Scholarship promotes addiction studies

November 10, 2008 by Shane Collins 

Las Vegas acts as laboratory for students, researchers

The Foundation for Recovery, a nonprofit organization focused on recovery of people suffering from addictions, awarded four scholarships Thursday to students who demonstrated excellence and motivation in the area of addiction studies.

The winners (Cheri Quijano, Melissa Depa, Lindsey Harrison, and Kristen Dahlke) were presented the Addiction Studies Scholarships by professor Larry Ashley, an addiction specialist and undergraduate coordinator.

The scholarship was created with the purpose of providing full tuition scholarships per academic year.

“[Students] know how hard it is to pay for college,” Ashley said. “Students are like starving artists.”

Ashley continued to say that the purpose of the scholarship is to defray the cost of going to school so the student studying addictions can focus on their education.

“We provide the tools for them to excel in this area of study,” he said.

Eligibility for the scholarship is based on a 3.0 GPA, an application process and interest in the study of addictions — primarily gambling addictions, Ashley said.

Harrison, a graduate student at UNLV who works with addiction, said the scholarship is important to students in this area of study as they can focus on making the lives of people suffering from addiction better.

“This scholarship is really important to me because it helps me cut down on hours at work,” Harrison said. “It helps me really focus on school more.”

The addiction studies program at UNLV is among the top 10 in the nation, an honor Harrison said is imperative in Las Vegas.

“I think it’s amazing to have this program in Las Vegas,” she said. “This is the City of Sin — there’s bound to be addictions.”

Ashley agreed and added that addiction training is ideal in Las Vegas, as the city acts as a living laboratory.

“We are national and world leaders [at UNLV] in the area of addiction,” Ashley said.

For the community, the scholarship motivates students to study addictions and develop skills to provide therapy, a skill Harrison said is vital.

“We need a lot more help in the community for people with addictions,” she said. “This scholarship provides us with that ability.”

The scholarship also draws in students interested in addictions, and from that comes focus on some pressing issues in the community, Ashley said.

The Student Organization of Addiction Professionals furthers the development and goals of the addiction studies students, Ashley said. The organization holds events and informational meetings to bring awareness to the cause of addiction rehabilitation.

“Overall, our portfolio of events and possibilities is what pushes us to be the best,” Ashley said.