Author: John Carter

Substance Abuse In College Students: Statistics & Rehab Treatment

However, in order to truly know whether or not these programs really help college campuses and students with substance abuse problems, more research about impact would need to be completed. The 2018 Monitoring the Future College Students and Young Adults survey shows trends in the use of marijuana, alcohol, nicotine, and synthetic drugs in college students and non-college peers. Combined with the mental health challenges college students face, drug misuse is becoming increasingly important to address. This jump is among the greatest one-year increase seen for any substance in the history of the survey.Between 2017 and 2018, nicotine vaping increased in college students from 6.1% to 15.5% and from 7.9% to 12.5% in non-college adults.

Trends & Statistics

The Monitoring the Future (MTF) study has been annually tracking substance use among college students and noncollege adults ages since 1980. Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, the survey is conducted annually by scientists at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor. Results are based on data from college students one to four years beyond high school graduation who are enrolled full-time in a two- or four-year college in March of the given year, compared with same-age high school graduates not enrolled full-time in college. Data for the 2020 survey were collected online from 1,550 college-aged adults between March 20, 2020 through November 30, 2020. The 2020 survey results are now available online, and a summary of key findings is below.

Alcohol numbed the feelings and made the flashbacks go away.”26 However, though alcohol has numbing properties that temporarily halt symptoms of PTSD and other mental illness, the substance wears off and the individual must re-medicate to find the same relief.27 With time, this constant self-medication can lead to addiction. College students are one of the largest groups of substance abusers in the United States. Many turn to substances to deal with mental illness and academic stress, particularly using study drugs to help with their academics. Students are exposed to drugs because of party culture and Greek life, where substance abuse is much more common. Substance abuse impacts many of these students’ education, leading them to get lower grades and struggle academically.

Drugs Used in College

The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result. College is intended to be an era of self-discovery, independence, and experiencing what the world has to offer.

Substance Abuse Among College Students in the United States

NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow explains why we study teen drug use and shares a message to parents & teen influencers. An estimated 110,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are arrested every year for an alcohol-related violation such as public drunkenness or driving under the influence. Additionally, research has shown that boys and men are more likely than women and girls to both abuse drugs and face severe consequences for it. Are you concerned that you, a friend, or a family member has a substance use problem? Take our free, 5-minute substance use self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance use.

Monitoring the Future Survey: Why we Study Teen Drug Use, a Message to Parents

Substance abuse occurs when someone uses a drug outside of how it was intended or prescribed. This can include taking Adderall without a prescription to increase concentration or smoking marijuana in order to relax. Drinking is considered abuse when its effects negatively impact the drinker’s social or professional life or health.

The Long- and Short-Term Impacts of Substance Use in College Students

Ecstasy is a particular favorite drug of students when going to parties and raves.51 Parties also give opportunities to experiment and combine different drugs and alcohol. With more people present, there are more options available to try new things, so experimentation with different drugs may occur. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of substance abuse among college students in the United States. We’ll highlight key statistics and trends that shed light on the magnitude of this issue.

Although alcohol abuse has maintained a steady presence on college campuses, the type and frequency of abuse of other substances has varied throughout the years. College students appear to mix alcohol with their energy drinks more than the non-college group. 31.5 percent of college students have had alcohol mixed with energy drinks in the past year, compared with 26.7 percent of their non-college peers. In the past month, 62.0 percent of college students and 56.4 percent of their non-college peers drank alcohol. 1.5 percent of non-college young adults vs. 0.2 percent of college students used synthetic cathinones (bath salts) in the past year.

Vaping & Cannabis Trends Among Young Adults (19-

  1. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.
  2. College students are one of the largest groups of substance abusers in the United States.
  3. Vaping Marijuana Appears Lower in College Students Than in Non-College PeersIn 2017, 7.8 percent of non-college young adults vaped marijuana in the past month, compared with 5.2 percent of college students.
  4. In 2020, 49% of noncollege respondents reported alcohol use in the past 30-days, 22% reported being drunk in the past 30 days, and 24% reported binge drinking.
  5. No one, regardless of whether they come from a good family or have a high GPA, is immune to drug abuse.

Drug abuse trends may change over time, but the unique pressures college students face make drug and alcohol abuse a constant on college campuses. From CollegeAIM, we are able to find how these programs affect college campuses and whether or not they are effective. This effectiveness has been researched by addiction professionals over the course of many years, analyzing the different strategies, their effectiveness, and the cost. AlcoholEdu states that these programs are decreasing the amount of binge drinking and other substance abuse on campuses, but the organization does not provide numbers to support these statements. Marijuana use continued to rise among college students over the past five years and remained at historically high levels among same-aged peers who are not in college in 2020, according to survey results from the 2020 Monitoring the Future (MTF) panel study. The survey also found that marijuana vaping and nicotine vaping leveled off in 2020 after sharp increases reported every year since 2017 for both college students and same-aged respondents who are not in college.

If you want to find out more about the dangers of teenage drinking – read our blog!