Drug using is on the rise in college campuses and the intensity of these is affecting many students badly and it is still an unaddressed problem. Going away from home for the first time, students always misuse they freedom they get from being away from parents and home. They often take this new found freedom far and indulge in partying, drinking and having illegal drugs. The most commonly abused substances in college are alcohol, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, a few prescription medication, and over the counter drugs. It is said that alcohol is the most abused substance among students. Being relatively inexpensive compared to the other drugs, teenagers get into the habit to relax, to have fun, peer pressure, as a stress buster, to become less inhibited, and to reduce their anxiety and depression. The usage of prescription medication is also on the high as they are easy to access and these medications if used beyond the prescribed limit are proven to be dangerous. The internet also lures them into drug usage as there are many sites that encourage them to try drugs. Drug overdoses are lethal and causes death. Many deaths occur due to drug overdoses and the drug problem in campuses is still growing.

It’s easy to find a change in students who are addicted to drugs. There will be warning signs like poor academic performance, skipping classes, weight reduction, agitation, forgetfulness, lack of motivation, and many more which show that they need help. How do we tackle this problem? Colleges have to have relevant policies relating to use of alcohol and other drugs. They should ban smoking on the campus, provide recreational activities that are substance-free, educate them and the staff on the hazards caused by substance abuse, and include topics about addiction and substance abuse so the students are aware. They also need to provide proper assistance to those who are already on drugs.

Parents can also be cooperative by telling the college to inform them if they find anything suspicious. Parents also have to keep the communication lines open, stop putting pressures on them to perform academically, tell them about the problems of substance abuse, and tell them about the importance of healthy behavior in college.  The most important part in preventing this is to educate them about misuse and abuse.

Zhang Zhe Yan