Do substance and alcohol abuse have a significant impact on the lives of learners in college or is it just affecting only those who get lured to the influence? Substance abuse refers to the dependence or overindulgence in any addictive substance such as drugs and alcohol (Denys, 2019) . Statistics show that there is a big challenge among college students who abuse such substances and the impact is not only felt by the user but also the colleagues, family, etc. Students in college become anxious where drugs become very easily accessible during the time of their stay in college (College Students, Drug Use and Abuse, n.d) . Substance and alcohol abuse is among the life-threatening habits among college students at the height of the century. Since the early years, the tough American social order which was over-conservative, young adults have been lured into inapt behaviors which have consequently caused them to act in unintelligent manners. What has caused these college students to engage in substance abuse and what are the impacts of such behaviors? This paper examines the serious multiple effects of substance abuse on the behaviors and performance of college students and the complex issue in general.
The social anxiety among college students has made it extremely challenging for them to have reasonable self-control towards substance abuse and binge drinking alcohol. Studies show that about 90% of students in college have once been in the dungeon of alcohol drinking while 50% of them have smoked marijuana (The Effects of Drugs & Alcohol on College Campuses, n.d). The most immediate reason students admit to having involved themselves in substance abuse is because most of them will just be very close proximity to drugs at the time of their first experience and thus they act in pursuit of their first taste of autonomy away from their family members. There is usually neither monitoring nor any kind of restriction in movements in and out of college premises. With such freedom, why wouldn’t a student not take full control of such opportune moments? Students haven’t yet learned to say no to some of the things which endanger their destinies such as being lured into substance abuse. Every month, statistics show that students in American colleges get involved in drinking alcohol and abusing drugs. They do not only get hooked into these behaviors but they also excuse themselves that substance abuse is good for relieving stress from work, school, and individual problems. On the downside, substance abuse and binging alcohol are overly addictive and are responsible for causing many issues (Johnson & Mendoza, 2019) . A survey shows that over 20% of students abuse drugs more often than the general populace. Students claim to be involved in substance abuse in order to mitigate stress and forget about most of their social problems.
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Substance abuse is really a major concern across the states of America. A study through Harvard University shows that most underage students easily access alcohol and other substances and they over abuse the tolerance level compared to those already in the brackets of allowable drinking age. Most of the students begin with alcohol as the greatest gateway dug to substance abuse. Substance use among students tends to commence with the very sociable drugs which are tobacco and alcohol, this then graduates to marijuana and then proceeds to harder illegal drugs such as anabolic steroids, study drugs which are believed to treat the student’s attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, stimulants and psychedelics, antidepressants and pain relievers (RJ, n.d) . Students are known to obtain these drugs from online dealers, dorm room trafficking and other physical dealers.
The manner in which to recognize the drug problem is quite a complex issue due to addiction and prescription drug abuse. Prescription drug addiction evolves from psychological and physical dependence to abusive trends. Although it’s a complex issue, students show some signs of prescription drug addiction such as students experiencing intolerable symptoms of withdrawal if not taking the substance. Secondly, the student abuser tends to mix some prescription drugs with other substances in order to manage the symptoms. Thirdly, there is a deteriorating effect on academic performance and fourthly the individual tends to heighten their dosage in order to escape withdrawals. College students who tussle with prescription drug addiction are in the uncertainty of several health problems which is inclusive of fatal overdosage.
Alcohol and substance abuse have serious effects on college students and their close associates. First is the neurocognitive effect of binge drinking of alcohol. Binge drinking which is also known as high-risk intake of alcohol has become rampant among college students whereby the majority are underage abusers (Zeigler, et.al, 2005) . Studies reveal that, individuals who abuse alcohol while still underage are at a growing risk of developing the alcohol intake disorders and they are highly prone to the instantaneous consequences of binging alcohol such as poisoning, blackouts and hangovers as well as higher threats of neurodegeneration which is an effect of memory and impaired learning affecting the brain (Writers, 2019) . In addition, this results in neurocognitive deficits appearance and impaired activity of the functional part of the brain. To this effect, episodic binge drinking tends to cut off study behaviors and consequently obscures the growth of transitional skills into fully grown adults. Further, impaired development of one's intellect may continue to affect individuals even unto adulthood.
The second detrimental effect of substance abuse is an obvious drop in performance academic-wise. This is usually the very first notable signs of possible abuse of drugs and alcohol among students. There is always a noticeable slide of grade performance since most of the abusers are unable to pay much attention to academic work. A publication of Florida University Tech through the counseling and psychological services indicated that substance abuse results in hangovers which cause students to miss exams and classes.
Thirdly is psychological and physical impact on the individual. Substance overdose can literally kill the consumer. Research shows that about 1800 students in college-aged between 18 and 24 years tend to lose their lives each year following binge drinking-related injuries (Johnson & Mendoza, 2019) . Substance abuse causes serious brain dysfunction, destruction of internal body organs such as the liver as well as alteration of one's sharp perceptions, senses, and emotions which may lead the individual to take unworthwhile risks. This consequently leads to psychological health disorders such as depressed moods. Most of the people who commence substance abuse in their college years tend to develop issues to do with prescription drug addiction in their forehead years.
Another issue is negative financial impact. Alcohol and drugs taken in college are also costly. The majority of college students tend to be financially strained. This means that the misplaced choice to spend money on alcohol and drugs avails little money for the general needs of the student including money to buy stationery and food. This may adversely result in criminal behaviors in order for individuals to satisfy their needs on substance costs.
Additionally, legal considerations are also another impact of substance abuse among college students. Illicit drugs and underage consumption of alcohol can attract legal penalties or even jail. Students who are under the age of 21 are liable to disciplinary action. Illegal supply of alcohol to minors also attracts disciplinary consequences through lawsuits. Students can as well face expulsion or suspension from academic programs due to substance abuse. The illegal use of drugs is actually a federal crime and thus this can attract serious legal consequences depending on factors such as the type and quantity of drugs as well as whether such individuals are caught in possession or while selling the drugs.
Having discussed the significant effects of substance abuse on college students, the complex issue still is at its height in regard to the manner in which this culture can significantly be scrapped off from colleges. The landscape in the college institutions is much rife with persons who just turn their back on this issue and tend to contribute to the detriment of the college generation very actively. Such individuals range from parents who insist on the prescription of medics for their children in order to let them keep in a relaxed mood while in school as well as do well in academics to those school coaches who offer steroids for their players in order to keep going in matches and championship. This sends a clear picture of the widespread nature of the problem. A great percentage of the college fraternity ranging from alumni, administrators, presidents, deans, etc are in concurrence that drug use is part of college life. The college administrators tend to be much consumed in the priorities of money-making, new facility construction, faculty hiring among others but in that list of priorities, there is nothing like drug abuse. Incidences of alcohol and drug abuse are on a lower scale in colleges and schools with strict rules and policies in operation (Writers, 2019) . However institutional administrators can not be effective in combatting the crime alone unless they get help from the students, Greek organizations, parents, federal, state and local authorities.
In conclusion, drug addiction is an intricate illness. The route towards drug addiction starts with the act of consuming drugs. As time progress, an individual’s ability to decide not to take the drug is highly compromised. Among college students, issues of drug and substance abuse have become rampant with prolonged drug use which affects brain function and thus decreased academic performance The complexity of addiction to prescription drugs is characterized by the compulsive craving of drugs, search for that drug and usage that is persistent even at the face of severe negative consequences. Majority of the college students tend to start on binge drinking alcohol and they advance their way to substance abuse. Others start from the regular psychotropic use of substances which then put them on the path of addiction. The trends in college drug and substance abuse tend to change with time with no college being immune to drugs whereby Adderall has the biggest prominence with rising numbers of college students entangled in substance abuse rising fast. This being a complex issue, its implications are far-reaching not only affecting the individual but is a disaster affecting the whole society.
References
College Students, Drug Use and Abuse. (n.d.). Encyclopedia of Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment, & Recovery . doi:10.4135/9781412964500.n80
Denys. (2019, September 19). Alcohol and Drug Abuse in College ? Substance Addiction Statistics. Retrieved from https://addictionresource.com/addiction/college/
The Effects of Drugs & Alcohol on College Campuses. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://education.seattlepi.com/effects-drugs-alcohol-college-campuses-3031.html
Johnson, E. J., & Mendoza, S. (2019). An exploratory study on the prevention of drug abuse among the adolescent students. Journal of Substance Use , 24 (6), 677-680. doi:10.1080/14659891.2019.1642412
RJ, M. (n.d.). Drug testing: technical complications of a complex social issue. - PubMed - NCBI. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2741964
Writers, S. (2019, September 30). Substance Abuse in College: Combatting Student Alcohol & Drug Abuse. Retrieved from https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/substance-abuse-in-college/
Zeigler, D. W., Wang, C. C., Yoast, R. A., Dickinson, B. D., McCaffree, M. A., Robinowitz, C. B., & Sterling, M. L. (2005). The neurocognitive effects of alcohol on adolescents and college students. Preventive Medicine , 40 (1), 23-32. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.04.044
