The Top 5 Ways to Prevent College Drinking and Drug Use

Stopping College Substance Abuse: The Top 5 Ways to Prevent College Drinking and Drug Use

1. Prevent College Drinking and Drug Use By Increasing Knowledge About Substance Abuse

The best and most effective way to prevent college drinking and drug use is by providing knowledge. If students are properly educated about the true consequences and realities of substance abuse, they are much less likely to engage in it, or at least minimize their engagement.

Many college students have never been confronted with drinking, and especially drug use, before they come to college. Many do not know how dangerous, addictive, and even deadly many drugs can be. Many do not know techniques for avoiding peer pressure and refusing drugs. Many are unaware of other options for them and their friend group.

Perhaps most importantly, many college students are under the misconception that heavy drinking and drug use are universal among their peers and that they have to participate in order to fit in. In fact, most college students do not participate in the revelry, and college drinking and drug use rates are actually going down in many places. If students are aware that they can have a “typical college experience” without drinking or drugs, they are much more likely to abstain.

2. Prevent College Drinking and Drug Use By Creating and Enforcing Policies and Rules

Universities and student organizations are capable of creating and enforcing policies and rules around drinking and drug use. For example, most (if not all) universities ban underage drinking and drug use in dorms and will punish students, and possibly even expel them, if they are in violation. Similarly, an intramural sports league or debate club can put requirements that their members abstain.

Although many students find ways to break any policy or rule that is created, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t effective at greatly preventing college drinking and drug use when properly enforced. In fact, when the right policies are in place and properly enforced college drinking and drug rates go down dramatically.

Parents can also create and enforce policies and rules. For example, by withholding financial aid if their student gets caught drinking or using drugs. Whoever is creating the rule, though, it is critical that it is fairly and universally enforced.

If you or someone you love is a college student with a problem, call our confidential helpline at 1-800-429-7690.

3. Prevent College Drinking and Drug Use By Providing Mental Health Care

One of the most significant contributing factors to college drinking and drug use, especially heavy and problematic drinking and drug use, is mental health issues. When an individual suffers from a mental health disorder and substance abuse, they are said to have a dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorder. Co-occurring disorders are very common and make up the majority of residents in many rehab facilities.

When colleges provide mental health care services that are easily accessible to students, students are much more likely to seek help and are also much less likely to abuse substances, especially to problematic and dangerous levels.

More importantly, providing mental health care can help students discover any conditions they may have and provide forms of treatment that provide better, safer results than substance abuse. Hopefully, these forms of treatment last a lifetime.

4. Prevent College Drinking and Drug Use By Improving Social and Life Skills

One of the biggest reasons that many people give for drinking, especially in college, is to fit in or to reduce anxiety in social situations. One of the biggest sources of this anxiety is poor (or perceived as poor) social skills. Many students feel like they do not have the social skills needed to be as successful with or well-liked by others as they would like.

Suppose students are confident that they have the tools to be successful and well-liked in social situations. In that case, they are considerably less likely to drink or use drugs, especially to problematic levels. This is because they do not need to use substances to fit in, but they can do so confidently by being themselves, or at least an improved version of themselves.

As is the case with many of these methods of preventing college drinking and drug use, the benefits of improving social and life skills go far beyond time on campus. These skills will help prevent drinking and drug use throughout a lifetime, as well as provide numerous other benefits.

If you or someone you love is looking for addiction treatment, Call our confidential helpline at 1-800-429-7690.

5. Prevent College Drinking and Drug Use By Providing and Advertising Alternatives

Many college students drink because they don’t feel as though there are any alternative activities. This is especially the case in smaller schools or those located in rural areas. Although these students definitely do have other options, it is often highly beneficial to provide and advertise them, provided that they are drug- and alcohol-free events.

If students, especially broke college students, are provided with free or cheap alternatives to drinking and drug use, they are likely to take them. This is even more true when larger groups of students will be taking part. Hopefully, these events will also help forge the kind of bonds and relationships that help prevent substance use in the future.

Why is advertising so important? Too many times, colleges host events, and they fail because the word about them didn’t get out. In the modern world, where so much information is coming at you at all times, it is important that you make your event known, otherwise, it won’t be attended.

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Addiction that starts at a young age is more likely to cause serious problems later in life and damage a student’s academic career and personal life in the immediate future. Finding treatment is the best way to prevent a lifetime of substance abuse. Call our confidential helpline at 1-800-429-7690 to find the best rehab program.