Eryn, I agree with you. That is something RN's son can work on while in IOP/sober living. I don't think, though, that there is anything wrong with RN suggesting a program like this. In fact, if it was my child and I was paying for the college education, I would make it a requirement that he/she was in a program like the ones in the link. Too many of us have thown money down the drain for our kids to spend a semester drinking or using drugs with nothing to show for it.
Again, just my humble opinion.
~Kathy