Ithaca DWI Lawyer: Substance Use is On the Rise at College

Anyone You Know?

When I go to the dentist, and he finds a cavity I know that that means drilling. I don't look forward to the experience but worse than that is the fear while he is drilling. Because I imagine that things are trending worse. The big question: how deep is he drilling? This procedure is heading in a bad direction, and my mental discomfort elevates as he goes deeper. Much like the dentist and his trajectory of pain I worry about how drug use and abuse in college and universities is on the rise. Just how much has prescription drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and illicit drug use increased over the
                                                                                       past few decades?

Alcohol Binges, Pill Popping, and Illegal Drug Use are ALL On the Rise on College Campuses

According to the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse: drinking to get drunk, binge drinking (5 or more drinks at a time), combining pills with alcohol, getting drunk 10 times or more a month, abusing prescription drugs, and using marijuana, cocaine, and ecstasy are all on the rise. The abuse of some of these prescription drugs has increased by hundreds of percent with the past two decades.

It also found that those who were member of sororities and fraternities had an even higher incidence of drug and alcohol abuse. With members of these organizations having a higher incidence of drunk and drugged driving, increased incidence of marijuana use, and even cigarette smoking.

• the proportion of students who
  • Binge drank rose by 16%
  • Drank on 10 or more occasions in a month rose by 25%
  • Got drunk at least 3 times a month rose by 26%
  • Drank to get drunk rose by 21%
• the proportion of students who abused prescription drugs increased
  • 300% for opioids like Percocet, Vicodin and OxyContin
  • 100% for stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall
  • 450% for tranquilizers like Xanax and Valium
• the proportion of students who
  • Used marijuana daily more than doubled
  • Used cocaine, heroin, and other illegal drugs (except marijuana) rose by 52%

The answer is my opinion may not be merely in drug education because these kids are smart. The answer maybe in more responsible drug use, and mental health counseling since there has been a proven link between addiction and mental issues.

People (whether in college or not) that turn to abusing drugs to medicate mental pain from childhood or adulthood trauma are in need of dealing with the cause and not the effects. Recognizing that there is a big mental health issue would be a big step in that direction.