From daily marijuana use to weekend drinking binges, colleges have a reputation for being hotbeds for drug and alcohol abuse. Indeed, some organizations estimate that college students are one of the largest groups of drug abusers in the United States. New research may be putting a wrinkle into this simple narrative of college as a gateway to substance abuse and addiction.
The study, done through the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York City, looked at data collected between 2008 and 2010 from approximately 37,000 study participants aged 18-22. The researchers found that the nonmedical use of prescription painkillers like Oxycontin was about 2 points higher among respondents who had not gone to college. While nonmedical use was reported by 13.2% of people with no high school diploma and by 13.1% of people with only a high school diploma, only 11.3% of college students reported the same.
Interestingly, the study found an opposite effect when it came to the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants like Adderall. Researchers have yet to identify the specific factors contributing to this discrepancy in use.
If you are worried that you or someone you love may be developing an addiction to prescription painkillers or stimulants, you should speak to a certified addiction specialist as soon as possible.
The Asana Recovery Center offers a supervised detoxification and residential treatment program in a supportive, relaxing, and inspiring environment. Call us at (949) 438-4504 to learn more about our comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment program today.
