The University of Colorado Boulder has opened up a portion of their housing to people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.
Several apartments at Williams Village are housing students with addiction in their pasts.
People at CU Collegiate Recovery Center thought of the idea in January 2014 when they first heard interest from students about sober housing. The first students moved into the apartments in mid-August. Lily Wilkinson is one of those students.
"I am a person in long-term recovery," said Wilkinson. "That means I haven't had a drink or a drug in five and a half years."
Wilkinson said she realized she had a drug and alcohol problem when she was 19. Since, she has joined CUCRC to help mentor other students in recovery.
"I was looking for a community where I could make a new start," Wilkinson said. "Really live in health and wellness and being your best self. I really found that in Boulder."
Program director Sam Randall said it allows for students to live in a space with like-minded peers.
"The dominant message is if you're not partying, or you're not using drugs or alcohol, you must not be having fun," said Randall. "That's just not true."
Randall said environment plays a big role in addiction recovery.