The Growing Epidemic of Substance Abuse on College Campuses

The Growing Epidemic of Substance Abuse on College Campus:

As young adults began the transition phase of their in life in college, they may find it hard to learn self-control and independence, and run into life-threatening problems.

Substance abuse is defined as an excessive use of a potentially addictive substance, especially one that may modify body functions, such as alcohol and drugs. With the normalization of substance abuse among peers, stress, college campuses are seeing skyrocketing rates of substance abuse on their campuses.

As first time college students and often away from home, students will feel a higher need to fit in at college- such as drinking and smoking. Temitayo Adewuyi and Esther Akinsola, both professors in the department of Psychology at the University of Lagos in Lagos, Nigergia, conducted a study to find the correlation between age and peer influence on substance abuse. Out of the total of 513 participants this is what they found:

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The data shows a positive relationship between age and peer influence and substance abuse. While the age of participants varies, the majority are of college age, 20-24. 87.14% of those participants claim to be peer influenced, and 94.55% of participants claim to be also have abused substances at one point or another. With the majority of participants being under thirty years, it is likely that a high school or college student will be exposed to drugs and likely be influenced by peers to use drugs, and more than likely abuse the drugs taken. Adewuyi and Akinsola conclude their research by stating that it would be a good idea to expose first year students to substance abuse awareness programs as well as provide rehab-like programs for students that may have an issue with substance abuse. If more students are aware of the consequences of substance abuse and have valid information about drugs available to them, then students would probably take the more cautious route before it...