This article examined the use of
opioid drugs by US college students in terms of student and college
characteristics. This study examined over 10,000 students that were randomly
selected and all attended a four-year institution within the United States. The
study identified that one in every four colleges had a prevalence of 10% or
higher use of non-prescribed opioid on their campus. The study also identified
the use of opioid drugs being more prevalent among college students that are
white, residents of fraternity and sorority houses, attended more competitive
colleges, obtaining lower GPA averages, and resulting in alternate substance
abuse and risky behaviors relating to the abuses of drugs.
This study concluded the correlation
between the uses of prescription drugs such as opioids pose a huge threat to
college campuses and the mental and physical health of their students on
campus. The findings in this study were used to find alternative prevention
methods and strategies to reduce the use of this drug by college student
without hindering the use of the drug for medical reasons.
This study really opened my eyes to
the needs of different populations of students. My original assumption going
into this program, was looking from the lens of minority students needs and
that I could only be of service to this population of students. However, at
this point in my program I have identified that the needs that I would like to
research, study and find solutions are identified in any different ethnic backgrounds.
I choose this article because my mother revealed to me that she became addicted
to drugs in college and that she wishes at that point someone would have seen
that she was crying out for help. It is very important to me as a future
student affair professional to identify, understand and find preventive ways to
keep students from going down this road. It was always an assumption of mine
that peer pressure was the most common way that students become addicted to
drugs but in this study they identify that students become addicted from the
use of this drug for pain management. After, using the drug for so long the
students becomes dependent on the drug and resulting in continued use and now
resulting in an addiction to the drug.
My passion in student affairs is
starting to bloom like a rose pedal with many different layers. My fear is that
I wont be able to completely overcome my fear of transparency about my past
with my students. Yet, I fully understand the necessity of transparency to
possibly safe a student’s life. This article has opened my eyes to further
research, how I can be equipped to serve this population of students and
possible help a student overcome their addiction.
References:
Addictive Behaviors, Volume 30, Issue 4, May 2005, Pages 789-805
Sean Esteban McCabe, Christian J. Teter, Carol J.
Boyd, John R. Knight and Henry Wechsler
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