College Life Stressors, Coping with Substance Use, Accessing Treatment


Health Services is excited to be welcoming back Angelica Porras ASW, a MiraCosta alum and former mental health counseling intern, as the Health Services Clinical Case Manager. In her new role, Angelica not only applies her mental health counseling and crisis intervention skills, but additionally supports students in a more holistic way by coordinating and connecting them to community resources and services for a more comprehensive wellness experience.

Students entering college do so with the hopes of furthering their education and often dream of how their education will contribute to a better, more fulfilled life. Yet, most college students are not always prepared for the emotional toll and life stressors that college life can bring. These include the pressures of challenging classes, long study sessions, and having to meet tight assignment deadlines.

All these factors make college students particularly vulnerable to substance use as a coping mechanism. Statistics collected by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that in the past month, 49.3% of full-time college students ages 18-22 drank alcohol and 27.4% of those students engaged in binge drinking (College Drinking, National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2021). The NSDUH identified binge drinking as 5 or more drinks for males or 4 or more drinks for females on one occasion (NIAAA, 2021). This pattern can often lead to the derailment of student’s future goals and dreams as they struggle to cope with college life. Additional statistics found in this article referencing the NSDUH survey of 2021 found:

  • One in 4 college students experiences academic problems due to drinking.
  • An estimated 1,519 college students aged 18-24 died due to vehicle related injuries and other unintentionally related accidents.
  • An estimated 97,000 students ages 18-24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.
  • Approximately 9% of full-time college students met the criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol addiction.

Barriers to Accessing Treatment

Though some colleges have taken steps to combat substance use by implementing educational campaigns and structuring policies to address substance use on college campuses, these efforts don’t offer individual interventions and healthier alternatives for students (American Addiction Centers, 2023).

Overcoming the stigma associated with addiction along with the lack of access to treatment options often present as barriers for students in navigating the already challenging health care system. This results in additional barriers and lack of accessibility to resources that could support students’ mental health (Vidourek, 2014).  

Barriers such as complex insurance policies, understanding the difference between commercial and public insurance, confusing qualifying standards, and terms such as co-payment and deductible can be discouraging when attempting to access treatment.

Mental Health Professionals and how they can help

  • Mental Health professionals can help in supporting college students overcome substance abuse and barriers to accessing mental health treatment.
  • Mental Health professionals can educate college students and staff in healthy coping skills and stress management techniques by promoting workshops and training on substance abuse.
  • Mental Health professionals can provide counseling and therapy to explore the underlining causes of students' addiction, support students in developing coping strategies, and establish treatment plans to support students manage their substance use.
  • Mental Health professionals, especially social workers, can serve as case managers, which means they can coordinate services and advocate for students within the college and healthcare system. They can collaborate with other professionals, such as physicians and psychologists, to ensure comprehensive care and support by calling providers and advocating for students’ treatment needs. At the same time, they can model for students how to navigate the healthcare treatment and eliminate barriers to access.
  • Mental Health professionals can help students overcome barriers that may prevent them from seeking treatment, such as stigma, fear, financial constraints, and lack of awareness in how to navigate a complicated healthcare system. They can assist in finding solutions and connecting students with community resources.

Conclusion

Substance use amongst college students is a prominent issue impacting colleges throughout the country. Preventative measures, early interventions and education, and supportive services can open the door to a healthier campus environment. Seeking mental health support can help to eliminate barriers to access, all while improving students’ lives and maximizing the changes of a successful college experience.  

Getting Help:

Student Health Services

Crisis Textline: text COURAGE to 741741 (available 24/7) 

Crisis Hotline: 1-888-724-7240 (available 24/7) 

Mental Health Systems/TURN Behavioral Health Services. (Oceanside & Escondido): https://turnbhs.org/ 

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Understanding Interpersonal Violence: A Call to Action for National Coming Out Day and LGBTQPIA2S+ History Month

Image
By Van Ethan Levy, LMFT 118131, LPCC 8269  Van is a queer, non-binary, trans, AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth), POC (Person of Color), dually licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. Van is passionate about holding space for all intersections of one’s identity(ies). Van is dedicated to social justice & believes it is vital to cultivate an awareness of our own internal strengths, specifically our resilience as we continue to grow and discover ourselves. Van also provides trainings on trans and non-binary identities and is author of the interactive book Exploring My Identity(ies) (2020). As we approach National Coming Out Day on October 11th and celebrate LGBTQPIA2S+ History Month, it’s crucial to shed light on a pervasive issue that often goes unnoticed: Interpersonal Violence (IPV). Many individuals may not recognize the signs of healthy versus unhealthy dynamics in relationships. IPV can take many forms, including physical, emoti
Read more

Here’s why you shouldn’t test for COVID

Image
  By Kim Marquardt, RN MSN This blog post is from the Nurse Kim archives of myth busting. I want to share some "alternative" or maybe just lesser known health and wellness viewpoints for you to chew on. *These posts are not intended as official medical advice. They ARE meant to be fun, informative, and thought provoking, hopefully sparking an interest for you to do your own research (you can start with the links I provide!) and discover the marvels of the human body, and how it can function at its optimal performance level if we understand how it works and interacts with our environment and our diet. I have a passion for health and wellness through lifestyle and nutrition and have done thousands of hours of research in addition to being a registered nurse for 23 years. I have done A LOT of self-experimentation in and around diet, lifestyle, body care, and supplementation and have spent a lot of time looking into the science behind it all (or lack thereof!). Check back weekly
Read more

TWO QUESTIONS: Adela Sanchez on Narcan Trainings

Image
TWO QUESTIONS FOR Adela Sanchez on Narcan Training  1.       What led you to bring Narcan training to MiraCosta? Narcan (naloxone) training in community colleges, especially when provided by a nurse, offers numerous benefits. As someone who grew up in this community being able to offer training for students, faculty, and staff is especially important to me. There are so many obstacles in healthcare so when there are opportunities for free programs and resources, I am immediately drawn to them. Empowering community members, especially in a college setting, fosters a sense of responsibility and community care. Trained individuals can act confidently in emergencies, contributing to a safer environment for everyone! I’ve seen too many accidents turn fatal so anything we can do to help is worth it. ·          Narcan equips us with the ability to respond swiftly to opioid overdoses. This can save lives in situations where medical help might not be immediately available.  ·        
Read more