Summary: This article reviews the key causes of addiction in college students, and how college students can get help while still pursuing their academics.
Data indicate that nearly half of all college students consumed alcohol in the last month, with 14 percent meeting the criteria for an alcohol use disorder. In New York state, nearly 30 percent of college students qualified for a substance use disorder in the last year.
Many college students throughout New York struggle with illicit drugs, 22 percent reporting using illicit drugs in the last 30 days, including things like opioids, stimulants, and benzodiazepines. Nearly 10 percent of college students report abusing Adderall, and 40 percent use marijuana regularly, a significant increase compared to the last few decades. Across the state, nearly 40 percent of college students engage in binge drinking regularly.
Despite the statistics, only 5 percent of college students get any type of treatment, highlighting a significant need for flexible, outpatient therapy that involves family therapy, individual and group counseling, and peer support for college students in New York.
Risks of Addiction in College Students
Many college students face challenges like:
- Academic pressure
- Exposure to drug and alcohol use on campus
- Mental health issues like anxiety or depression are part of the transition
Not all colleges provide comprehensive care access, either, which can make it difficult for students to find treatment in the college environment or remain sober when exposed to triggers that are a natural part of college life, such as continued academic pressure. It can be especially difficult for students who are commuting or living on campus to overcome the challenges that college life presents for young adults without a supportive community and local resources that can keep them engaged in the recovery process.
For that reason, it is important to find the right type of treatment program, especially for long-term support.
At NY Center for Living, we offer a form of outpatient care that can help college students maintain their sobriety after initial addiction treatment, providing flexible plans that meet on a regular basis throughout the week and can be attended in conjunction with other school responsibilities.
Finding Addiction Treatment for College Students
If you have a child in college or you are in college and struggling with addiction, we can help. Our College Recovery program is a special track for college students who want to remain actively engaged in recovery.
With this outpatient level of care, we offer a reflective and supportive space for young adults who need a place to process, reflect, and grow. Our college program offers a community that understands the unique risks of addiction in college students, the challenges that are faced, and provides resources to ensure college isn’t a time of addiction and struggle, but rather, success.
When you reach out to our team, we will help you find the right level of care and a form of regular group therapy that is best suited to your needs. With initial evaluations, we will ask key questions about your experiences, history of addiction, mental and physical health, and more. These are all designed to give our team the information they need to create a specialized treatment plan for each client.
Call our team today at 646-692-0034 to learn more about treatment for addiction in college students.
FAQ
What are the Most Common Signs of Addiction in College Students?
Identifying addiction in college students can be difficult because common signs can often overlap with things like depression or anxiety, and adjusting to a new location. However, the most common symptoms included a decline in academic performance or even attendance, increased mood swings, withdrawal from social activities, especially activities that were once enjoyable.
College students struggling with addiction might also experience severe changes in eating or sleeping, whether that’s oversleeping or undersleeping, overeating, or undereating.
What are the Best Treatment Options for College Students with Addiction?
Evidence-based treatments, including therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy, support groups, and medication where necessary, can provide proper treatment for addiction in college students. However, many college students struggle with difficult schedules, limited availability, and many academic or extracurricular responsibilities.
For that reason, outpatient programs like IOP or PHP offerings can make it possible for college students to continue to live at home, in their dorm, or in student housing while participating in a weekday treatment program. These types of programs also allow students to take advantage of things like summer holidays, winter breaks, and other times off to participate in shorter programs and then continue with flexible outpatient programs once a new semester begins.
Can Addiction be Treated Successfully While Still in College?
If you are currently a college student or you have a college student in your family who is struggling with addiction, it is possible to get treatment while still continuing with education. With the right type of support, an outpatient treatment program like those offered at NY Center for Living, and a recovery plan, college students are able to stay in school and successfully manage addiction.
This recovery plan and treatment program will look different for each student; however, it will offer options for things like support groups, peer support, and multiple levels of outpatient care. When you reach out to our admissions team, we can help you create an addiction recovery program as a college student or for a college student.
Does Family Get Involved in College Addiction Treatment?
The most successful treatment plans for addiction in college students involve family and friends. Family members are there to help students remain accountable, stick with their treatment program, and utilize things like coping mechanisms.
At our facility, we encourage family involvement and peer support, especially through our family therapy sessions, where family members can learn how to avoid enabling behaviors and how to encourage successful sobriety in their children. Family members can also provide critical emotional support during the recovery process and after treatment ends.
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5638668
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11212847
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_2361/ShortReport-2361.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772724624000635
