College Substance Use

Colleges that are part of a national program to reduce binge drinking among students say the first two years have been productive. More schools will join the initiative in June.

Former President Bill Clinton this week pledged his foundation will work with the New York Police Department and other partners to address prescription drug abuse, with a focus on college students.

An analysis of college students’ Twitter use finds mentions of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug Adderall spikes during finals. Tweets about the drug are most common among students in the northeast and south.

Four years of heavy drinking between the ages of 18 and 25 could permanently increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, a new study suggests.

College students who report greater alcohol use and higher levels of anxiety appear to be more emotionally connected with Facebook, a new study concludes.

An online toolkit called “Generation Rx University” aims to reduce prescription drug abuse among college students. The Ohio State University’s College of Pharmacy and the Cardinal Health Foundation have teamed up to introduce the program to help college and university students, faculty and staff on campuses across the country educate others about the misconceptions, realities and dangers of prescription drug abuse among 18-to 25-year olds.

New York state is introducing new driver licenses engraved with a “ghost image” that floats in a transparent window, in an effort to crack down on fake IDs used for underage drinking. Other states may follow suit, BBC News reports.

Using marijuana in college may increase the risk of leaving school, a new study suggests. Researchers found even students who only used marijuana occasionally were more likely to leave than their peers who did not use drugs.

Enrolling in college does not lead to substance abuse problems later in life, despite high levels of binge drinking on campuses, a new study suggests.

A bill that would allow college students under the legal drinking age to taste alcohol in classes was approved by the Washington State Senate, according to the Associated Press. The bill applies to culinary, beer technology and similar college programs.

A national survey of college freshmen finds 33 percent reported drinking beer in 2012, down from 35.4 percent the previous year. The survey found 39.2 percent of college freshmen said they drank wine or liquor last year.

This fall, seven of the eight Ivy League universities introduced new alcohol policies in an effort to combat high-risk drinking, the Yale Daily News reports.

Officials at universities in Colorado and Washington state say they do not expect to change their marijuana policies, in light of voters’ approval of laws that legalize recreational marijuana in those two states.

College women who act impulsively when they are in distress are at higher risk for alcohol dependence, a new study suggests.

College students who drink alcohol before going out to a bar, club or sporting event are more likely than their peers who don’t “pre-drink” to experience blackouts, hangovers, alcohol poisoning or absence from work or school, a new study finds.

Face-to-face interventions are more effective than computer-delivered programs to curb college drinking, a new study finds.

A number of state universities have enacted bans on smoking this year, according to USA Today. These include the University of Oklahoma, the University of Oregon and Montana State University.

College freshman, relishing newfound freedom away from home, are at greatest risk of alcohol-related harm during their first few weeks of school, according to an expert at Penn State’s Prevention Research Center.

Officials from 27 colleges are meeting this week to tackle the growing problem of prescription drug abuse among students.

Combining caffeinated energy drinks with alcohol can lead to risky sex for college students, new research suggests.

A coordinated strategy aimed at high-risk college drinking can be effective, a new study suggests. The strategy addresses alcohol availability, policy enforcement and perceptions about the rate of high-risk drinking among peers.

Almost one-quarter of college women try hookah smoking during their freshman year, a new study finds.

A new study finds college students who use prescription drugs for non-medical purposes are at increased risk of depression and thoughts of suicide.

Penalties for college athletes who test positive for marijuana differ between the Southeastern Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Associated Press reports.

Medical marijuana laws are posing a challenge to colleges, NPR reports. Since marijuana is illegal under federal law, colleges that allow students to use medical marijuana on campus are at risk of losing federal funding.