New Lipscomb recovery group ‘Free To Be’ offers friendship, accountability

The major message of the “Free To Be… You and Me” record, produced by Ms. Foundation for Women, was to inspire everyone, male and female, to achieve greatness. The goal of Lipscomb’s new recovery group, Free To Be, is similar in that it inspires students to take care of their bodies, achieving wellness.  “Free To Be [started] because we realized there wasn’t a lot going on as far the drug and alcohol support was concerned,” said Andrea Mills, associate director of Lipscomb’s Counseling Center. “We wanted to make sure students felt like there was something they could come to and not feel like they were going to get in trouble for admitting that they had an issue or problem,” Mills said. Free To Be is a drug and alcohol recovery group, that also serves as a breakout chapel, where students can receive one chapel credit per session. Beginning in January, Free To Be meets once a week on Thursdays and gives students the opportunity to engage in a community that understands their situation and offers accountability. The group is not just for recovering addicts, however. Mills said she knows students think they have to be in recovery to join the group, but Free To Be is for any student who has any struggle with alcohol or drugs and wants help. Mills came to Lipscomb in October 2013 from the UAV Hospital, where she worked with emerging adults in the in-patient recovery program. She said students do not have to identify as an alcoholic or addict. The student just needs to see that they are struggling and want help. Free...