Addiction on college campuses can be multifaceted and complex. The decline in mental health looms over diverse groups of people many who may not even realize they are being impacted. Although many people rightfully believe that addiction is mainly substance abuse, where individuals self-medicate physical and or physiological conditions through different types of drugs, there may be students who experience other forms of addiction through the form of caffeine, gaming, smartphones, and other various forms of behaviors throughout their college career that gets unnoticed and unreported. By changing how we see substance abuse beyond drug and alcohol addiction, this can help the institution broaden their ideas on how to spread awareness without shame, how support is acquired, and give students access to the help they need as soon as possible.
In our modern world, nearly everyone has a smartphone. With access to everyone, everything anywhere all the time; access to the internet can be quite overwhelming. Students who are constantly using technology as part of their college curriculum can easily slip into a cycle of stress and retreat into the comfort of social media and online entertainment for escapism. Many students are walking around campus texting, watching videos, and are generally hooked on their phones; however, we wouldn’t normally point to them and claim that they have an addiction.
Based on our understanding of addiction which is defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine; “… People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences”- we can see these behaviors exemplified through adult smartphone users. Through an article published by the Molecular Diversity Preservation International Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, they state, “A number of novel problematic behaviors have emerged in the information technology era, such as gambling, internet gaming, and sexual behaviors, which may lead to compulsive engagement. Extreme instances may lead to individuals feeling unable to control these behaviors without external influence, and these behaviors may be considered non-substance or behavioral addictions.” These studies are not to isolate one condition, but to emphasize a gap in our understanding of addiction. We could extend this idea to gaming, social media and other non-drug related addictions. Many students come to campus and feel as if they are above seeking treatment for their addiction. Many students also wouldn’t know that their loved ones and possible
I propose the creation of an on-campus peer lead organization called “The Wellness Bridge”. This organization would support students and faculty through sign-ups for peer-to-peer group counseling for all addictions. The Wellness Bridge would make sure to always be available after campus has closed by accessing emergency numbers and support if necessary. This entire organization would be supported by on-boarding on-campus student volunteers who are majoring in addiction sciences and adjacent studies, on-site addiction counselors, and local community members. The Wellness Bridge would hold various on-campus events, so students are aware that they have access to this tool whenever they need. It would invite any students and faculty member on campus to join if they need access to any of the services provided. The Wellness Bridge would hold talks and meetings that would empower students to find healthy ways to reduce stress, advise students on mindful wellness and most importantly, educate the school’s population about mental health and various kinds of substance and behavioral addictions. This organization would regularly participate and engage with rehabilitation centers in the local community that the universities are located in. Students can sign up to participate in a wellness check program, where peers are assigned to another peer to check on each other while being monitored by a counselor. This prevents feelings of isolation on their journey. This is a choice the participants can make on their own terms. The goal is to ‘build a bridge’ between the students, faculty and community; creating a network that is upheld by the universities and the local community.
Although there is no perfect solution, we can at least do our best to give students access to tools they need to take the steps necessary to begin their own journey towards healing at their own discretion. By creating a system that incorporates community and broadening our understanding of addiction, we can make it easier for people to understand themselves and encourage them to reach out for help and even encourage others to seek out resources for their own wellness.
Reference:
- Ratan, Zubair Ahmed, et al. “Smartphone Addiction and Associated Health Outcomes in
Adult Populations: A Systematic Review.” International Journal of Environmental Research and
Public Health, vol. 18, no. 22, 22 Nov. 2021, p. 12257, www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/22/12257,
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182212257. - American Society of Addiction Medicine. “Definition of Addiction.” ASAM, 15 Sept. 2019,
www.asam.org/quality-care/definition-of-addiction.
Published on August 29, 2024
