differences between substance abuse and addiction (29:42)
• How Hope Academy aims to act as the road to preventing addiction (32:20)

Let’s Connect!

• Website
• Email: [email protected]

Connect With Rachelle Gardner:

• LinkedIn
• Website: Hope Academy High School

Resources:

• IMDb Page: Generation Found (2016)
• Music Video: Matt Butler - Just One

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