Effect of Drugs on College Students

College is an exciting time for young people: it marks the period where they finally transition to adulthood, where many begin living independently and making life decisions in the absence of direct parental supervision. Unfortunately, many choose to engage in risky and health-harming behavior, such as drug abuse, without careful, prior thought of consequences.

With the extensive coverage of excessive drinking in college, you'd think that alcohol is the only drug that's abused on campus. You’re wrong. According to the Monitoring the Future report, more than a third of college students have experimented with illicit drugs too (opioids, stimulants, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, and barbiturates).

Why college students turn to drugs

But wait, why is drug abuse so prevalent in college? Well, the high rates of abuse among college students can be mainly attributed to the following three reasons:

1. Stress

Exposure to stressors is a well-known factor predictive of substance abuse. And it just so happens that college can be an incredibly stressful period for many students: they have to juggle coursework, part-time jobs, internships, and social obligations, amongst other responsibilities. As a result, many students turn to drugs as a way to cope.

2. Academic performance

Imagine yourself as a college student: you have three assignments that are due the next day, and you know you'd be able to finish them if you pulled an all-nighter. The only problem is, you're falling asleep. What do you do then? Well, you'd probably take stimulants, such as Adderall—they'd help you keep your eyes wide open through the night so you can turn your assignments in on time.

3. Curiosity

Ask anyone undergoing an outpatient rehabilitation program (more info here) and they'd commonly cite "curiosity" as the reason they first used the drug. You'd find that there's no exception when it comes to college students. College is a time of experimentation; it’s, therefore, honestly no surprise that college students would dip into drug use when they’re busy exploring new and exciting aspects of their lives in their transition into adulthood.

Common drugs abused by students

So—what drugs are college students using, exactly? Well, if you’ve been to college yourself, I’m sure that you’ve caught wind that nearly no drug is immune to college experimentation. Nevertheless, three substances have been consistently abused throughout the ages.

1. Alcohol

It should come as no surprise to you that alcohol is a leading abused drug on campus: it's widely accepted as a social lubricant, and many students drink as a way of bonding with fellow classmates. In fact, binge drinking can even be encouraged during certain occasions, like sporting events, spring break, or parties.

Due to the widespread acceptance of excessive drinking, many students fail to realize the potential detrimental impact alcohol can have on academic performance. In particular, intoxication can impair cognitive functions—concentration, memory, and attention—for up to 48 hours. So, for example, if you had gotten wasted on Friday night, your ability to study for your exams on Monday would be severely hindered over the weekend!

2. Marijuana

The fact that marijuana is still illegal in many states has not stopped it from being the most popular drug in the States, other than alcohol, for decades. College students frequently misuse marijuana for its relaxing properties: it’s a way for them to cope with the various stresses they face.

Its popularity can be explained by the typical false belief amongst marijuana users that it offers a reduced risk of experiencing adverse health consequences. However, marijuana usage is not as safe as they think it is; for example, driving under the influence of marijuana can lead to car accidents and cause severe injuries.

The high caused by marijuana use can also put a student in a relaxed state—as you can imagine, this is not optimal for studying. The individual might then be tempted to leave existing academic responsibilities to another day. Obviously, this can negatively impact academic performance over the long term.

3. Prescription Pills

As mentioned earlier, many college students use stimulants such as Adderall to achieve better academic performance. In addition to Adderall, Ritalin is another popular stimulant option on campus. Both drugs are frequently prescribed to people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as they can help people concentrate and focus on tasks better.

Students believe that the drugs would enable them to concentrate better and retain knowledge. It should, therefore, come as no surprise to you that students often scramble to find these pills during exam week. Unfortunately, while these drugs might temporarily increase memory, they come with detrimental health effects, like cardiac issues, sleep disturbances, and anxiety.

Help Is Available

For many students, what first begins as harmless experimentation can eventually lead to drug tolerance—a concept describing a reduced reaction to a drug following repeated use. When drug tolerance is formed, college students may attempt to experiment with other substances or increase the dosage of the original drug. Over time, drug dependence is developed: they cannot imagine a day without the substance, thereby becoming addicted.

Fortunately, college students struggling with drug addiction have the option of checking into an outpatient drug rehab center. Unlike residential programs that require people to live in rehab centers for the duration of treatment, outpatient drug rehab’s approach allows individuals to visit clinics for scheduled treatment periods, then return home for the night.

Other than the clear benefit that college students wouldn’t need to take time off school to receive treatment, the option of outpatient addiction treatment often offers the same level of quality at significantly lesser costs.

The Bottom Line

As a crucial, stressful and transitionary period, college is often the time where impressionable young adults begin to engage in substance use. Over a prolonged period, this can unknowingly lead to a severe addiction problem. Fortunately, those seeking to quit the constant high can opt for outpatient substance abuse treatment—this choice allows them to get better without having to miss out on lessons and potentially get judged by classmates and teachers because of their addiction issues.