Drug & Alcohol Detox For College Students

College students exhibit high rates of substance abuse, but they are stigmatized for seeking help. If you are a college student who wants to pursue a life free from addiction, this article will explain why you should push past the stigma and put your mental health first.

College students often face unique hurdles to receiving drug and alcohol detox.

Young Adult Substance Use Statistics

As a young adult entering college, you receive freedom, little supervision, and a social environment. These factors allow room for party culture and substance experimentation. It is common for young adults to try drugs and alcohol for the first time in college.

According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, adults aged 18 to 25 used substances within the year prior at the following rates: 

• 37% used illicit drugs (this includes people who used more than one substance)
• 15.4% used illicit drugs other than marijuana
• 4.5% used cocaine
• 7.3% used hallucinogens
• 34.5% used marijuana
• 4.8% misused prescription stimulants
• 69.5% drank alcohol

Only 1.3% sought out treatment for substance use disorder (SUD), though. Many factors could influence this statistic: the lack of available treatment, the stigma, the push for only four years in college, and low income. 

These statistics indicate that, as a college student, you fall into the high-risk category for the development of SUD. Genetic predispositions can increase the risk of developing SUD toward addiction. There is a stigma surrounding SUD at a young age, though.

People push the narrative that you need to make stupid, intoxicated mistakes to grow as a person. They encourage Greek life, which thrives on underage substance consumption. Additionally, many people do not take college substance use seriously, even when it is out of control, because it is normalized. If you are struggling, you are not alone. 

Substances, College, and Stress

While attending college offers many benefits, it can negatively impact your mental health. As a student, college can increase your stress levels. You may want to prove to yourself and others that you can handle adult responsibilities. You may experience pressure to succeed academically if you are receiving grants or scholarships. You may not know how to manage your time. You may work and attend college, exhausting yourself day after day. 

The diathesis-stress model of addiction (also referred to as the vulnerability-stress model) requires stressors like these to trigger genetic predisposition for SUD. This model is supported by people with SUD who report stress as a major factor in using or drinking. All of these factors could influence you into self-medicating. 

Unfortunately, self-medication puts a band-aid on the problem, allowing it to fester under the surface; you are left with underlying mental issues and SUD. For this reason, you should stay aware of the signs that your drug and alcohol consumption could become out of control.

Signs You May Have a Problem

If you are monitoring your substance use, you need to know the red flags of SUD for college students. While some signs apply to anyone going through addiction, others are specific to the demographic of college students. Watch out for the following signs:

• You consume substances on a daily basis
• You cannot function without substances
• You are isolating yourself from family and friends
• Your grades slip over time
• You need more substances to receive the same effect
• You stop attending classes on a regular basis
• You focus on how long until the next time you can consume substances
• You put drugs or alcohol ahead of financial responsibilities
• You get in trouble with your college for your substance use
• You make irresponsible or illegal choices while intoxicated
• You lie to cover up your using or drinking

All these signs indicate that you need to seek help for your substance use. You may have a diagnosable SUD. The good news is that treatment is available.

Why You Should Get Help

If you are a college student struggling with substance abuse, you may wonder if you are too young to get sober. Many people think of addiction as a problem that only affects middle-aged people and older. This notion is simply false.

It does not help anyone to delegitimize the experiences of young adults. In fact, waiting until you are older to get help gives the mental illness time to worsen. 

You will experience worse withdrawal symptoms the longer you have consumed substances and the higher the potency. Additionally, it allows more time to develop interpersonal, employment, educational, and legal issues that could create lifelong consequences. Seeking out treatment as soon as the problem is recognized can get you on track for a happy, substance-free life.

Treatment Resources

As of 2018, 186 college campuses have implemented Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRP) through the Association of Recovery in Higher Education. These programs offer college student-exclusive therapy programs, sober living homes, and substance-free social events.

These programs seem effective and report a relapse rate of only five percent. These programs can help students with SUD. If you are looking to heal, find out if your school offers a CRP. 

If your school does not offer a CRP, ask your student resource center what mental health assistance they provide. Most public institutions offer some form of counseling services. You may need to consult outside sources for initial treatment stages, but your college may offer you maintenance treatment.

Some organizations provide academic assistance when returning to school after an extended absence or deferred semester. They also may host college-sponsored sobriety groups. Finally, consider attending a drug rehab. A lot of addiction centers are happy to walk you through the early stages of recovery.

No matter what, you should prioritize your mental health. It is never too soon to get sober.

Find Your Detox Center Today with DetoxNearMe.com!

College students experience high rates of substance use, which can quickly turn into an addiction. Stigma makes it difficult to seek treatment as a young adult in college.

The truth is that college students are brave for seeking out treatment. They aren't too young to get sober. They can still enjoy the college experience without drugs or alcohol. If you're a college student looking to change your life, you should look at treatment programs available through your educational institution.

DetoxNearMe.com is the perfect place to find a detox center for your needs and budget. With thousands of listings on our site, you’ll be able to find a drug detox provider quickly.

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