Prescription drug abuse at colleges
While alcohol abuse and binge drinking still remain top on the list of substance abuse issues within college campuses, the abuse of prescription drugs—mostly stimulants, sedatives and pain relievers—remains a growing, yet often unaddressed problem (SAMHSA, 2009; NCASA, 2007) according to talkabouttrx.org. They indicate that about one in four college students has illegally used prescription drugs, and many more have been offered prescription drugs by friends or fellow students. Sadly, many students may not even realize that they, their roommate, teammate or friend are misusing or abusing prescription drugs, which are often controlled substances and illegal to use without a prescription. Taking these medications the wrong way or without a prescription puts young collegiate lives at risk.
Interventionservices.org similarly indicates that, “going to college is a major transition for many teenagers – one that poses new and often overwhelming challenges. And, while there is no denying that underage drinking is a widespread issue on college campuses, not all parents may be aware of another common form of college-age substance abuse: prescription drugs.”
They report that according to a 2010 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administrations, 22 percent of college students had experimented with illicit drugs in that year. However, they indicate that despite this substantial figure, not all university administrators seem willing to monitor this form of substance abuse as strictly as on-campus alcohol consumption. In many instances, professors and administrators feel that prescription drug abuse goes under the radar because it is more subtle. In lieu of a boisterous party at an off-campus fraternity house, prescription drug abuse can easily take place in the campus library as an attempt to fuel an all-night study session they say. They found that it’s not the kids who are “partying” who are abusing prescription drugs on college campuses. It’s more often the academics who are abusing prescription drugs in attempt to achieve higher levels of academic success.
However, there are more reasons for prescription drug abuse on college campuses, as found in a study conducted at Oregon State University. In this study, it was found that prescription drug abuse at some college campuses was close to 25% and that prescription drugs are commonly abused because of how easily they are accessed. The study at Oregon State also revealed several additional reasons for abusing prescription drugs. These included:
- Academic pressures
- Maintaining focus with late-night study sessions
- Dieting purposes
- Feeling of euphoria
- Coping with stress
- Parties and social scenes
Studenthealth.oregonstate.edu indicates that prescription drugs, “can be obtained through friends and family, direct prescriptions from a physician, a prescription ‘drug dealer.’ However, the most common source of these drugs is the medicine cabinets of the individual’s friends and family.”