Substance Use and College Life

ARE YOU ADDICTED?

• Binge drinking is 5 or more drinks in a row. • Over 20% of high

school seniors report having binge drank in the last two weeks.• Monitoring the

Future Survey, 2012

TRENDS

TRENDS• Around 40% of college students engage in

binge drinking frequently enough that they might qualify for the diagnosis “Alcohol Use Disorder” the proposed diagnosis for the DSM 5.

TRENDS• In 2010, approximately 10% more college students

consumed alcohol in the past 30 days than non-college students in the same age group. (63% vs. 52%)

• Since 2002 there has been a slight increase in binge drinking and drinking and driving amongst college students.

• Hart & Ksir, 2013

• Approximately 45% of high school seniors report having used marijuana before graduation.

TRENDS

TRENDS• Approximately 7% report using marijuana

daily.• Monitoring the Future Survey

• These numbers are expected to be equal or higher for college students.

• Approximately 24% of high school seniors report lifetime use of any other illicit drug other than marijuana.• Monitoring the Future

Survey

TRENDS

• Common drugs of abuse on college campuses excluding Marijuana include Amphetamines (Adderall, Ritalin, etc) Prescription pain medication, Xanax,, and Cocaine.

TRENDS

COLLEGE STRESS• College students experience Acute Stress

(Midterm / Final Exams).• College students experience Chronic Stress

(Competitive nature of college / getting into Grad School).• Substance use may be perceived as a way to cope with

this stress,

• But, it eventually may become a stressor in itself.

CAMPUS LIVING• The frequency of binge drinking more than

doubles when high school seniors go off to college, moving out of their parents home.• There is very little change for those who live

at home and commute when transitioning from high school to college.

• Steinberg, L.

ARE YOU ADDICTED?• The use of a substance within a given year that results in three or more of

the following (DSM-IV-TR, 2004):

• Tolerance;

• Withdrawal;

• Increased consumption over a longer period of time than intended;

• A continued desire to cut down or control use;

• A lot of effort given toward obtaining the substance;

• Social, work, or recreational activities diminish as a result of use;

• Use continues despite having recurrent physical and psychological problems.

ARE YOU ADDICTED?• Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test• http://counsellingresource.com/lib/quizzes/drug-testi

ng/alcohol-mast/

• Self test, reliable, high validity

ARE YOU ADDICTED?• CAGE:• Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?• Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?• Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?• Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to

steady nerves or get rid of a hangover?

• Scoring: Two or three affirmative answers indicate a drinking problem. Four positive answers indicate alcoholism.

• Do you ever use alone?

• Have you ever substituted one drug for another, thinking that one particular drug was the problem?

• Have you ever manipulated or lied to a doctor to obtain prescription drugs?

• Have you ever stolen drugs or stolen to obtain drugs?

• Do you regularly use a drug when you wake up or when you go to bed?

• Have you ever taken one drug to overcome the effects of another?

• Do you avoid people or places that do not approve of you using drugs?

• Have you ever used a drug without knowing what it was or what it would do to you?

• Has your job or school performance ever suffered from the effects of your drug use?

THE NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS “AM I AN ADDICT” BROCHURE QUESTIONS:

Red highlighting for discussion purposes only.

• Have you ever been arrested as a result of using drugs?

• Have you ever lied about what or how much you use?

• Do you put the purchase of drugs ahead of your financial responsibilities?

• Have you ever tried to stop or control your using?

• Have you ever been in a jail, hospital, or drug rehabilitation center because of your using?

• Does using interfere with your sleeping or eating?

• Does the thought of running out of drugs terrify you?

• Do you feel it is impossible for you to live without drugs?

• Do you ever question your own sanity?

• Is your drug use making life at home unhappy?

THE NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS “AM I AN ADDICT” BROCHURE QUESTIONS:

• Have you ever thought you couldn’t fit in or have a good time without drugs?

• Have you ever felt defensive, guilty, or ashamed about your using?

• Do you think a lot about drugs?

• Have you had irrational or indefinable fears?

• Has using affected your sexual relationships?

• Have you ever taken drugs you didn’t prefer?

• Have you ever used drugs because of emotional pain or stress?

• Have you ever overdosed on any drugs?

• Do you continue to use despite negative consequences?

• Do you think you might have a drug problem?

THE NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS “AM I AN ADDICT” BROCHURE QUESTIONS:

ARE YOU ADDICTED?• Addiction isn’t exclusively about substances.• Many who work in the field of addiction

treatment recognize Process Addictions• Process Addictions include Exercise,

Gambling, Sex, Shopping, Food, and Internet addictions, among potential others.

• Berry, Ramnath, 2012

ARE YOU ADDICTED?• Do you have an excessive preoccupation with the activity?

• Do you experience tension, buildup, or anxiety prior to engaging in the activity?

• Do you experience euphoria, excitement, relief, or gratification during or after engagement?

• Have social, academic, or occupational roles been affected by this behavior?

• Do you continue to engage in these activities despite negative consequences?

• Are you unable to stop the behavior?• Berry, Ramnath, 2012

REFERENCES• American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th

ed., text rev.).

• Berry, W.; Ramnath, R. (2012). Addiction: a human experience.

• Hart, C.; Ksir, C. (2013). Drugs, society, and human behavior; (15th edition)

• Monitoring The Future Survey. (2012). The University of Michigan. Retrieved from: http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/data/data.html

• Narcotics Anonymous Brochure “Am I an addict”.

• Steinberg, L. (2011). Adolescence.• Szalavitz, M.(2013). Mental health manual changes may turn binge drinkers into mild alcoholics.

TIME.com. Retrieved from: http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/24/health/dsm-alcohol-time/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+rss/cnn_health+(RSS:+Health)&utm_content=Google+Reader

• Photo Credit Alexi Berry