College Drug Use Vs. Addiction

What’s the Difference Between Experimenting In College And Having an Addiction?

While the terms addiction and substance abuse are often used interchangeably, in reality, they’re very different. College students who are addicted to substances and those who abuse substances have different patterns of use and severity of symptoms.

College students who misuse alcohol or drugs do not always have an addiction. Some are experimenting with substances out of curiosity. However, experimentation with these substances can quickly lead to addiction, and both can lead to adverse outcomes.

Experimentation typically refers to trying alcohol or drugs for the first time to experience their effects. Most college students who are experimenting do not intend to continue drinking or using drugs after the first few times. They’ve likely heard about the substance from their friends and want the same experience. No one who experiments with drugs or alcohol intends to become addicted. Unfortunately, they often fall into the grips of addiction anyway.

There are 11 criteria for diagnosing a substance use disorder (SUD) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5), including:

• Wanting to quit but being unable to
• Having intense urges or cravings to use
• Using more and for longer periods than intended
• Prioritizing use over responsibilities
• Spending much time using, seeking, or recovering from use
• Having relationship difficulties because of drug use
• Continuing to use despite worsening physical or psychological problems
• Continuing to use despite broken relationships
• Continuing to use despite being put in dangerous situations
• Developing a tolerance
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when going without substances

Addiction can be mild, moderate, or severe. Meeting one to three criteria is mild, four to six criteria is considered moderate, and more than six criteria is severe addiction. The sooner parents can recognize signs of addiction in their college student, the sooner they can help their children seek treatment.

Is It Normal To Drink In College?

Binge drinking occurs on college campuses more than anywhere else. Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks for males and four or more drinks for females within two hours. Many college students who engage in binge drinking are under the age of 21, which is the legal age in the U.S. for purchasing and consuming alcohol.

It’s important to note that it’s normal for college students of legal drinking age to enjoy a few standard drinks during a night out, and this kind of moderate drinking behavior is not typically a cause for concern. However, if their drinking habits start to interfere with their academics, health, or safety, it may be a sign of alcohol misuse.

A standard drink is any drink containing 6 fluid ounces of alcohol. Examples of standard drinks include the following:

• 12 fluid ounces of regular beer, which typically contains 5% alcohol
• 8 to 10 fluid ounces of malt liquor, usually 7% alcohol
• 5 fluid ounces of table wine, or 12% alcohol
• 3 to 4 fluid ounces of fortified wine, about 17% alcohol
• 1.5 fluid ounce shot of distilled spirits, like gin, rum, or vodka, typically containing 40% alcohol

Binge drinking is never safe and can lead to many dangers. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in the previous year:

• 26.4% of full-time male college students binge drank.
• 28% of full-time female college students binge drank.
• 6% of full-time male college students engage in heavy drinking.
• 6.7% of full-time female college students engaged in heavy drinking.
• 13.4% of full-time male college students had an alcohol use disorder.
• 15.2% of full-time female college students had an alcohol use disorder.
• 7.6% of full-time male college students drove under the influence.
• 4.3% of full-time female college students drove under the influence.

Other consequences of binge drinking include getting in trouble with police, violating campus policies, suspension, expulsion, sexual assaults, injuries, DUI charges, and making unsafe decisions. Reports of sexual assaults, accidents, and suicide attempts are more prevalent among college students who binge drink.

Anyone who feels it is normal to engage in binge drinking or misuse alcohol in college may have underlying issues they are trying to cope with, like stress, anxiety, depression, or academic pressures.

Is It Normal To Try Drugs In College?

Drug use in college is not uncommon, with NSDUH statistics showing that:

• 23.7% of males and 22.6% of females used marijuana.
• 0.4% of males and 0.1% of females used cocaine.
• 1.7% of males and 1.4% of females used hallucinogens.
• 0.5% of males and 1% of females used inhalants.
• 1.5% of males and 1.7% of females misused prescription drugs.
• 3.5% of males and 3.4% of females misused some other type of drug.

Despite its prevalence, trying drugs in college, whether prescription drugs or illicit drugs, is never safe. Taking a drug even one time can lead to adverse reactions, overdose, or death.

A major contributing factor to this risk is the danger of drug combinations, especially today when fentanyl is being added to many illicit drugs. Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin, and street manufacturers are adding it to heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, and even marijuana.

Some students may think they are taking one drug when they may be taking something completely different. Today, fentanyl test strips are available to test drugs before they are consumed. Anyone experimenting with drugs should always have access to Narcan, which can reverse opioid overdoses and is available over the counter.

Is Substance Use A Part Of The College Experience?

Substance use is not a part of the college experience for everyone. Many students prefer to avoid the party culture on college campuses and may have protective factors other students do not have.

The factors that make it more likely a student will engage in substance use include the following:

• Being in a fraternity or sorority
• Having parents or family members who accept or encourage partying
• Peer pressure
• Poor academic performance
• Low perception of harm
• Immaturity
• Low self-esteem

Many college students have likely heard stories from other graduates about how much fun they had in college and their crazy adventures, many of which involved drinking alcohol or using drugs. Glorifying negative behavior can influence others to seek those same adventures.

Because substance use is so dangerous, parents and colleges must find ways to make it less of a college experience.

Why Is Substance Use Normalized In College?

For decades, pop culture has glorified substance use in college. Some of the most popular celebrities star in films that encourage getting drunk or using drugs on campus. Even when they show the adverse outcomes, like alcohol toxicity, they make it humorous. This can make young viewers feel they will recover from misusing alcohol or drugs in college without experiencing harm.

Parents may not realize that college students are not always equipped with the tools to handle the pressures of higher education. If you are a parent to a college student, it is your responsibility to communicate with your child about the dangers of drug and alcohol use. Even if you believe it is just a phase or that it’s good for them to learn from their mistakes, they shouldn’t endanger their goals for alcohol and drugs.

Signs Of Addiction In College Students

College students who have developed an addiction to alcohol, drugs, or both will exhibit specific signs and symptoms, like the following:

• Skipping classes
• Being late for classes
• Hanging around students who misuse substances
• Spending money that should go to college expenses on drugs or alcohol
• Changing appearance or hygiene
• Losing or gaining weight unintentionally
• Distancing themselves from family and friends
• Failing classes or dropping grades
• Experiencing increasing illnesses or injuries

While changes will take place simply because students are growing and maturing, those misusing substances will show negative, unhealthy changes that prevent them from succeeding in the college environment.

What Parents Can Do To Help

Parents can help their children by talking to them about drug and alcohol misuse before they enter college. Start talking to them in middle and high school so they know the pressures and dangers they may encounter.

It’s also important to discuss ways to avoid substance abuse in college. Give them confidence to avoid peer pressure, coping tools to deal with stressors, and incentives to avoid unhealthy lifestyle choices. Always be truthful when answering a child’s questions regarding drugs and alcohol.

Parents can also ask many questions, stay involved in their kids’ lives, communicate with them often, and give them opportunities to ask for help. Support their mental and physical health needs, and let them know their life is more important than a college degree.

Addiction Treatment For College Students

Addiction treatment for college students will vary depending on the severity of a student’s addiction. Students with severe addiction will likely need inpatient treatment where they will first undergo detoxification. This means they will need to leave college temporarily to become stabilized. They must learn recovery skills so that when they return to campus, they can avoid relapse.

Students with mild or moderate addictions will likely benefit from the following:

• Outpatient detoxification
• Partial-hospitalization program
• Intensive outpatient program
• On-campus recovery housing
• On-campus recovery support programs

Many nationwide campuses are implementing programs through their counseling centers that focus on helping students stay sober. They offer sober housing, activities, retreats, and counseling services.

Explore These Featured Centers

Finding Treatment For College Students

If you are a college student or a parent of a student who may be struggling with substance misuse, help is available.

Contact a treatment provider today to explore your treatment options and get back on track toward a healthier, happier future.