College students who regularly drink or use drugs, whether prescription drugs or illegal substances, should consider whether their activity has reached the point of abuse. Besides the fact that what they are doing may be illegal, students may also be in serious danger if they abuse alcohol or other substances.

Questions to Consider

Students who abuse illegal substances as well as prescription drugs that are not prescribed to them could face the honor court of their school, not to mention legal charges if they are discovered by the police. All of these substances hold the potential for addiction, which in and of itself is one of the most serious side effects of these drugs. Addiction can mean a number of things besides grave physical danger and potential for death of the user. It can mean lowered grades and attendance, lack of interaction with friends and family, and less of a chance of earning the college degree. People who become addicted to these substances often become too intertwined with their substance abuse to be functional members of society.

To determine if a college student may be addicted to a certain substance, there are a few questions they can ask themselves, or have a trusted family member or friend ask them. First, is the person different when they drink or abuse drugs? The answer is most likely yes, as most people abuse these substances to achieve certain changes or lower inhibitions. Similarly, does this person drink or use drugs to gain social courage? Does this drug or alcohol abuse cause the person to miss class or important appointments? Is the person using drugs or alcohol to escape feelings of sadness or depression as many students tend to do?

Equally important is if the person has tried to reduce alcohol or drug use and failed. Does the person always end up drunk or abusing drugs even if he says he will have one or two beers or just use drugs once one particular night? Does the person have trouble remembering things after a night of abuse, and does he regret anything he has ever done while using drugs or alcohol? If friends and family have expressed concern, and his class work has started to suffer, these can also be key elements in determining the extent of the problem. One of the biggest factors also includes if the person has to have a drink or use drugs the next day to help after a night of heavy partying.

These are all important questions to consider and can provide helpful information in determining the risks of the student’s abuse. If the answer is yes to any of these questions, it is advisable to seek help from a professional.