Citation

Welsh JW, Shentu Y, Sarvey DB. Focus (Am. Psychiatr. Publ.) 2019; 17(2): 117-127.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta (Welsh, Shentu); Adolescent Acute Residential Treatment, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts (Sarvey).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Psychiatric Publishing)

DOI

10.1176/appi.focus.20180037

PMID

31975967

PMCID

PMC6527004

Abstract

U.S. college campuses have witnessed a national increase of cannabis, stimulant, and illicit drug use among students over the past decade. Substance use among college students is associated with numerous negative outcomes including lower academic performance, a higher probability of unemployment after graduation, and an increased risk of committing and experiencing sexual assault. Several risk factors for substance use are specific to this population, including an affiliation with Greek life, perception of high academic pressure, and peer pressure. Students with problematic substance use also face unique challenges in planning treatment, including aspects of confidentiality, financial constraints, and potential university oversight and involvement. This article highlights the prevalence of substance use on college campuses and describes some of the specific challenges and approaches to treatment in this population, including screening tests and interventions for specific substances used on college campuses and evidence-based substance use programming for college students.

Copyright © by the American Psychiatric Association.

Language: en

Keywords

Alcohol; college students; drug use