According to statistics presented by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), research indicates that the rate of college students who use marijuana on a daily basis has more than tripled in the past 20 years. The data, collected in 2014, identifies the current rate of 5.9% of daily users of marijuana. This now outweighs the 4.3% of daily alcohol users in college settings.
Despite the endless controversy regarding the comparative safety of these two substances, it is without debate that daily use of these, or any other substances is unhealthy and poses many long-term risks.
Recognizing Marijuana Abuse in College
Considering this information, along with the ever increasing potency of cannabis, our industry must focus on addressing the rising amount of daily marijuana users. This will ensure the opioid epidemic is not supplemented, nor accompanied by a marijuana epidemic.
Many would not compare these crises in the same category, however our experience has shown otherwise. Through research and dedication, treatment facilities, clinicians, and medical professional work towards facilitating a decrease in these statistics. Moreover, by instilling hope and happiness in our college students, we won’t augment their scholastic venture with a perilous lifestyle of substance abuse.
What is intervention exactly? To learn more, visit our addiction treatment resources. Furthermore, our addiction intervention programs are a great start for drastic change.
– Colin Tardif, CADC I, CAI
Reference
Johnson LD, O’Malley PM, Bachman JG, Schulenberg JE, Miech RA. Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975-2014: Volume 2, College students and adults ages 19-55. Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan; 2015.