It is no secret college kids are exposed to various drugs and alcohol. Reflecting on my time in college, I can recall some of the numerous substances that I would see at parties/ social gatherings; uppers, downers, and all arounders.
Today, many kids in college expect to have a drink in hand nearly every night. I have found that college kids will look for any reason to engage in substance use, perhaps the most basic one being simply that the weather is nice. For many young adults, this is habitual behavior in college, with no intention to continue this behavior after. And yes, many cease their repetitive drug/alcohol use by the end of or after college, but for some young adults, stopping or reducing use is far more difficult. This college “norm” of constant drug/ alcohol use creates a lot of confusion and raises the question, “when is it too much?”
This is where it is important to recognize the difference between drug use, and drug abuse. Just because some people do drugs or drink alcohol does not mean that they have a substance use disorder. When someone cracks open a beer after class or work, has a cigarette after dinner or on a work break, or occasionally meets a couple friends at the bar for a few drinks; this is substance use. Substance abuse on the other hand, is a pattern of drinking or drug use that results in harm to one’s health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work. In the end, it is substance abuse that leads to an individual having a substance use disorder. Something I have learned from personal experience is that it is especially important to keep an eye out to those who aren’t doing well mentally, but engage in substance use. This is because they could be using substances as an attempt to distract them from their negative feelings, when in reality, specific drugs (such as alcohol, which is a depressant) can make matters much worse by bringing negative feelings to the surface.
In the end, even if you are a college student and it is seemingly normal for everyone to be drinking and/ or smoking every day, make sure you keep an eye on that friend who seems to like partying a little bit too much, or the friend who is engaging in substance use as the line between substance use and substance abuse can be a bit blurry during the college years. If you or a friend is seeking substance use treatment, call 211 and ask to speak to the Doorway, or visit their website at https://thedoorway.nh.gov/home.