Would you agree with the statement that all colleges in America are plagued by drugs and alcohol? Would you agree that if your child was attending a university you would worry about their involvement with drugs and alcohol? As a former college student and parent I sure am.
As a counselor for both in-class and online alcohol classes and online drug classes I am most-definitely concerned! If your child goes to Colorado State University you should be concerned. As reported in www.collegian.com.
Colorado is known for its sunshine, outdoor activities and being the healthiest state in the country. Ironically, it’s also known for its beer culture, liberal views on drug use and as having one of the highest rates of substance use in the nation.
A 2012 national survey shows that marijuana, alcohol and illicit drug use among adults age 18 to 25 in Colorado is among the highest in the country.
Likewise, a yearly survey done by CSU shows it with similarly higher numbers when compared to other campuses across the nation.
Could one of the reasons for this be that Coloradans have less access to prevention programs and treatment centers than in other parts of the country?
According to a government survey, 61.6 percent of adults aged 18 to 25 nationwide drank at least once in the last month. In Colorado, the number jumps to almost 69 percent.
CSU also drinks more than most other universities. About 72 percent of students at CSU drank at least once in the last month, compared to 62 percent at other colleges..
Colorado also rated higher for the number of binge drinking episodes per month than the national average as well. At CSU, 27 percent of students reported drinking five or more drinks one to two times in the last month. The national average is 21.4 percent.
The trend is similar for marijuana. Nationally, 18.9 percent of people ages 18 to 25 smoked at least once in the last month. Head to Colorado and the number spikes to 26.4 percent of adults in the same age range.
CSU needs to implement mandatory Colorado drug classes for all incoming freshman. It needs to add drug and alcohol classes for all students caught consuming beverages illegally or taking chemical substances too. A mind is a terrible thing to waste on drugs and alcohol.