Shocking College Drug Abuse Statistics

College is often the most formative time of your life. In addition to balancing various responsibilities, you must also learn how to independently make smart choices. This is especially true in the presence of mind-altering substances. Although many believe that college is the time for experimentation, these shocking college drug abuse statistics may make you think again.

If you or your loved one need a safe space to recover from addiction, contact Myrtle Beach Recovery to learn more about our short- and long-term recovery programs.

Approximately 110,000 students are arrested yearly for an alcohol-related violation

According to Addiction Center, this includes incidents such as public intoxication and driving while intoxicated. Not only can a run-in with the law stay on your permanent record and be extremely costly, but it could also land you expulsion from your school.

Tranquilizer abuse has increased by 450%

The Addiction Center reports that between 1993 and 2005, abuse of drugs such as Xanax and Valium has skyrocketed and continues to increase.

25% of students report having used stimulants to help them study

Of those students, only 9% were actually prescribed the stimulant by a physician or health care provider, as reported by a study done by The Daily. It is becoming more and more common for college students to rely on stimulants such as Adderall or Ritalin to keep them focused on their studies.

16% of college-aged students reported taking painkillers that were not prescribed to them

In the same study conducted by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, 37% of the 1,300 college students surveyed said they wouldn’t know where to get help in the event of an overdose. This presents a serious and quite frightening problem, considering the level of drug abuse present on college campuses in addition to the nationwide opioid epidemic.

Between 2017 and 2018 alone, nicotine vaping in college students raised from 6.1% to 15.5%

The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that this is the largest one-year increase seen in the history of their survey across any drug category. Nicotine use is undoubtedly a serious and under-recognized issue on college campuses.

Marijuana also reached historic highs among college students

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that about 43% of college students frequently use marijuana. This puts the use of this particular drug the highest it’s ever been in 35 years.

Contact Myrtle Beach Recovery

We hope these shocking college drug abuse statistics have opened your eyes to the seriousness of engaging with these substances. It can be a big step learning to navigate life as a college student, and it’s important to know that there is help available if you find that you are struggling with any sort of drug abuse. If you or a loved one need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to Myrtle Beach Recovery. We offer short-term and long-term recovery programs, providing a safe place to work through the 12 Steps.