4 Signs Of Addiction Among College Students

College brings many exciting experiences for students, but it also creates multiple stressors, including a heavier academic load and new responsibilities.

These stressors, combined with a new sense of independence, peer pressure, and readily available drugs and alcohol, can put college students at risk for addiction.

The scale of the problem is significant. About 21.8% of college students met the criteria for a substance use disorder in the past year. And yet, fewer than 1 in 20 students with a substance use disorder received treatment. Stigma, fear of missing class, and limited awareness of available resources are among the most common reasons students don’t seek help.

Often, people dealing with addiction also hide the symptoms from their loved ones, but friends and family members can look for specific signs of substance use disorder.

If you’re concerned about a friend, classmate, or roommate, you can look for the following signs of addiction.

Poor Academic Performance

Poor grades do not always indicate substance use disorder, but if a student’s grades make a sudden drop, it is certainly a valid cause for concern.

Often, poor academic performance, especially in students who used to get good grades, is one of the first signs of substance use disorder in college.

Not only does addiction affect cognition, but it also causes changes in people’s behavior and priorities.

As a result, when a person deals with addiction, they may spend less time on homework and studying, miss classes, and neglect other academic responsibilities.

Many signs of substance use disorder overlap with symptoms of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, which are also common among college students. If you’re concerned about someone, encouraging them to speak with a campus counselor is a good first step, regardless of the cause.

Excessive Partying

Party culture can make addiction difficult to spot among college students.

Many college students go to parties, and while no amount of alcohol consumption is 100% safe, students without substance use disorders can consume alcohol without feeling compelled to do so.

If your friend or roommate goes to a lot of parties, you may wonder if they only go for the alcohol or if they’re just an outgoing person.

If this person’s partying becomes excessive, they may be dealing with substance use disorder.

Some signs of excessive partying include:

• inability to enjoy non-party activities
• inability to remain sober at parties (for example, as a designated driver)
• becoming obsessed with parties
• feeling bored, frustrated, or upset when not partying
• neglecting responsibilities in favor of partying

If you notice these patterns in a friend, avoid confrontational language. Expressing concern from a place of care, rather than judgment, is more likely to lead to an open conversation.

Social Isolation

Social isolation is another tricky topic when it comes to addiction among college students, as it’s hard to spot when a healthy behavior becomes unhealthy.

Just like a person who attends parties may simply be very extroverted, a person who spends a lot of time alone may simply be very introverted, and neither of those traits is a warning sign in and of itself.

However, you can look for specific indicators that a preference for alone time has turned into social isolation, which may indicate addiction.

These indicators are:

• a previously outgoing person suddenly becoming withdrawn
• a loss of interest in hobbies, including solo activities such as crafts and puzzles
• secretive or suspicious behavior
• suddenly quitting sports teams, clubs, and other activities
• only engaging with people who use substances

Neglected Appearance And Hygiene

On college campuses, it’s not unusual to see a student looking particularly tired or rushed, or even wearing pajamas to class.

A neglected appearance is one of the most obvious signs of substance use disorder among non-student adults, but when does this sign become a source of concern among college students?

One sign you might look for is neglected hygiene. Because addiction consumes people’s attention, a person dealing with substance use disorder may neglect self-care tasks such as showering, brushing their teeth, and changing into clean clothes.

Another warning sign is a drastic behavioral change relating to appearance.

For example, if a student who usually puts a lot of effort into their appearance suddenly stops caring, they may be experiencing a mental health concern.

Begin Addiction Recovery Today

Addiction is difficult, and the stressors of college life can make it even more complicated. However, recovery is possible, and resources are available for people of all ages and experiences.

If you or a loved one is dealing with substance use disorder, contact Addiction Resource today to discover treatment choices.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff