Being a college student can be tough: it’s easy to get overwhelmed balancing school work, home life, extracurricular activities, and a job. That stress can easily contribute to a drug addiction. Addictions can make you feel hopeless, confused, or angry. Thankfully, there are many drug recovery programs that are aimed to help college students with their drug addictions.
College Life And Addiction
There are 13.4 million full-time college students in America, 20% of whom have used an illegal drug within the past month. College can present unique challenges in the lives of young adults. Some students feel pressured to fit in at parties or social gatherings and may experiment with drugs. Other students feel the pressures to receive good grades and have turned to drug abuse, such as the misuse of prescription drugs.
One popular prescription medication that is highly abused in college is Adderall. Adderall is a “study drug” that is originally given to people with ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder, but is taken by students without ADD to increase their concentration. Drug use like this puts full-time college students at an increased risk for drug addiction.
Studies have found that college students are approximately two times more likely to abuse drugs than those who don’t attend college. For those in a Greek life fraternity or sorority, the risk is even higher. Beyond prescription drug abuse, marijuana and ecstasy are the most commonly abused drugs. If any drug has taken control of your life, you need to find help.
I Need Help
College may be the first time that you are away from home and you are experiencing your first tinges of personal freedom and responsibility. In fact, you may feel that taking a few Adderall to help you study is a responsible way to maintain your GPA. You may also feel that cutting loose on the weekends and taking drugs is okay, as long as you maintain high grades.
It’s understandable that you would feel this way: college is a time of great personal experimentation and growth for many people. And everyone around you is having a good time with alcohol and drugs. However, drug addiction can happen to anyone and what may have started out as just an experiment or study aide, can quickly turn into an addiction.
If you are starting to question if you have an addiction, the first step is to admit you have a problem. Don’t be ashamed or embarrassed about it: it can happen to anyone. The next thing you need to do is find a recovery program designed for college students. There are multiple centers around the nation designed to help treat college students like you.
Recovery Programs For College Students
When deciding on a treatment program, keep in mind that inpatient rehabs have been proven to be the most successful. While inpatient rehabs require you to stay at a facility for 30-90 days, you will benefit from a more focused approach.
Inpatient facilities offer group and individual therapy, detoxification services, and will teach you better coping skills. Many in their late-teens or early twenties struggle with societal and emotional pressures and counselors will discuss any problems that may have led to your addiction. Inpatient programs often offer cognitive behavioral treatment, which aims to remove negative or unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that influence addiction.
If you aren’t sure if you can commit to a 30-90 days’ stay at an inpatient facility, consider outpatient treatment. Outpatient programs meet a few days a week for a few hours a day. Many patients are able to attend the program and then return home after each visit. You may also benefit from programs like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) after you have successfully gained sobriety. Outpatient programs and community support groups aim to keep you on track and accountable.
Contact Us Now
College can be a stressful and confusing time. Don’t let a drug addiction ruin your future. Turn your life around today and remember: the choice to end addiction is a brave one. Seek help and contact us now. We will find the right rehab for you.