About Us

One Community, One School, One Student at a Time

We invest in the future of our youth and families by bringing research, solution-based programs and resources to substance use disorders, transforming the pathway for lifetime recovery.

The Need

$428B The estimated cost of illicit drug and alcohol use in America is $428 billion a year in costs related to crime, lost work productivity and healthcare.

/ National Institute on Drug Abuse, March 2015

200% The National Safety Council reported more than 18,000 deaths from prescription opioids overdose in 2014, a 200 percent increase in the rate of overdose deaths from 2001.

/ National Safety Council, 2014

20% Kids who learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are significantly less likely to use drugs, yet 20% report not receiving this benefit.

/ Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, 2016

2020 By 2020, mental health and substance use disorders will surpass all physical diseases as a major cause of disability worldwide.

/ SAMHSA, 2014

35% In 2013, 35 percent of Nevada high school students reported having taken prescription drugs without a prescription. Heroin use was 19 times higher among those who reporting unprescribed use.

/ National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2013

Our History & Approach

In late 2011, Stacie Mathewson provided seed funding to the Nevada Recovery and Prevention Community at the University of Nevada, Reno. This simple act of generosity sparked a national study into the status of substance use and recovery among college students in the United States. In 2012, the Stacie Mathewson Foundation was founded, with the unique mission to create collegiate recovery programs on campuses throughout the country. In February 2013, following a lengthy battle with addiction and recovery, Stacie’s son, Josh, died of an overdose. The Stacie Mathewson Foundation transitioned to Transforming Youth Recovery and expanded its mission to improve access to prevention, intervention and recovery services for young people throughout the continuum of a child’s educational life, from preK through college.

Today, Transforming Youth Recovery is recognized as a national leader in the youth recovery movement.

Our History & Approach

As a parent, you don't look at your young child and see a person who is going to be an addict someday. Recovery gives more than hope—it gives life.

Stacie Mathewson
- Founder, CEO and President

Research

We take an asset-based approach to help groups of people transform the pathway for a lifetime of wellness and recovery from addiction.

  • Research Studies
  • Initiatives and Programs
  • Points of Entry
  • Share Learning

Our Methodology for PreK-12, High School, Higher Education

We pursue initiatives aimed at transforming the pathway for a lifetime of wellness and recovery from addiction. We take an asset-based approach to teach groups of people to become active agents, rather than objects, of change. And we commit to a methodology that aims to build capacity for recovery paths in all corners of our nation—one community, one school, one student at a time.

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Accomplishments

We pursue initiatives aimed at transforming the pathway for a lifetime of wellness and recovery from addiction. We take an asset-based approach to teach groups of people to become active agents, rather than objects, of change. And we commit to a methodology that aims to build capacity for recovery paths in all corners of our nation—one community, one school, one student at a time.

Since 2013, TYR has lead the effort to increase the number of collegiate recovery programs in the United States.

Programs have quadrupled in the past 4 years and 2.4 million students now have access to recovery support on campus.

From 2013-2016, TYR stabilized and reinvigorated the Association of Recovery Schools, the nationally recognized resource for recovery high schools in the United States.

TYR's development of the Capacitype™ data and mapping platform has led to a comprehensive national resource hub for the entire spectrum of substance use resources - from prevention to intervention, to treatment and recovery support services.

TYR has commissioned and published 8 research studies in best practices for school-based recovery and is pioneering a new substance misuse prevention strategy for communities.

FAQs

What does Transforming Youth Recovery do?

Transforming Youth Recovery is a 501(C)3 non-profit that invests in the future of our youth and families by bringing research, solution-based programs and resources to substance use disorders, transforming the pathway for lifetime recovery.

We work through the education system from preK-12 to higher education to give every student a healthy and supportive place to learn and grow. We are also working to give every family the tools and resources they need to be their child’s best advocates.

Does Transforming Youth Recovery provide grants to other organizations?

In the past we have provided support grants to other non-profit organizations to help them with a specific goal or need. Currently we are not providing support grants.

Where can I get help?

If this is an emergency dial 911. If you need immediate assistance and haven't tried already, you can also call SAMHSA’s National Helpline.

This is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

The phone number is 800-662-4357.

Otherwise, please visit https://www.capacitype.com/find-it to locate care and support services in your area.

Please be aware that Capacitype was developed to help those seeking support resources in their community. We do not endorse or directly support any presented resource. Those seeking programs, services, or treatment are urged to verify each provider’s credentials and certifications to confirm their expertise and quality of service.

Is Transforming Youth Recovery a treatment facility?

We are not a treatment facility. We conduct research which informs the pilot programs we design. We then share learning from these programs with the nation in an effort to fill any community gaps in the continuum of care—prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery support services for youth and their families.

Is Transforming Youth Recovery hiring?

We post all our job listings on Indeed.com so you can always check there periodically to see if we are hiring.

We invite you to join our growing network of individuals, professionals, and organizations as we work together to create viable solutions and programs that aim to change public perceptions of addiction and recovery, and save lives—one community, one school, one student at a time.

Get in Touch!