Universities and many other campuses are seeing a rise in addiction from alcohol to drugs. Unfortunately, this number is rising year after year as mental health declines. Part of the problem is that addiction is overlooked as an issue on many campuses by peers and other adults. Sometimes, it’s encouraged as a part of the initiation process.
These overwhelming factors can leave these young adults feeling isolated in their situation. This article discusses how addiction affects young adults, why it’s so dangerous, and how they can find treatment for addiction. Our next generation deserves a life of sobriety.
The College Experience
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), “53 percent of full-time college students ages 18 to 22 drank alcohol in the past month, and about 33 percent engaged in binge drinking during that same time frame.” They define binge drinking as drinking until your Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) is over 0.08 percent.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) also cites a report in 2014 that reveals nearly 2 million full-time college students, 22.2%, used an illicit drug in the past month. This has increased since then. College initiation is an excellent opportunity for learning and making friends, but there is a dark side to the new environments and habits that follow.
As students transition from being at home to being on their own, they are learning to adapt quickly to their environment. However, the college environment is full of pressure and coercion regarding drinking and drugs. This can be fueled by past unresolved experiences in childhood, which drive anxiety to unhealthy levels. Substance abuse can follow to self-medicate unstable mental health.
Students may also find themselves feeling more isolated in new environments, also encouraging substance abuse to cope. This echo chamber of bad habits can derail your present state, sending you on a path of substance abuse.
The Dangers of Substance Abuse
While drinking can be dangerous, college students are directly associated with binge drinking, which was earlier defined as a BAC of over 0.8%. This is especially dangerous because it can increase the risk of an alcohol use disorder (AUD), another term for alcoholism.
AUD is characterized as using alcohol despite its consequences. A particular sign of this is to find yourself drinking alone to quiet your mental state. One in four students reports being behind in their schooling due to drinking or substance abuse. This has also been linked to deepening depression.
Marijuana is categorized as one of the leading substances used by young adults in college. While marijuana is relatively low risk in terms of physical damage, the real danger is caused by students using both alcohol and marijuana simultaneously. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “[C]ollege students who used both substances sequentially reported more negative consequences than those who only used alcohol.”
These negative life consequences included cognitive, academic, social, and self-care effects. Negative physical consequences include blackouts, vomiting, risky behavior, driving under the influence, and physical dependence. Each substance fuels the other, causing many young adults to feel a lack of control over their emotions and life.
Finding Treatment
Many students and young adults hesitate to seek help because they feel it labels them weak. However, it is not a sign of weakness. Making that choice for yourself to better your life is something you will look back on with gratitude. Treatment enables you with the skills to lead a life of sobriety. This ultimately will serve you with the ability to find your happiness. While it can be frightening to make that first step, you will not be alone on the journey toward total health.
Aside from seeking treatment for yourself, these standards must be applied to people and friends around you. Many campuses have dedicated communities that intervene when destructive habits are exhibited. The interventions are intended to alter students’ alcohol-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. As a result, they consume less alcohol, take fewer risks, and suffer fewer adverse outcomes.
Become part of local campus organizations built to educate those about reckless drinking. An intervention in someone’s life could save them from a life of destruction. If you see someone close to you struggling with their drinking, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask them if they’re okay. Asking can make all the difference.
The Next Step
Growing up can be stressful and overwhelming. It shouldn’t be done alone, especially when seeking treatment. At First Steps Recovery, we make it a priority that every individual that chooses our facilities is guided through the process of treatment. We make sure you are never alone. Addiction treatment is the best choice, and we want to ensure it is the best experience for you. A life of sobriety is not out of reach for you. Happiness can be your reality.
Addiction is a terrible condition that cannot be disregarded. The issues surrounding or fueling continued usage must be addressed, whether it be drinking or using drugs. No matter what, we can all be free from addiction. These options are available no matter your age or status. At First Steps Recovery, we prioritize each situation while caring for our patients. Please consider our resources and the team of professionals eager to assist you on your straight path if you are battling with addiction. They are waiting to help you through your addiction treatment, leading you every step of the way until you rediscover your confidence. For more information about our services and clinic, please call First Steps Recovery at (844) 489-0836.
Addiction is a terrible condition that cannot be disregarded. The issues surrounding or fueling continued usage must be addressed, whether it be drinking or using drugs. No matter what, we can all be free from addiction. These options are available no matter your age or status. At First Steps Recovery, we prioritize each situation while caring for our patients. Please consider our resources and the team of professionals eager to assist you on your straight path if you are battling with addiction. They are waiting to help you through your addiction treatment, leading you every step of the way until you rediscover your confidence. For more information about our services and clinic, please call First Steps Recovery at (844) 489-0836.
