By: Julia Keys
Ever hear the old saying “work hard, play hard”? Unfortunately, this saying is taken to the extreme across many college campuses in America. Unhealthy behaviors like binge drinking and drug use are normalized due to the party culture that pervades college life. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 50% of college students binge drink (drinking three or more drinks in one sitting) and about two thirds of those with a valid prescription for an ADHD medication such as Adderall or Ritalin, share their pills with their friends. Other drugs that are common on college campuses include benzodiazepines such as Xanax or Klonopin, which are prescription medications and helpful when used properly, but are often abused, and illegal drugs like marijuana and cocaine.
What causes college students to participate in these behaviors?
- Greek Life
- Independence/living on one’s own for the first time
- Peer pressure
- Pressure to do well in school
Signs of Addiction
- Abnormally red, glassy, or dilated pupils
- Red, irritated nostrils
- Needle or track marks
- Weight loss
- Secretive behavior
- Sudden increase in irritability, depression or anxiety
If you or a loved one are suffering from an addiction, recovering from an addiction, or suspect you are developing an addiction, please contact your college’s counseling center or Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy, located in New York and New Jersey to speak to a licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners or psychotherapists. To contact the office in Paramus NJ, call (201) 368-3700. To contact the office in Manhattan, call (212) 722-1920. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/ .
Sources:
https://www.clearviewtreatment.com/blog/signs-drinking-drug-student/
https://addictionresource.com/addiction/college/
Source for Picture:
CounselingRx 