College Student Addiction
College Student Addiction Treatment In New Jersey
College students are at particularly high risk for substance misuse and addiction for a variety of reasons. When a young person develops an addiction to drugs or alcohol, finding treatment sooner rather than later can be critical. Addiction is a progressively worsening disease, and what can start out as seemingly “normal” college behavior, can turn into an out-of-control and compulsive problem.
Liberty Wellness NJ offers college student addiction treatment in New Jersey. Our New Jersey addiction treatment programs provide the opportunity for clients to continue attending classes in most cases and are flexible in scheduling.
College Students
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College Students and Substance Use
We associate the college years as a time for experimentation, exploring independence, and creating new boundaries. Unfortunately, that can also come with some risks, including those associated with substance use. Teens and young adults are more likely to binge drink when they’re in college and use other substances like cocaine and prescription stimulants such as Adderall.
Other substances commonly used on college campuses include cannabis, prescription opioids, and recreational drugs like MDMA. Benzodiazepines, which are prescription drugs like Xanax, are often found on college campuses and are frequently used for non-medical purposes.
Over the past 20 years, the use of substances and student addiction has increased on college campuses, and negative attitudes about illicit drugs have gone down. For example, the perceived risks of drinking alcohol are the lowest among people 19 to 22.
There are some very specific reasons that college students are more vulnerable to addiction than other groups.
- There’s a sense of peer pressure that can come with substance use on campuses, or it might feel like everyone’s doing it, minimizing perceived risks.
- For most college students, it’s their first time living away from home, on their own, encouraging riskier behaviors.
- College students’ brains are still developing, and during this critical time, they can be more at risk for developing an addiction.
- Substances are readily available on college campuses.
- Certain populations are even more at risk than students in general, such as members of sororities and fraternities.
- There’s a lot of stress in terms of grades, studying, and overall performance. Substances can be used as performance enhancers, as is often the case with things like Adderall, or they can be used as a way to relax and unwind after a big exam or something similar.
At Liberty Wellness NJ, we offer drug rehab for college students and other programs. We also offer co-occurring mental health care during our New Jersey college student addiction drug rehab programs.
Signs and Symptoms of Addiction in College Students
The signs and symptoms of addiction in college students can vary depending on the substance and the person. With alcohol, frequent hangovers might start occurring. Hangovers can lead to mood disturbances, like anxiety or depression, and irritability. A student who drinks a lot the night before might not remember some or all of the things that happened.
Other signs of a problem with alcohol include being secretive about drinking, or trying to hide it, using drinking as an excuse to relax or feel normal, and choosing to drink instead of managing other responsibilities.
A person who’s addicted to alcohol might think about it often, and spend the majority of their time obtaining it, using it, and recovering from it.
As far as drug addiction, the physical symptoms that could indicate an issue include:
- Pupils that appear smaller or bigger than normal
- Bloodshot eyes
- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
- Deterioration of personal grooming habits or appearance
- Runny nose
- Sudden weight gain or loss
- Slurred speech
- Unusual odors
- Tremors
Behavioral signs of addiction can include:
- Problems in relationships
- Suspicious or secretive behavior
- Legal trouble
- Using substances in dangerous situations, like while driving
- Neglecting other responsibilities, such as classwork
- Unexplained need for more money or stealing money
- Changes in friends or activities
Other general addiction symptoms can be:
- Increased tolerance to the substance, so more is needed to get the same effects
- Using substances to alleviate withdrawal symptoms
- No control over substance use
- Life appears to revolve around the substance
- Continuing to use drugs or alcohol even though there are negative consequences occurring as a result
- Loss of motivation
- Sudden mood swings
- Changes in personality
- Appearing anxious or fearful for no reason
If you would like to learn more about college student addiction treatment in New Jersey for yourself or your loved one, we encourage you to reach out to Liberty Wellness NJ and learn more about our drug and alcohol rehab center in New Jersey.
Finding Substance Abuse Treatment for College Students
There are a lot of available programs if you’re looking for college student addiction treatment in New Jersey. Many students don’t want to have to withdraw from school during their treatment program, so they need a flexible program that will also address their needs on a holistic level.
One option that’s available at our New Jersey college student drug rehab is an intensive outpatient program or an IOP. An intensive outpatient program is unique because it gives a high level of care and comprehensive treatment, but you still have the ability to return home in the evenings and keep up with other responsibilities.
During an IOP at Liberty Wellness NJ, clients receive evidence-based treatment, attend meetings, and access services that can be built around their schedule.
There’s also a traditional outpatient rehab program, so that clients can continue to receive support and treatment services, but they’re also using their coping mechanisms in the real world. An outpatient rehab program might include several of the following:
- Individual and group therapy
- Family therapy
- Trauma counseling
- Psychological and medical evaluations
- Meditation
- Codependency programs
- Life skills
- Relapse prevention
- Anger management
- Conflict resolution
At Liberty Wellness NJ, clients typically begin their treatment journey with an IOP and then move into a lower level of care with one of our outpatient programs as they’re ready.
Also available at Liberty Wellness NJ if you’re looking for a complete drug rehab for college students is co-occurring disorder treatment. It’s very common for college students who have a substance use disorder also to have a mental health disorder. The mental health disorder could have come before the addiction, after, or could have become apparent at the same time. We treat co-occurring mental health disorders at the same time as a substance use disorder, improving recovery outcomes.
If you’d like to learn more about college student addiction treatment in New Jersey, reach out to Liberty Wellness NJ. Our team can talk to you about program offerings, figure out if you’re a good fit, and help you with things like insurance verification.
We Accept Multiple Types of Insurance
Get help with payment for your Addiction rehab treatment. We accept multiple types of insurance and can help you verify if you will be accepted.