Heartland High School Helps Students Build a Future in Recovery

There was a time when high schooler Maddy would wake up early simply so she could start drinking earlier.

“I really didn’t think I could go into a public place or school without being drunk,” Maddy admitted. “I thought I would just be a functioning alcoholic.”

It wasn’t long until Maddy began using other substances in addition to alcohol and increasingly found herself showing up to school under the influence. Maddy’s escalated substance misuse led her mom to enroll her at Heartland High School, where Maddy is now a junior.

Supported by the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County, Heartland is Ohio’s only recovery-oriented high school. It serves students in grades 9-12 who are working to maintain recovery from substance misuse. As National Recovery Month is observed throughout September, Maddy’s experience offers a glimpse into how recovery-focused education can help young people build a future.

Maddy recognizes how much she’s changed throughout the past year. “Since coming to Heartland, I feel like a real person not entirely focused on substances, and that’s been nice.”

A School Day Built Around Recovery

Similar to a traditional high school, Heartland offers state-accredited academic courses and student electives such as art, gardening and music, with recovery woven throughout the school day.

“Giving these students a recovery-centered education means recovery is part of the curriculum,” said Heartland Executive Director Eddie Rapp. “Students who attend Heartland are battling trauma, mental health, dual diagnosis and substance use, so while they’re here to get a high school diploma, they’re also working toward sobriety and recovery.”

In addition to recovery throughout the day, students have a dedicated recovery period, which is peer-led by them and moderated by the school’s recovery coach, Scot Holmes.

“My role is to help guide the students through their recovery,” Scot said. “Even though I am older, I am their peer, so I relate to them and always make sure I’m not preaching at them.”

Eddie stresses that Scot is a mentor to the students and someone they genuinely open up to.

“When these kids go home, there may be times when they struggle to communicate with their parents or have difficult conversations,” Eddie said. “But here with Mr. Scot, they feel like they can speak their minds, be honest and know they’re going to be heard without judgment.”

Scot helps students navigate substance use-specific challenges, such as managing cravings, finding positive hobbies and understanding what addiction looks like for them. Additionally, he supports other areas that contribute to their recovery, including strengthening relationships with friends and family, keeping up with their grades and ultimately working on their growth as people.

Before enrolling at Heartland, senior Ava regularly showed up to her old school high and didn’t care how obvious her intoxication was. While she now recognizes that she was rude and distant, at the time, and she told herself that her habits weren’t that bad, that what she was doing was just normal teen behavior.

While starting at Heartland was initially a challenge and a decision Ava didn’t agree with, her time at the school has shifted her outlook on what’s ahead.

“I’ve been doing better since I’ve come to Heartland, and my relationship with my family has improved so much,” Ava said. “I’m really proud of the path I’m on, and Mr. Scot always reminds me that I’m moving in the right direction and encourages me to do the right thing. The fact that he’s recovered gives me hope that I can recover, too.”

Growing Together in Recovery

At Heartland, every step toward recovery is a win. Whether a student is one-day sober, has significantly decreased their substance usage or has set a boundary with a loved one, that progress is celebrated at Heartland.

“From day one when students get here, sometimes it’s an uphill battle, so to see them want to be here and the changes they’ve made, even if it’s not just sobriety, has been huge,” Eddie said.

Many students also lean on the relatability of being teenagers navigating addiction and recovery together. They learn from one another, form friendships, celebrate each other’s wins and feel comfortable being vulnerable about their experiences with addiction. That shared determination helps motivate them to keep working toward their recovery goals.

“I was so behind last year, I moved around to four different schools and was just lost in my addiction,” Maddy said. “But this place and the people I’ve met really help me and make it seem like recovery is possible.”