The Social Psychology of Substance Abuse among College Students: Analysis and Intervention Substance abuse impacts people in society every day, from teenagers to adults. Specifically, abuse happens among a large number of students across college campuses in the United States. While advancing in college, numerous students obtain habits that have negative effects on his or her health, emotions, and relationships. While the main drug of abuse across college campuses remains alcohol, the problem of drug abuse today goes far beyond that to illicit substances. Since the early 1990s, the degree of students abusing controlled substances has dramatically increased; abuse of painkillers increasing by more than 300 percent, abuse of stimulants increasing to more than 90 percent, and 110 percent increase in proportion of students using marijuana daily (Califano, 2007). In the most recent years, this issue of abuse has become far too common with the rate of illicit drug use of 22 percent among full time college students between the ages of 18 and 22 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2013). This percentage of substance abusers continues to dramatically increase annually. As college is a time for new friends and new experiences all the while being a stressful time for all students, the most common motives for the use of drugs among college students include help for concentration, happiness, experimentation, and social interaction or merely to get “high” (Boyd, 2006). This need in college students for experimentation or academic support can lead to a number of effects. Short-term and long-term use of such substances can lead to numerous injuries, health problems, and neurological problems. More deaths, illness... ... middle of paper ... ...e abuse, the best way to do so is through the use of the social exchange theory and therapy through the Substance Abuse Reduction Program. Using the social exchange theory, substance abuse can be reduced when students acknowledge and understand the distinction between the permanent and temporary benefits and costs substance use. Therapy can help increase a person’s sense of self-worth and create secure attachment styles that ultimately reduce substance abuse. If you are suffering from substance abuse or know of someone who is, seek help whether it is from books, counselors, etc. While it can be hard to cure everyone of a substance abuse problem, there is always a chance to reduce the number of abusers. The more educated people are about their problem and acknowledge the need for help, the easier it will be to help. Have faith that things will change and get better.
Drugs and alcohol are a big problem everywhere, but school administrators and teachers want to make sure that students are able to reach their full potential and drug use would greatly hinder that. However, according to the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey 39.9% of students have tried marijuana and 70.8% of students have drank alcohol (YRBSS 2011 National Overview). If schools were to expel every student because of drug or alcohol use, there would hardly be any students left. A booklet published by the Drug Policy Alliance has research that shows that zero tolerance policies do not deter drug and alcohol use. Drug and alcohol use continues to rise in schools, and many schools do not do anything to help combat it except for harsh disciplinary procedures. Most elementary schools have drug education programs, but the same type of education does not work well with teenagers. The Drug Policy Alliance advocates for a three step process to help students instead of p...
The drug is a big problem at many colleges today, and is getting worse by time. There are more and more drugs circling in college atmospheres, where many students aren’t aware. If people learn what is happening around them, and watch out for each other, the problem should be able to be contained.
Substance abuse is the habitual use of mind altering substances (Substances). Addicts have a false or altered look on reality; they need help seeing what is wrong with the life style they are living. Nikki Sixx once said,” Addiction- When you can give something up at any time, as long as it’s next Tuesday!” Recovery is teaching a person to break old habits. Substance abuse counselors are very important, not only in the mental health field, but in society as well.
The point at which a person comes to the level of desperation to risk the rest of their lives for a decent grade in secondary and postsecondary education occurs all too often. Many college students around the largest universities of the United States have experienced this feeling of desperation, so naturally they tried to find a solution. The solution falls into the hands of Amphetamine or Dextroamphetamine, known better as Adderall, a staggering amount of the time. Students obtain Adderall illegally, as it is a prescription drug, for the common belief around United States college campuses that it improves students’ focus and attention span, while also prolonging the time students can go without sleep. Adderall can be better understood through the explanations of its legal and illegal uses along with the success of both, the side effects and legal consequences of its illegal use, and with how the illegal uses of Adderall and the drug itself will continue into the future.
There are many contributing factors and political issues that address substance abuse. Throughout the years, many researchers have designed many interventions and social policies designed to treat people who have used, abused, and became addicted to substances. Today, there are many new studies that address substance abuse at the individual, group, family, and community or policy levels. Today, there are many services that are effective for decreasing recidivism in youth who have completed a substance abuse program. A substance abuse treatment program or center is the best way to treat individuals who have abused substances.
One of the main reasons students feel the need to binge drink is peer pressure. They do this because their peers are doing it and they want to fit in better. College dorm rooms offer many different places for students to drink. Dorm rooms give a great place for a few people to get together, and before you know it “everybody’s doing it”.
In conclusion there are many interventions and strategies available to persons who suffer from drug abuse. Treatment for individuals who suffer from substance abuse must be unique and tailored made to fit the client’s needs. Clients can use group or individual counseling as well as self-help groups as possible interventions. Relapse can occur in any client’s quest to sobriety but once clients know the stages they can better prepare to fit against the symptoms and warning signs. Staying sober can be a lifelong process but with counseling and knowledge any person who suffers from addiction can break free from its grips.
Drugs cause an overall disturbance in a subjects’ physiological, psychological and emotional health. “At the individual level, drug abuse creates health hazards for the user, affecting the educational and general development of youths in particular” (“Fresh Challenge”). In youth specifically, drug abuse can be triggered by factors such as: a parent’s abusive behavior, poor social skills, family history of alcoholism or substance abuse, the divorce of parents or guardians, poverty, the death of a loved one, or even because they are being bullied at school (“Drugs, brains, and behavior”) .
First, they express empathy through reflective listening. That is, even if the counselor has not had personal experience with addiction, they can express empathy by recognizing that change is a process and that many factors influence recovery. Next, clinicians bring to light discrepancies between clients’ goals and their current behavior in such a way that argument and direct confrontation is avoided. Then, clinicians adjust to clients’ resistance and continue to support them until clients are ready to engage in the counseling process again. Once clients feel more comfortable with the counseling relationship, counselors support self-efficacy and realistic optimism for clients to believe they can change (Capmagna, “Substance Abuse Counseling,”
A study that sampled western United States universities had a pool of 448 participants, and it showed that the overall prevalence of the recreational use of stimulant drugs was 18%. Recreational use is any nonmedical use of a drug. study of 119 different colleges found that ¼ colleges had 10% prevalence for non-medical stimulant abuse (McCabe 2005). One reason why college drug abuse rates have surged is because students are starting to use these drugs even before their college experience (Varga 2012). High school students' use of anabolic steroids reportedly increased 126% between 1991 and 2003, and students may be exposed to these drugs as early as middle school (Varga
University drug tests could be the most effective method in preventing young adults from future drug addiction. According to a research conducted by the National Drug Control Policy, random drug testing in academic facilities has effectively reduced drug use from 18.5% to 11.8% among young adults (Anonymous-NDCP). This research suggests that if universities conduct drug tests, there would be a significant decrease in students who use prescription stimulants illicitly.
It has been discovered that most people who struggle with drug addiction began experimenting with drugs in their teens. Teenage drug abuse is one of the largest problems in society today and the problem grows and larger every year. Drugs are a pervasive force in our culture today. To expect kids not to be influenced by the culture of their time is as unrealistic as believing in the tooth fairy (Bauman 140). Teens may feel pressured by their friends to try drugs, they may have easy access to drugs, they may use drugs to rebel against their family or society, or they may take an illegal drug because they are curious about it or the pleasure that it gives them.
Perhaps most substance abuse starts in the teen years when young people are susceptible to pressure from their peers. One of the main concerns when dealing with substance abuse is the long term problems with substance such as addiction, dependency and tolerance. The physical state of an individual, who is addicted to a substance, will deteriorate over a long period of time. This is due to the chemicals that are being put into an individual body. One of the most important aspects of the effect of substance abuse on society includes ill health, disease, sickness, and in many cases death. The impact of substance abuse not only affects individuals who abuse substances but it affects our economy. Our government resources are negatively impacted by individual who abuse substances. According to (Lagliaro 2004) the implication of drug users extend far beyond the user, often damaging their relationships with their family, community, and health workers, volunteer and wider
White, H. R., & Rabiner, D. L. (2012). College drinking and drug use. New York:
Drug addiction is a very big problem in today’s society. Many people have had their lives ruined due to drug addiction. The people that use the drugs don’t even realize that they have an addiction. They continue to use the drug not even realizing that their whole world is crashing down around them. Drug addicts normally lose their family and friends due to drug addiction.