Going off to college is an exciting time. You’re free! Unfortunately, for too many, one of those new-found freedoms includes drug abuse, where some end up in a college student drug rehab. How big a problem is it? What are the most relevant college student addiction statistics?
College student addiction represents a significant problem, not just for an individual and his or her family, but for society overall. It impedes student potential and creates enormous costs in terms of health care, law enforcement, lost productivity and more.
Knowing the college student addiction statistics that matter helps highlight the scope of the problem and points the way to much-needed solutions.
Factors in College Student Substance Abuse
It’s not a huge mystery as to why substance abuse is a significant factor on college campuses. Students are away from home, on their own, for the first time without the immediate oversight of parents. But it’s more than that.
College is a time when young people are thrust into stressful situations — not just from classwork, but in fitting in with new groups of friends. Peer pressure plays a huge role. The temptation to cope with a pill or a bottle is significant.
Don’t underestimate the factor of personal curiosity. Students feel they are invincible and have been surrounded by certain messages their entire life and hearing stories from friends and relatives. They are understandably drawn to try.
College Student Addiction Statistics
For college students, the drug of choice, unsurprisingly, is marijuana. Study drugs are also a major problem, with one in ten students reporting misuse of Adderall or other prescription drugs intended for attention deficit disorder. About a third of college students report episodes of binge drinking, defined as having four or five drinks in two hours.
There is a little bit of good news. Prevalence of prescription opioid abuse has declined — an estimated 3 percent of students report illicit opioid abuse, down by about half in the last few years.
Dark Side of Substance Abuse
Behind the college student addiction statistics lies a stark reality: substance abuse exacts a significant toll. You see it manifested most obviously in drug overdose data. Almost 70,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2018, the most recent year for available data.
Another 88,000 people die in alcohol-related incidents, including car accidents, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
The personal costs are enormous as well. Substance abuse causes problems in relationships and significant health care challenges in terms of heart, kidney and liver disease. Substance abuse also clouds judgment, leading to riskier than normal behavior.
If you’re concerned about a student in your life, look for symptoms such as:
- Losing interest in classes or extracurriculars
- Problems in class performance
- Changing sleeping habits
- Changes in friend circles
- Withdrawing from friends and activities
- Mood swings
If these register with a college student in your life, consider pursuing help. Consult our Jacksonville, FL drug rehab center, or similar facilities, in your community.
Ready for Help
College student addiction statistics reflect a significant problem with substance abuse — both for the individual and society in general. Excessive use of drugs or alcohol can lead to short- and long-term health problems, issues with law enforcement and disruptions in the course of studies. Socially the costs include expenses for health care and lost productivity. If you are worried about a college student in your life or worried about yourself, consider seeking help from Florida addiction treatment programs, or similar facilities in your community. Clinical specialists provide caring, comprehensive treatment options to help restore a sober life.
