Counseling Service

Responding to Substance Abuse

Alcohol and drug abuse among college students interferes with academic performance, puts them at risk for serious accidents and even death, and can lead to addiction problems for a subset of individuals. Substance use and abuse among college students is often a misguided way to cope with anxiety, depression, and the stressors of college life. Research shows that the most abused substance is alcohol and that a large number of college students engage in binge drinking.

Signs that a student may have a substance problem include:

repeated failure to handle academics, work or personal responsibilities
a pattern of unexplained underachievement
substance-related disciplinary or legal problems such as assault, driving under the influence, and date rape
denial of the negative and harmful consequences of substance use, even in the face of serious problems.

What To Do
Avoid

Treat the situation as serious.
Share your concern and encourage the student to seek help.
Recognize that denial is a powerful aspect of substance problems and that it can involve conscious or unconscious lying and distorting of the truth.
Refer the student to the Substance Use, Intervention & Treatment Program at the Health Center at (301) 314-8126, or the Counseling Center at (301) 314-7651 for assessment and counseling.

Ignoring or making light of the problem.
Chastising or condoning the behavior.
Assuming that experimenting with drugs or alcohol is harmless.