Recovering from substance use and mental health issues means rebuilding your life through purpose, routine and personal growth. For many young men, that includes returning to school, which can feel equally daunting and empowering.
PACE Recovery has developed our PACE Academy program to give you the structure and confidence you need to get your academic goals back on track.
Why Structure Is Essential for Brain Healing
Chronic substance abuse alters brain function, impairs focus and disrupts executive functioning. Once you start recovering, your brain will heal, and you can speed that process by establishing consistent habits that rebuild the cognitive processes disrupted by addiction.
We designed PACE Academy to guide students back into formal learning, help them establish mental stamina and regain the ability to focus, organize tasks and follow through.
Balancing Academics With Recovery
Returning to school after your mental and behavioral health derailed your academic career isn’t easy. PACE Academy is a uniquely supportive environment that balances academic goals with the ongoing work of recovery. We don’t expect our students to handle every challenge alone at an emotionally vulnerable time. Instead, they attend life skills and study skills groups, receive weekly tutor check-ins and gain the tools to manage their education and well-being.
Whether you want to earn your high school diploma, finish a college degree or attend grad school, we’ll meet you where you are. Our goal is to make academic success achievable – not a source of additional pressure.
The Confidence That Comes From Completion
Many of the young men who come to PACE haven’t accomplished something meaningful in a long time. If addiction interrupted your progress and left you with a trail of false starts, completing even a single course can be an incredibly satisfying milestone.
Through PACE Academy, you’ll rediscover what it feels like to set goals and reach them. Slowly but surely, you’ll start believing in yourself again. With each assignment you complete and exam you pass, you will build self-esteem, self-worth and motivation for what’s next.
Academic and Career Support at Every Level
PACE Academy helps clients at every stage of their academic progress, including:
- High school completion
- College readiness and reentry
- Graduate program support
- Career assessment inventory testing
- CAADAC certification track (an 18-week program to become a certified addiction counselor)
PACE Recovery integrates education into our healing process because we’ve seen the payoff firsthand. No matter where you start from, we’ll help you finish strong. Whether you’re interested in trade school, professional certification or a university degree, we’ll advise you on ways to narrow your focus, set realistic goals and pursue a meaningful path.
If you’re ready to start fresh in 2026, PACE Academy is a place where you can begin again – on your terms. Contact us today to learn more about how we allow young men to get a good education while working on addiction recovery.