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11 Reasons Drug Use In College is a Bad Idea
Drug use in college may seem like a good idea at the time, but it can seriously derail a student's focus, drive, and determination to reach their academic goals.
College may be a time of new experiences and self-discovery, but it can quickly derail a student's focus if they're not careful. In this article, we're taking a closer look at some of the reasons drug use in college is a bad idea.
Let's get started.
Drug Use In College
Drugs do not make you smarter. They don’t make you happier or more attractive. They don’t help you land a dream job and they certainly don’t help you obtain a college degree.
While it may seem like the popular thing to do in college, experiment with the latest and greatest substance, the negative consequences far outweigh the positive.
Whether you are trying to fit in with the crowd or trying to escape stressors, your reasons for using drugs in college do not keep you from harm. Staying sober in college gives you the best chance for success.
So, let’s look at the reasons to avoid drug use in college.
1. Physical Problems
Any type of drug use can lead to physical problems. You can be injured and cause damage to your body. Or, you can experience internal organ issues such as liver or kidney diseases.
Avoiding drugs use in college can help you remain healthy physically. It can also help you avoid mental health problems.
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2. Emotional Problems
Anxiety and depression are two of the most common emotional problems associated with drug use. In college, you need to be as emotionally competent as possible to keep up with all your responsibilities.
By not using drugs, you will feel happier, more confident and more successful.
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3. Costs Too Much Money
A single day of drug use can cost anywhere from $5 to $500, depending on the amount and drug type. In college, your finances are limited. Spending everything you have on drugs means you will lack in every other area of your life.
It is nearly impossible to fund drug use and college expenses, especially if you have an addiction.
4. Potential for Addiction
Addiction can quickly develop from casual drug use. When you become addicted to a drug, you will obsess over it and your focus will be on how to continue use of that drug. This means your focus will not be on finishing your college education.
In addition, addiction is hard to overcome and may even lead to legal issues.
If a substance abuse problem is present, students can seek help from a collegiate recovery center on campus through supportive programs, like The Haven at College.
5. Potential for Legal Issues
You don’t need to be an addict to receive legal problems from drug use. However, when you are addicted to a drug, you will do things you would normally avoid in order to get your drug of choice.
You may drive while drunk or high, increasing your chance for a DUI. You may steal items to sell or trade for drugs. You may even steal money from others.
Drug use is also associated with increased fighting in relationships, leading to domestic violence and abuse charges. This can eventually lead to the loss of friends and family members.
6. Lose Friends and Family
No matter how much they love you, friends and family will not support you long-term while you are abusing drugs. Your peers in college will find new friends. Your family members may cut you off financially and stop visiting you on campus.
This can leave you feeling very alone, not how you want to spend what should be the best years of your life.
7.Drop in Grades
It is rare when a person can use drugs and continue to get good grades. This is because drug use negatively affects you physically and mentally. Your concentration abilities suffer, you spend more time recovering from partying than studying, and your grades drop.
A drop in grades can lead to loss of scholarships, grants, and other types of funding.
8. Loss of Funding
You can be a top athletic recruit and receive scholarships to the college of your dreams. But if you are using drugs in your free time, your performance will suffer and that can lead to a loss of your athletic funding sources.
This is true for anyone attending college who gets financial support from an outside funder who have expectations you need to meet.
9. Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms are terrible. Even if you are a recreational drug user, you will experience the effects of coming down from a drug or alcohol.
Withdrawal symptoms can range from depression and anxiety to nausea and vomiting. You may also experience muscle spasms, dehydration, intense cravings or jonesing, extreme sadness, irritability, agitation and even aggression.
The more you use, the worse the withdrawal symptoms. None of these symptoms make it easy to do well in college.
10. Potential for Danger
When using drugs, you can find yourself in dangerous situations. Drugs affect your decision-making skills. People with bad intentions may take advantage of your inability to function.
Sexual assaults, robberies and even physical violence have happened while people are intoxicated. In addition, using drugs can cause interactions, especially if you take other medications for health purposes.
You are at an increased risk for overdosing and even death when you use drugs.
11. Potential for Overdose and Death
Even as a recreational or first-time drug user, you have the potential of overdosing or dying. Many drugs today are mixed with other, more harmful, substances. For instance, heroin can be mixed with fentanyl, which is one of the deadliest drugs on the market.
Marijuana can also be laced with deadly substances including cocaine, heroin, or synthetic marijuana.
Conclusion
You may be able to trust the person you are using drugs with, but you can never trust your dealer. They are in the business of making money, not providing you with the best drug experience. They want you to be addicted to their drug as quickly as possible so you will keep providing them with an income.
This cycle will eventually lead to addiction or worse, causing you to drop out of college and end the dream of getting a degree.
In conclusion, there are many reasons to avoid drug use in college. And, it is not that hard to do. There are many sober supportive programs, including peer-to-peer mentoring and even sober dorms on campuses today. If you search for support through positive programs, you will win at avoiding drug use.
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Our programs are available to young adults in California ages 18 to 30 on a college track. People who are applying to college or looking to return to college are also welcome. Our program is designed to be flexible and help college students of many different backgrounds and in different places and phases of life.