Better Than Well: Addiction recovery support for UoB Students

If you’re struggling with an addiction or in recovery, it’s important to know that you don’t have to face it alone while at university.

UoB’s Better Than Well recovery community offers confidential, peer-led support for students experiencing addiction – that includes substance use (like alcohol or drugs) and behavioural addictions such as gambling, sex, compulsive porn use or compulsive eating.

Founded by students, for students, Better Than Well (BTW) is the first fully integrated university recovery programme in Europe.

“When I started my journey into education and recovery, I’d been homeless and addicted to Class A drugs,” says Luke Trainor, Programme Manager and student in recovery. “We created Better Than Well so students wouldn’t have to go through it alone.”

BTW is built around lived experience and mutual aid, and it offers a range of support options, including:

• 12-step groups
• SMART Recovery
• Yoga
• Recovery seminars
• Sober social activities

“I found the Better Than Well group and started going to meetings,” said Simon, a student in recovery. “It was scary to open up, but they understood. Everyone’s been so welcoming – completely non-judgmental.”

Students in the BTW community have been able to speak openly about their experiences with addiction, isolation, and the turning points that led them to seek help. For some, it was the realisation that partying had become compulsive. For others, it was the struggle to stay sober after multiple relapses.

“What Better Than Well has given me is a change of perspective,” said Chris, a student in long-term recovery. “It’s allowed me to start living a life that I enjoy.”

How to get involved

If you feel like a community of fellow students with shared experiences could help you with your addiction or recovery, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Better Than Well is open to all UoB students. You don’t need a diagnosis or a referral, just a willingness to connect. Meetings are confidential and welcoming, whether you’re seeking support for the first time or returning after time away.

You can find out more, watch student interviews and get in touch via the Better Than Well webpage.

Additional support

If you’re looking for therapeutic support, UoB’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Service offers confidential counselling and guidance. You can also explore Pivotal Recovery, a new online self-help course launching in January to support students with compulsive sexual behaviours and problematic porn use.

Whatever you're facing, support is here. The first step is to reach out.

Explore our Time to Talk pages for more ways to connect to University support.