Popular movies such as Animal House, Old School, and Revenge of the Nerds have certainly highlighted the use of drugs and alcohol on college campuses. Some colleges even pride themselves on getting on the Top 10 Party School list that is released by the Princeton Review every year. What are the facts about current use and abuse of drugs and alcohol by college students?
A quick survey of the subject reveals that there is no lack of good research by reputable organizations on the subject. Starting in 1971 the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has conducted annual surveys called the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) of the US population 12 years and older. The data can be grouped and analyzed by age group with extensive analysis on 18-25 year olds or college aged population. The other major annual drug use survey is conducted by National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) called Monitoring the Future (MTF) and first began in 1972. The age groups surveyed for MTF are 8th, 10th, 12th graders, College Students, and Young Adults.
One of the key factors in assessing the accuracy of any survey results is whether they can be validated and verified by data from other independent studies, especially for surveys on behaviors that are considered illegal, such as use of illicit drugs and underage drinking. When comparing the results between surveys, NSDUH and MTF have shown almost identical trends in the frequency and variability of drug use from year-to-year and over the long-term since the surveys began nearly 40 years ago which indicates a high level of confidence in the survey results.
Overall, based on the most current data gathered in 2008, current use of illicit drugs in 2008 were higher for young adults aged 18 to 25 (19.6%) than for youths aged 12 to 17 (9.3 %). The college age group of 18 to 25 also has higher rates of use than adults aged 26 or older at 5.9%. Of those who use drugs when asked about their level of dependence on drugs, the rate of substance dependence among adults aged 18 to 25 (20.8%) was higher than that among youths aged 12 to 17 (7.6%) and also among adults aged 26 or older (7.0%). None of these rates changed significantly between 2007 and 2008. For youths aged 12 to 17, the rate decreased from 8.9 percent in 2002 to 7.6 percent in 2008. For young adults aged 18 to 25 and adults aged 26 or older, these rates remained stable from 2002 to 2008.
Interesting trends among college students are the increased use of the prescription drug Adderall because of its stimulant qualities which is felt to enhance study and concentration. Overall, prescription drug abuse, such as pain killers and tranquilizers, among college and university students has been rising for several years according to survey results. Also recreational use of club drugs, such as Ecstasy, LSD and methamphetamine, has increased in recent years.
The use of alcohol and marijuana which are the top two drugs of choice have either slightly declined or remained flat among college students between 2002 and 2008. However some researcher's caution that although the overall use of these drugs may not be increasing, the occurrence of extreme binge drinking and getting stoned appears be on the rise especially among fraternities.
National Therapeutic Services (NTS) offers one of country's premier drug and alcohol treatment programs for college-aged students called NTS Sober Academy (NTSA) College Program. The program combines college classes with addiction treatment and is specifically designed for the young adult desiring to start, continue or re-enter the collegiate environment. Paul Paul Alexander, Executive Director of NTS, is widely considered to be a leading expert in the field of addiction treatment coupled with higher learning and education. With over ten years of experience, running a number of successfully collegiate programs in Orange County.