Drug trends among College Students

1. Higher Learning
Substance Abuse
TrendsA Presentation by:
Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
For:
Bossier Parish Community College

2. Challenges…
"Many schools continue to frame substance use by college
students as an enforcement problem and therefore turn to
policies such as drug testing as the solution. The problem
with this approach is that substance use and addiction are
public health and medical issues. Enforcement strategies
alone are unlikely to solve health problems.“
~ Susan Foster, Vice President and Director of Policy
Research and Analysis, at the National Center on
Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

3. Why do college students
use drugs & alcohol?
• Some feel pressured to use drugs or alcohol at social
gatherings either because everyone else seems to be doing it,
or because they believe it’s the cool thing to do.
• Others believe that drug or alcohol abuse offers a way to
escape from school or work related stress, financial worries or
relationship problems.
• Some feel that alcohol or drugs provide a way to compensate
for feelings of shyness or low self-esteem.
• Sometimes, these drugs act as a substitute for satisfying
relationships, educational accomplishments or self-fulfillment

4. Party vs. Learn…
College students often forget why they are supposed to be
in school.
Is the purpose of university life to party all the time or to
get the most out of the learning environment?
Substance abuse can seriously affect academic performance.

5. The damage…
• Memory loss
• Procrastination
• Physical Health
• Grades plummet
• Nutritional deficits
• Long-term addiction
• Difficulty concentrating
• Ability to get along with others
• Empties your bank account
• Difficulty coping with everyday stressors
• Judgment: unable to make good decisions, to make
them quickly, or to be realistic when you make them

6. Throughout History…
• Alcohol
• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Sedatives
• Benzodiazepines
• Hallucinogens

7. Perceived vs. Actual Use
Drugs Perceived Usage (%) Actual Use (%)
Cocaine (i.e., crack, rock,
freebase)
35 1.1
Methamphetamine (i.e.,
crystal, meth, ice, crank)
28 0.3
Sedatives 39 2.2
Hallucinogens (i.e, LSD,
PCP)
34 1.2
Opiates (i.e., heroin,
smack)
27 0.2
Inhalants 28 0.6
Club drugs (i.e., Ecstasy,
GHB, Ketamine)
37 1.1
Other illegal drugs 36 1.0

8. Trends…
• "There has always been fashion to drugs of the day ...
Chasing the problem one drug at a time is a costly game
of whack-a-mole where use of one drug is addressed only
to see the problem pop up in a different form.“
~ Susan Foster, Vice President and Director of Policy
Research and Analysis, at the National Center on
Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

9. “Speed”…
Drugs such as Adderall, which were
developed solely for those properly
diagnosed with the disorder, are
being used recreationally by those
whom admit to not having ADHD,
but either find that they perform
better with its aid or simply enjoy
the high of the prescription drug.
A person with a perfectly normal, functioning frontal cortex
and dopamine levels will experience a heightened sense of
motivation, focus, and concentration.

10. Adderall Warnings
Misuse or abuse of amphetamine may cause serious
(possibly fatal) heart and blood pressure problems.
Amphetamine-type medications can be habit-forming. Use
only as directed. If you use this drug for a long time, you
may become dependent on it and may have withdrawal
symptoms after stopping the drug.

11. Synthetics
Since bursting on the scene a few years ago,
synthetic marijuana (MJ)—often called “Spice”
or “K2”—has become the second most popular
illegal drug among American young people.

12. Dangers of Synthetics
~Emily Bauer
Because the chemicals used in these
products have a high potential for abuse
and no medical benefit, the DEA has
designated five of the most common
active chemicals frequently found in
synthetic marijuana as Schedule I
controlled substances, making it illegal to
sell, buy, or possess them.
But manufacturers seem to be changing
the chemical compounds as fast as
lawmakers enact legislation to ban them.

13. Who is “Molly”?
Molly, short for molecule, is considered to be pure MDMA, unlike
Ecstasy, which generally is laced with other ingredients, such as caffeine or
methamphetamine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) considers MDMA to be a
Schedule I controlled substance, which means it has a high potential for
abuse, and no accepted use in medical treatment.

14. The Dangers of Molly…
• “Molly” can cause
confusion, anxiety, depression, paranoia, sleep
problems, and drug craving, tremors, involuntary teeth
clenching, muscle
cramps, nausea, faintness, chills, sweating, and blurred
vision.
• It can also interfere with the ability to regulate body
temperature, resulting in a sharp increase in body
temperature (hyperthermia), leading to liver, kidney and
cardiovascular failure.
• Severe dehydration can result from the combination of
the drug’s effects and the crowded and hot conditions in
which the drug is often taken

15. Hope…
• Rehabilitation Centers
• Individual Counseling
• Outpatient Groups
• Local 12 Step Membership

16. References
USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/02/drug-testing-
universities/2910039/
Drugfreeworld.org
http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/drugs/molly-powder-or-crystal-form-of-
mdma-is-popular-at-music-festivals
Fit.edu
http://www.fit.edu/caps/documents/effects%20of%20drugs.pdf
University of Texas
http://www.healthyhorns.utexas.edu/collegedruguse.html
The College Survival Handbook
http://www.thecollegesurvivalhandbook.com/2010_09_01_archive.html
Monitoring the Future Survey, 2012; 2. Drug Abuse Warning Network, 2012
http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/synthetic-
marijuana-lands-thousands-young-people-in-er-especially-young-males