College Students and Addiction Guide
The pressures college students face during college and the social anxiety many have to deal with during these sensitive years may represent a gateway to drug and alcohol abuse.
Binge drinking, experimenting, and drug use are some quick fixes students utilize to cope with stress, the massive course load, and peer pressure.
Although addiction trends in college students and graduates tend to shift every year, it’s becoming abundantly clear that students are at high risk of substance abuse and addiction during enrollment and after graduation.
In this guide, we explore why substance use rates are high in college students and how to seek help.
If you or a loved one is a college student struggling with addiction or substance abuse, contact Zinnia Health for support at (855) 430-9439.
Substance Use and Addiction Prevalence in College Students
There is little data available that could help us understand the entire scope of substance abuse and addiction levels on college campuses.
However, according to the Jeanne Clery Act, colleges that receive public funding must provide reports on the crimes taking place within the perimeter of the university. These reports, which contain details on crimes related to drugs, are then published by the Office of Postsecondary Education.
This information can help paint a picture of drug usage rates on college campuses, though they by no means provide a definite answer to the question.
Substance Abuse and Addiction Among College Students
Many psychologists consider college as a turning point from adolescence to adulthood. During this time, young people can live independently for the first time and be faced with making important decisions without supervision from guardians or parents.
Students’ sudden freedom during college can also make them susceptible to drug and alcohol use.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, more than one-third of full-time college students (aged 18-22) engage in binge drinking, while one in five uses illicit drugs.
The institution also noted that substance use is one of the more severe public health issues concerning young adults in the United States.
The problem can create adverse effects on health, social, and economic levels not just for the students but also for their families and the communities of which they are a part of.
Here’s a look at some substance use statistics according to SAMHSA:
1. First-Time Substance Use
According to the NSDUH data (National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted by SAMHSA), 9.9% of the nine million full-time college students in the United States tried alcohol for the first time in 2014. Moreover, 6% of these students used illicit drugs for the first time in 2016. Here are the national trends for first-time substance use in college students (by the number of students):
- Alcohol (2,179)
- Illicit drugs (1,326)
- Marijuana (1,299)
- Hallucinogens (649)
- Nonmedical use of pain relievers (559)
- Cocaine (447)
- Heroin (19)
2. Alcohol and Drug Use
Approximately 5.4 million full-time college students (roughly 60%) reportedly drank alcohol the month before the SAMHSA study. 3.5 million reported binge drinking, 1.2 million were heavy drinkers, and 2 million used an illicit drug.
Here’s an overview of the substances full-time college students use:
- 1.2 million full-time college students drank alcohol
- 703,759 full-time college students used marijuana
- 11,338 full-time college students used cocaine
- 9,808 full-time college students used hallucinogens
- 4,570 full-time college students used heroin
- 3,341 full-time college students used inhalants
Here’s a look at the substances part-time college students tend to use:
- Alcohol (239,212)
- Marijuana (195,020)
- Cocaine (3,629)
- Hallucinogens (3,239)
- Heroin (2,590)
- Inhalants (991)
The SAMHSA report underlines that college appears to be a time when young people start engaging in substance use. Of all substances, alcohol was, by far, the most frequently consumed drug by first-time, part-time, and full-time students, followed by marijuana. Heroin and inhalants were the least frequently used of all the categories.
A study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine about the associations between race or ethnicity and 12-month rates of substance abuse found that consumption percentages tended to be higher for Hispanic and Caucasian students than for Asian or African American ones, especially regarding marijuana use.
The same conclusion was valid for both male and female students.
Illicit substance use among female college students:
- 40% of Hispanic women
- 38.1% Caucasian women
- 20.6% of Asian women
- 18.7% of African American women
- 11.7% of women of another racial/ethnic background
Illicit substance use among college male students:
- 45.1% of Hispanic men
- 41.5% Caucasian men
- 22.8% of Asian men
- 34.1% of African American men
- 28.3% Men of another racial/ethnic background
Understanding the National Substance Use Trends
If you have sufficiently been able to diagnose opioid addiction, consider the mental state of your loved one. Drug addiction is a mental illness, so anything that falls under the substance abuse category is going to have some effects on a person’s mental health, as well.
Opioids, like all drugs, affect the brain in fundamental ways. Drug abuse or repeated use of the substance will have harmful consequences.
These conditions do not include compulsive tendencies, tolerance (requiring higher doses to get the initial effect), and withdrawal (the symptoms users experience when they stop using the drug), which are signs of addiction.
When a person becomes addicted, the hierarchy of their needs and desires turns upside down as they develop new priorities. Controlling their impulses becomes more difficult and procuring and using the drug becomes the most important task, with serious behavior alterations.
To properly comprehend why drug and alcohol abuse among college students is such a widespread issue, it is vital to address why some young people may turn to reckless behavior during their university education.
- Changes in how drugs are perceived in the public space. For example, the high rate of marijuana use may be, in part, attributed to the fact that public opinion of the drug has improved, and consumption has become legal in some states
- Availability
- Peer/academic pressure
Signs of Substance Abuse
- Low interest in academics
- Change in grades or performance
- Spending more time with social groups known to use drugs
- Changes in behavior or personality
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Irritability
- Slowly withdrawing from social responsibilities and ignoring family relationships
Addiction or Abuse?
Substance abuse and substance addiction are two utterly different things.
Substance abuse refers to the behavior of continuous consumption of drugs and alcohol, while addiction appears after long-term abuse and indicates that an individual’s body has formed a dependency on the substance and cannot control their reaction to it.
When it comes to college students, it can be challenging to assess whether someone is abusing a substance or is already addicted to it.
Many campus environments (such as college parties or fraternities) have a high degree of illicit substance prevalence, which puts young people in direct contact with drugs and alcohol, increasing the chances of drug and alcohol consumption.
But, determining if a particular student is abusing a substance or is addicted to it is vital to their recovery.
For instance, substance addiction is a medical issue. It requires a comprehensive process towards rehabilitation, while drug abuse is considered a behavioral problem that can successfully be treated through counseling or therapy.
Substance Abuse Recovery for College Students and Graduates
Experts must consider various things when trying to determine what pushed a college student towards substance or alcohol abuse.
Young people can benefit from an array of different resources should they decide to overcome their addiction and get sober.
For instance, many campus counselors can help students by guiding them to the appropriate resources for the exact problem they are facing.
Many educational institutions offer student groups, student health centers, or online resources that they can access whenever they feel the need.
While these resources might not be able to offer the solution to the addiction itself, they can help support and guide the student through their path toward a sober life.
Other resources available for students suffering from addiction or substance abuse include:
1. College Drinking Prevention
This is a group sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. They can offer multiple resources for students looking to quit drinking and stay sober. http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov
2. ULifeline
This is an online resource for college mental health. Students can use this platform to search for information regarding psychological issues or emotional health. http://www.ulifeline.org
3. National Institute on Drug Abuse
This is a comprehensive state-run platform that offers a lot of information about the effects of drug use, treatment options, and aggregates several other addiction resources. http://www.drugabuse.gov
4. Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Like NIDA, this online platform can give students extended information regarding drugs, their effects, and consequences of long-time use, as well as updates on treatment methods and programs. http://www.cdc.gov
5. The Office on Women’s Health
The platform run as a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gives female students a comprehensive list of resources to issues related to them, including on the topic of date rape drugs. http://www.womenshealth.gov
Addiction Recovery for College Students and Graduates
1. Assessing the Student’s Needs
First, it’s essential to assess the underlying cause of the student’s substance addiction:
- Stress
- Peer pressure
- Mental disorders
- Family history of abuse
Understanding why the student started abusing a particular substance and then consequently became addicted to it can be instrumental in deciding the proper treatment.
Other factors to consider include:
- The timeframe of addiction
- The type of substance used
- The quantities of substance consumed
2. Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment Programs
After the students’ particular needs have been identified, college counselors can direct them to an appropriate program.
Inpatient treatment programs will see the student admitted into a 24/7 clinic during the beginning of their recovery. Depending on their medical file and needs, they can remain under treatment for several months.
During treatment, patients receive individualized care consisting of detox treatment, therapy sessions, and other treatment methods the clinic employs, all while remaining under the supervision of the medical staff.
On the other hand, outpatient care does not require patients to be admitted full-time to a clinic.
During their treatment, students can continue their daily activities while participating in therapy sessions to help their recovery. The frequency of clinic visits and the methods employed are decided based on the revision of the college student’s particular case.
It’s important to state that if medical detox is needed, students must be admitted to the clinic for at least a week (depending on the nature of the addiction) to remain medically supervised. At the same time, the drug is eliminated from their system.
Detox can bring forward many unpleasant symptoms as a result of withdrawal, so it is better for the patient to be monitored during this time.
Outpatient care might not be suited for everyone. Many students can receive an inpatient treatment as a recommendation, allowing them to fully concentrate on their recovery and disconnect from the outside world.
For instance, if the student become addicted to drugs because they were trying to cope with academic pressures, they should detach from college duties and focus entirely on their rehabilitation in an inpatient program.
First Steps Towards Recovery
An addiction treatment plan will differ greatly from patient to patient, as it is done based on the individual needs of the college student. Moreover, the type of program chosen for treatment, as well as the clinic that provides it, are also factors that may influence the treatment plan since several of these centers can employ different methods of approaching addiction.
However, there are some common steps that most clinics employ:
1. Drug Detoxification
During this step, the doctors try to completely remove the substance to which a college student is addicted from their body. It is often one of the more unpleasant stages of rehabilitation due to the withdrawal symptoms.
The severity of withdrawal differs from patient to patient. Still, if they remain supervised at this stage, the medical staff can administer any necessary medication to relieve pain and monitor the patient’s condition.
2. Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral therapies can help address the patient’s mental and emotional state. A considerable part of addiction recovery involves helping the patient improve their mental state, identify the root of the addiction, and help them manage their recovery.
During this stage of treatment, the therapists may use several methods, such as:
- Individual, group, or family therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- 12-steps groups
3. Alternative Therapy
Some rehabilitation programs can also incorporate alternative approaches to addiction treatment. As such, they employ several leisure activities to help students acquire new skills or competencies and offer them an escape during treatment.
4. Support Groups
In addition to the treatment options described above, students with addiction issues are encouraged to join support groups during rehabilitation. Such groups can provide students with the necessary tools to maintain a sober life, manage cravings, and avoid relapse.
Moreover, such groups are free and have an open-door policy, providing students in recovery with:
- A healthy environment in which they can feel included
- A place to share experiences
- The possibility of relying on others
- The chance to develop more social skills
- The opportunity to learn from other people’s experiences
Many support groups for drugs and alcohol addiction are available to students on campus, making it increasingly easier for students to manage their recovery and academic life.
Get Help Today
A paper published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine criticizes that although there is increased interest in the scope of substance abuse and addiction on U.S. campuses, there are few resources available for students who want treatment. Those that exist can go severely unnoticed.
If you or a loved one is a college student struggling with substance abuse or addiction, reach out to Zinnia Health at (855) 430-9439.