The National Institute of Health reports that more Americans die from drug overdoses than from car accidents now. The addiction epidemic is even more disturbing when you realize that an increasing number of college students are facing unprecedented challenges surrounding nicotine use, alcohol abuse, and non-medical narcotic use. While it will take a lot of work to reverse the drug abuse and addiction trends medical professionals are seeing among this demographic, dealing with it starts with understanding why it is happening and what to do about it.
Key Factors Contributing to Addiction Issues Among College Students
College life can be very stressful due to financial challenges, social expectations, and academic pressure. The high level of stress and pressure students face can lead to them turning to alcohol, various substances, and prescription medication to cope.
The second issue is easy access to drugs. Unfortunately, many colleges provide a thriving party environment where students can access the drugs or alcohol they want. These environments provide fertile grounds for students to experiment and eventually become addicted to alcohol and various substances.
Another contributing factor is peer influence and social norms. Many students’ attitudes towards alcohol and substance use make others feel compelled to try these substances, even if just once. There is also a lot of pressure to maintain social connections, and doing so often entails substance use and abuse.
Mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and trauma can also lead to substance abuse as a form of self-medication.
What Are the Available Solutions?
Colleges should establish stress management programs, peer support networks, and counseling services for students struggling with stress and pressure. These can teach healthy coping mechanisms and provide students with avenues for seeking help without being judged if they feel they need it.
While cutting access is almost impossible, colleges should increase awareness of the risk of experimentation and make the dangers of addiction clear to all students. These interventions can work alongside the enforcement of policies that reduce or eliminate alcohol and drug use on campus.
Colleges can reduce the effects of peer pressure by promoting positive and healthy peer influence and encouraging better decision-making. They can also create alternate environments and social events that do not revolve around substance abuse.
As with dealing with peer pressure, colleges can provide counseling, mental health, and psychiatric care services to help students with mental health issues that could contribute to substance abuse.
What About Rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation remains one of the best solutions to dealing with addiction problems among college students, especially those with severe addictions or who have relapsed multiple times. Because students face unique challenges compared to the public, they, their parents, and others supporting them must find treatment centers that cater to their unique needs.
It is also crucial that parents stay vigilant so that they know when their children are struggling. Doing this will make them better informed on the interventions their children need, whether that is a treatment program or seeking the services of a reputable addiction treatment center.
Understanding that alcohol and substance abuse are both serious issues in college, colleges should implement targeted interventions, provide personalized counseling and mental health services, and promote positive interaction to deal with the issue. They should also do their best to limit access to alcohol and different substances and eliminate opportunities to use and abuse them.