Many look forward to college life. It's the first step to obtaining the career of their dreams. It's also, for some, the first time being on their own. The last few years of high school many students have spent all their time reviewing colleges to find the one that offered the degree they were seeking. Either way, there was excitement in the possibility of going to college.
For numerous college students, college is a lot of pressure. Many are not really prepared for what college has to offer. While high school seemed like a lot of pressure, there is actually more work when it comes to college. This has put a lot of pressure on college students. Some turn to substance abuse as a way to cope with the pressures that college life brings. They may take a pill to stay awake for studying and then a pill to bring them down so they can sleep.
College life while a lot of pressure also exposes many to the world of partying. For those who know how to handle the best of both worlds, this is not a problem. However for many, this is the beginning of a downward spiral. The world of college parties has a tendency to bring with it binge drinking and access to substances like marijuana, cocaine and meth.
A well adjusted college student can quickly spin out of control when exposed to this type of environment. Granted not all college parties contain illegal substances or even alcohol but for those that do, it can mean trouble.
The pressure to fit in at college can also lead many to try and use illegal substances as well as alcohol. In a report by the Initiative of Educational Excellence for Hispanic Students, it was found that roughly 43 percent of all students have reported drinking in excess at some point in their college career. In addition, drug use on campuses were growing with the highest drug use going to marijuana usage followed up by hallucinogens and amphetamines. Peer pressure can turn even the most innocent and naive college student down this dangerous path.
College is a time to look forward to the future. However for some, exposure to alcohol and drugs can quickly lead them down the wrong path. It's important to ask for help if you know someone who has become dependent on any substance. College should be the time of their life, not the end of it.