Current Trends in Alcohol & Substance Abuse on the College Campus

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KIM POSLICK, M H R , L P C, L A D CC O O R D I N AT O R , A L C O H O L & SU B STA N C E A B U SE C EN T E R

O K L A H O M A STAT E U N I V E R SI T YK I M . P O S L I C K @ O K S TAT E . E D U

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Current Trends in Alcohol & Substance Abuse on the College

Campus

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REALITY

22.9% of full time collegestudents already meet theDSM-IV diagnostic criteria for

alcohol and / or drug abuse

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Wasting the Best and Brightest: Substance Abuse at America’s Colleges and

Universities (2007)

In 2005, almost one in four college students met the medical criteria for substance abuse or dependence- triple that of the general population

From 1993 to 2005, there has been no significant decline in the proportion of students who drink

Binge drinking frequently is up 16%

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National Survey on Drug Use & Health (2011)

Among full time college students: 60.8 % were current drinkers 39.1% were binge drinkers 13.6% were heavy drinkers 22% were current users of illicit drugs

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Alcohol abuse - an overview

The average number of alcohol-related arrests per campus increased 21% between 2001 and 2005

In 2001, 97,000 students were victims of alcohol-related sexual assaults or date rape

The culture of abuse is taking its toll in student accidents, assaults, property damage, academic problems, illnesses, injuries, mental health problems, risky sex, rape and deaths

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•Alcohol

Poisoning

7Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

Unconscious or Semi-consciousness

Difficult to awaken Mental confusion or stupor Inability to stand or walk, or

can do so only with difficulty Slow Breathing

Eight breaths or less per minute Irregular Breathing

Eight seconds or more between breaths

Irregular heartbeat Cold, clammy, pale or bluish

skin

Repeated, uncontrolled vomiting

Loss of control of bodily functions (i.e. urinate or defecate on self)

Fever or chills Difficulty speaking Paranoid, confused, or

disoriented Seizures Absent reflexes Snoring or gasping for air

4.7 standard drinks in a single canFour Loko:

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Fraternity and Sorority Membership

Alcohol use Greek (88.5%) non-Greek (67.1%)Binge drink Greek (63.8%) non-Greek

(37.4%)Drink and drive Greek (33.2%) non-Greek

(21.4%)Current marijuana use Greek (21.1%), non-

Greek (16.4%) Cocaine use Greek (3.1%) non-Greek (1.5%)Tobacco use Greek (25.8) non-Greek (20.7%)

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Marijuana Use

Source: The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention (2008) US Department of Education

“Marijuana use among students at institutions of higher education”

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Marijuana

Marijuana is the most frequently used illicit drug in the U.S., with approximately 14.8 million Americans over the age of 12 reporting past-month use in 2006.”

In 2000, annual prevalence hovering between 30% and 35% among college students.

Marijuana considered gateway drug—serving as an introduction to the drug scene.

Problems associated with marijuana use = social and behavioral problems including isolation, poor academic performance, violence and crime.

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Marijuana

Decrease reaction timeDifficulty listening and speakingImpaired or reduced short-term memoryImpaired or reduced comprehensionImpairments of learning & memory

perception, problem solving and judgmentAltered sense of time

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Marijuana

Reduced ability to perform tasks requiring concentration and coordination such as driving

Altered motivation and cognition making acquisition of new information difficult

ParanoiaIntense anxiety or panic attacksPsychological dependence and some

experience physical withdrawal symptoms

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Marijuana

First line of defense should be academics because this is where the amotivational syndrome, also known in therapy circles as the “dude” phenomenon, shows up.

Academic issues first sign:

ProcrastinationLack of follow throughNot turning in assignments in timeDropping gradesMissing class etc.

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Drug Use – an overview

Abuse of controlled prescription drugs in the past month has skyrocketed. 1993-to 2005 Proportion of students using prescription

painkillers up 343% Stimulants up 93% Tranquilizers up 450% Sedatives up 225 % Daily marijuana users more than doubled

(4%)

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Office of National Drug Control Policy (Whitehouse.gov)

Prescription Drugs

Many students perceive the misuse of prescription drugs to be safer and more socially acceptable than other forms of drug use

“Prescription drug abuse is the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic.”

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:Prescription Drugs Most Commonly Abused by College Students

Substance

Other Names

Immediate Intoxication Effects

Negative Health Effects

Sign of use

Pain Relievers

Oxycontin, Oxycodone,Tylox, Perdodan, Percocet, Lortab, Demerol, Darvon, Darvocet, Codeine, Morphine, Methodone

Pain relief; euphoria; drowsiness; respiratory depression and arrest; nausea; confusion; constipation; sedation; unconsciousness; restlessness

Bone & Muscle pain;drowsiness; seizure; coma; respiratory depression; decreased heart rate

Constricted pupils;Pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature down;Droopy eyelids; itching; dry mouth; low raspy voice

Sedatives/ Tranquilizers

Benzos: Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Librium, Klonapin Sleep Meds: Ambien, Sonata, Lunesta

Slurred speech; shallow breathing; sluggishness; fatigue; disorientation and lack of coordination; dilated pupils reduced anxiety ; lowered inhibitions

Seizures; impaired memory, judgment & coordination; irritability; paranoid; suicidal thoughts; sleep problems

Drunk like appearance; disoriented; drowsiness; slurred speech; pulse and body temp. low

Stimulants Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, (as well as cocaine, meth and amphetamines) Caffeine and Sugar are milder stimulants

Increased alertness, attention, and energy

Increased hostility or paranoia; dangerously high body temp; irregular heartbeat; cardiovascular failure; lethal seizures

Pupils Dilated; pulse, blood pressure and body temp elevated; restlessness; excited; runny nose; body tremors; grinding teeth; irritable; loss of appetite; insomnia

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Current Designer Drugs

JWH-018 (K-2 or Spice) - a syntheticcannabinoid (fake marijuana)Reportedly 4-5x stronger than THC in marijuanaEffects last between 30 minutes-2 hoursOften laced or sprayed on plant materials and

smokedPanic attacks, agitation, heart problems, anxiety,

numbness, tingling, vomiting, hallucinations, tremors and seizures

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Current Designer Drugs

MDPV (Bath Salts) also known as K4 Rage,Cloud Nine & Ivory WaveSimilar effects to meth, MDMA, ecstasy & cocaineAnxious, jittery behavior, lack of appetite,

decreased need for sleep, paranoia, hallucinations, violence and self-mutilation

Rapid heart rates, suicidal thoughts, kidney failure increased blood pressure, renal failure and death.

Easily available in convenience stores, tattoo parlors, truck stops. Sold in small bags of crystalline powder and is addictive.

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Current Designer Drugs

2C-I (Smiles)Usually sold in white powder form and can be

melted into chocolate candy, but can also be taken as a tablet

Both a hallucinogen and a stimulant- has been linked to recent teen deaths

Can cause heart to beat out of control, seizures and foaming at the mouth

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING WITH DESIGNER DRUGS

20Commission on Substance Abuse at Colleges and Universities

Survey of 2,000 studentsInterviews with 400 college and university

administratorsIn-depth analysis of 6 national data setsInterviews with key researchers and other

leaders in the fieldReview of 800 articles

21Factors Driving College Student Substance Use and Abuse

The college environment normalizes and encourages rather than restricts substance use and abuse

Students model the behavior of parents and peers

The more ingredients or reasons, the greater the risk of abuse (p.6)

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Mental Health Issues

College students who report seriously having considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months are more likely than other students to engage in binge drinking, marijuana use other illicit drug use and smoking (p.5)

CASA survey found that students diagnosed with depression are more likely to have abused prescription drugs, to have ever used marijuana, or other illicit drugs and to be current smokers

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USA Today 8-10-2012 Liz Szabo

“Prescription drugs cause most of the more than 26,000 fatal overdoses each year”, says Leonard Panlozzi of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (surpassing heroin and cocaine combined)

Number of deaths tripled from 1999-2006Higher risk of addiction if they are depressed or under

stress because drugs provide a sense of well-being and euphoria.

With use at high doses, the margin of safety is small.

Only 39 States have databases to track narcotic prescriptions

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Christina Lanier, Erin Farley 2011. “What Matters Most?”

Author suggest- to the extent we accept that college drug is part of a cultural “time-out” in which drug experimentation is acceptable and permissible- the worse our problems will be.

Their conclusion- “with poly drug use emerging as the most influential predictor for non-medical prescription drug use, campus-based educational and prevention programs should address the larger pattern of poly-drug use behavior versus educational programs that target individual drug types”.

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Lanier and Farley Conclusions

“In particular, educational programs need to focus on the cultural norm that permit a ‘time-out’ for students.”

“This problematic ‘time-out’ culture that is pervasive on college campuses, facilitates drug use, abuse and experimentation among undergraduate students.”

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ChallengesOur students don’t know how to entertain

themselves Many students are socially immatureLow impulse controlCan’t delay gratification—they want computer

games, rapid texting and immediate responsesDrugs on TV advertising Rx drugsNumb or ignorant to side effectsIn a time of crisis may be only time they listen

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Best PracticesUse licensed counselors to treat drug and

alcohol abuse or psychiatrist with medical management of drugs

Educate doctors at Health ServicesReferrals by conduct officeWork closely with Greek communityEducate academic advisorsUse of assessment and treatmentGreek Life informal evaluation

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Best Practices: Student Health Center

Write smaller less potent Rx Write out number of tablets given #12

(twelve)Check urine if suspect higher than prescribed

use or check number of pillsFind source of pain and deal with source if

possibleOffer alternative pain management—

electrical stimulation, non-steroids, muscle relaxers

Required use of statewide drug registry – 5 minutes to register

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Suggestions from National Center on Addiction and substance Abuse (Colombia Univ.)

Challenge the prevailing campus climate- stop believing that alcohol and drug experimentation and use is simply a right of passage

Create clear substance use policies and enforce themChange student attitudes, beliefs and expectations

about drug use –education, enforcementEngage Parents more effectively (use parental

notification)Increase substance-free eventsMonitor progress (research- CORE, Harvard Study)

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Recommendations continued

Help students cope with stress, time and work management

Target prevention messages to groups at higher risk –freshmen, athletes, Greeks

Examine academic week-teach and test on Friday

Involve students in prevention/education efforts

Train faculty, staff and students to recognize signs and symptoms of substance abuse

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Thank you

Questions????