Embedded Files
What is substance abuse?
What is substance abuse?
Substance abuse is common for many college students, leading to academic, physical, mental, and social problems. Studies show high rates of cannabis and illicit drug use, including amphetamines, cocaine, hallucinogens, and MDMA, among typical college-age individuals.
Signs of substance abuse
Signs of substance abuse
Some of the signs of substance abuse in college students can include:
Skipping classes, declining academic performance, dropping out, or recent disciplinary action
Poor personal appearance
Avoiding friends or family
No longer participating in activities they once enjoyed
Lying about drug or alcohol use
Spending a lot of time using and recovering from the effects of drugs or drinking.
Needing to drink or use drugs to relax or have a good time
Mood changes, such as being depressed, irritable, or angry
Physical or mental problems, like bloodshot eyes, poor concentration, or memory issues
Withdrawal symptoms (like headaches, cravings, or depression)
Continuing substance use despite the negative consequences
Legal troubles, like arrests, accidents, or DWIs
Using substances in hazardous situations (like while driving)
Risky behavior while high or drunk, like starting fights or having unprotected sex
Drugs commonly abused by college students
Drugs commonly abused by college students
Alcohol
Cannabis
MDMA (ecstasy), LSD, and other psychedelic or hallucinogenic drugs
Stimulant medications (e.g., Adderall)
Cocaine
Painkillers and opioids
Signs of an overdose
Signs of an overdose
Breathing Slowly
slow, shallow breaths, gurgling noises, or breathing has stopped
Can't be woken up
nonresponsive to attempts to wake them or awake but unable to respond
Changes to skin tone (sometimes visible at the fingernails and lips)
For people with darker skin tones: skin turns greyish or ashy
For people with lighter skin tones: skin turns blueish or purple
Vomiting
Body is limp
Face is very pale or clammy
Pulse (heartbeat) is slow, erractic or they don't have a pulse
At any of these signs, you need to call emergency services:
Public Safety 401 454-6666
Signs of an Alcohol Poisoning
Signs of an Alcohol Poisoning
Confusion
Vomiting
Seizures
Slow breathing (less than eight breaths a minute)
Irregular breathing (a gap of more than 10 seconds between breaths)
Skin discoloration
For people with darker skin tones: Pale/gray or whitish skin
Visible around lips, on tongue and gums, under fingernails, and around eyes
Lighter skin tones: Blue-tinged skin
Visible around lips and under fingernails
Low body temperature (hypothermia)
Passing out (unconsciousness) and can't be woken up
At any of these signs, you need to call emergency services:
Public Safety 401 454-6666
Alcohol Misuse
Alcohol Misuse
If you believe someone has alcohol overdose or alcohol poisoning please call Public Safety immediately for help at 401 454-6666.
What is Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)?
What is Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)?
Signs of AUD can manifest in various ways. According to the NIAAA the following questions may be used by a professional to assess if someone has AUD and if so the severity of their AUD.
Have had times when you ended up drinking more, or longer, than you intended?
More than once wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn’t?
Spent a lot of time drinking, being sick from drinking, or getting over other aftereffects?
Wanted a drink so badly you couldn’t think of anything else?
Found that drinking—or being sick from drinking—often interfered with taking care of your home or family? Or caused job troubles? Or school problems?
Continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends?
Given up or cut back on activities you found important, interesting, or pleasurable so you could drink?
More than once gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt (such as driving, swimming, using machinery, walking in a dangerous area, or unsafe sexual behavior)?
Continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem? Or after having had an alcohol-related memory blackout?
Had to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want? Or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before?
Found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, dysphoria (feeling uneasy or unhappy), malaise (general sense of being unwell), feeling low, or a seizure? Or sensed things that were not there?
Any of these symptoms may be cause for concern. The more symptoms, the more urgent the need for change (Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder)
To learn more about Alcohol abuse please consult these resource: Harmful and Underage College Drinking
What is Alcoholism?
What is Alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a treatable condition that is very common on college campuses due to stress, social interactions, and campus culture. “According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 49.3% of full-time college students ages 18 to 22 drank alcohol in the past month; and, of those, about 27.4% engaged in binge drinking during that same time frame” (National Survey on Drug Use and Health).
Alcoholism is a term often used for a more severe alcohol use disorder. It is a disease often marked by:
Craving: The person has a hunger for or strong need to drink.
Loss of control: The person finds it hard to stop drinking once he or she starts. They may be unable to stay away from alcohol or control their drinking.
Tolerance: The person needs to drink more alcohol to feel the effects of the alcohol.
Less awareness: The person can't see the effects of their continued drinking.
Most alcoholics don't have the willpower to stop drinking. They need outside help with their disease. Recent research has shown that many people may inherit a tendency toward alcoholism. People are also influenced by peers and the availability of alcohol (University of Rochester Medical Center).
How to know if you need to change your habits?
How to know if you need to change your habits?
If you think you might be using substances too much, it's a good idea to take a look at your patterns. Most students only need to reduce their intake to safer levels; however, some people have more serious problems.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Have you used drugs other than those required for medical reasons?
Do you abuse more than one drug at a time?
Are you always able to stop using drugs when you want to?
Have you had “blackouts” or “flashbacks” as a result of drug use?
Do you ever feel bad or guilty about your drug use?
Does your spouse (or parent) ever complain about your involvement with drugs?
Have you neglected your family because of your use of drugs?
Have you engaged in illegal activities in order to obtain drugs?
Have you ever experienced withdrawal symptoms (felt sick) when you stopped taking drugs?
Have you had medical problems as a result of your drug use (e.g. memory loss, hepatitis, convulsions, bleeding, etc.)?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, alcohol may be a problem in your life.
How to cut down on substance use?
How to cut down on substance use?
Reducing substance abuse during college can be a challenging but essential step towards a healthier and more successful academic journey. Here are some strategies that can help:
Recognize the impact: Acknowledge that substance abuse can negatively affect your academic performance, relationships, and overall well-being. Understand the long-term consequences of continued substance use on your personal and educational goals.
Seek campus support: Take advantage of resources available on campus, such as Counseling and Physiological Services (c) Student Health Services(c), Conduct and Community Standards (p), CARE Network(p), or Health Education + Promotion(p). These confidential (c ) and private ( p ) services are often tailored to address substance abuse and can provide guidance, counseling, and a safe space to share your concerns.
Set realistic goals: Instead of aiming for immediate abstinence, set achievable goals to gradually reduce substance use. Start by identifying specific situations or triggers that lead to substance abuse, and develop strategies to avoid or manage those triggers.
Find healthy alternatives: Explore healthy activities and hobbies that can provide stress relief and relaxation. Engage in exercise, join clubs or organizations, pursue creative outlets, or participate in campus events. These alternatives can help you meet new people and find joy without relying on substances.
Build a support network: Surround yourself with friends who prioritize a healthy lifestyle and support your efforts to reduce substance use. Avoid social circles that promote excessive drinking or drug use. Seek out student organizations or clubs that promote sober activities or provide a supportive community.
Take care of your well-being: Focus on maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Get enough sleep, eat nutritious meals, and manage stress effectively. Prioritize self-care practices such as mindfulness exercises, deep breathing, or journaling. Taking care of your physical and mental health can reduce the desire to turn to substances for relief.
Resources / Seeking help off-campus
Resources / Seeking help off-campus
American Lung Association of Rhode Island : The Lung Association offers Freedom from Smoking clinics, for a fee. For more information head to their website above.
Phone: 401 421-6487
American Cancer Society: The Cancer Society offers 4-6 telephone sessions for smoking cessation.
Call 800 784-8669
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) : Anonymous twelve-step recovery program. For information and meetings head to their website above
Phone 401 438-8860; 800 439-8860 (only in RI)
Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA)N : Support for the Adult Children of Alcoholics to be in community with others who were in a family system where alcoholism was present. For meeting information head to their website above.
Phone 401 781-0044
Al-Anon and Alteen: Al‑Anon is a mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. For meeting information head to their website above.
Phone 401 781-0044
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) : NA is a community of people for whom drugs have become a major problem. NA is for recovering addicts who are committed to “total abstinence from all drugs” and who support each other in that process. For meeting information head to their website above.
Phone: 877 461-1110
Community Organization for Drug Abuse Control (CODAC): Works with people, families, and communities in Rhode Island who are navigating substance use disorders and behavioral healthcare needs.
Phone: 401-942-1450
SMART Recovery Groups: “SMART stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. This is more than an acronym: it is a transformative method of moving from addictive substances and negative behaviors to a life of positive self-regard and willingness to change.” For more information and meeting times head to their website above.
Rhode Island’s Hope & Recovery Support Line: Staffed by licensed chemical dependency counselors who can connect you with opioid use treatment services as well as alcohol and other substance use disorders. This service is also open to family, friends, and community members. There is no fee for this service.
24/7, no appointment needed
Phone: 401-942-STOP (7867)
Rhode Island Alcohol Addiction Resource List: Shares information about helplines, treatment and recovery centers and more. Created by and for people who are navigating addiction.
Rhode Island Division of Substance Abuse: Information about support and treatment options, research, and more from the Rhode Island Department of Health
Butler Hospital: When you or someone you know is ready to commit or re-commit to recovery the patient assessment team at Butler can assist in finding the right program.
24/7, no appointment needed
Call 1-800-433-6888 (inside RI) or 1-800-272-9699 (outside RI
For more information visit their website
Live Another Day: An outreach organization that provides extensive information on mental health and substance use resources for People of Color. They feature a College BIPOC recovery guide as well as a curated list of top-rated rehab centers in Rhode Island
Available 24/7, no appointment needed
Call: 1 866-934-6616
National Institute on Mental Health (NAMI): Rhode island Resource list for a variety of support options related to substance use among other topics.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)'s National Helpline: Free and confidential helpline in English and Spanish
24/7 availability
Phone: 1-800-662-4357
Page updated
Report abuse