Opioid Addiction in College Students and the Importance of Addiction Treatment in Costa Mesa
It’s no secret that the opioid crisis in America has reached epidemic levels. An astounding 68% of the 70,000 overdose deaths in the US in 2017 involved an opioid1. This issue has also affected young people, as opioid addiction in college students raises the importance of addiction treatment in Costa Mesa. College students in the US are at high risk for substance abuse. A 2018 survey found2 that one in four college-age individuals qualify for a substance use disorder. Opioid abuse can cause students to lose interest in their studies, leading to negative health complications, and creating strained relationships with friends and loved ones.
The Impact of Opioid Addiction in College Students
As with other population groups, opioid addiction in college students can be the result of a legal prescription to painkillers due to an injury. Even if an individual begins using opioids according to a written prescription, addiction can still develop. This serves as a strong reminder of how powerful these substances can be. Students can also become addicted to opioids as a result of having easy access to these medications, as friends may decide to illegally sell their prescription. College is often a time where individuals will be more open to trying illicit drugs. Party environments can make it easy to impulsively decide to use an opioid.
The types of opioids students may misuse include things such as Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Heroin, Codeine, and Morphine. This use by college students has risen dramatically in the last few decades, as opioid use has increased a staggering 343% among this age group3. In fact, the nonmedical use of opioids is the second most-used illicit substance for college students. This is an indication of how widespread opioid use has become among this demographic.
Research has also linked opioid abuse with an increase in engaging in other risky behaviors4, compounding an already troubling situation. An addiction to opioids can lead to strained relationships, a compromised immune system, and a reduction in overall self-worth. For college students, opioid addiction can lead to a failure to fulfill one’s obligations. This could potentially lead to a loss of employment and cause their education to suffer. A rehab program geared toward college students and young adults could help an individual stop using and uncover their full potential.
The Importance of Addiction Treatment in Costa Mesa
Receiving professional assistance to address one’s addiction to opioids is something that continues to be a pressing need, especially for college students. In fact, recent national data has shown that individuals aged 15 to 24 have seen a reduction in their treatment for opioid-related overdoses5. Although older people continue to die from opioid overdoses at higher rates than younger individuals, it is still an issue for college-aged people. In Orange County in 2018, 48 men under the age of 40 died from opioid drug overdoses6. Deaths from Fentanyl have surpassed fatal heroin overdoses in Orange County. This is an example of how prescription opioids can be just as deadly, if not more so, than illegal versions.
Thankfully, there are treatment options for college students struggling with an addiction to opioids. Addiction treatment Costa Mesa can offer hope and an opportunity to turn one’s life around. Clear Life Recovery, a treatment center located in Costa Mesa, CA, provides comprehensive programs that assist and guide a person towards independent living. Programs and therapies offered include a SMART recovery program, cognitive behavioral therapy, and group and peer support therapy. Rehab programs help an individual work through past traumatic situations that precipitated their addiction. Clear Life Recovery works to provide a holistic intervention and teach healthy coping strategies to address these issues.
Reach out for Help Today
Clear Life Recovery offers effective strategies and solutions for individuals seeking to overcome the debilitating condition of opioid addiction. We offer detox services along with individual and group therapy sessions as a way to tackle drug addiction. We also offer a holistic approach that incorporates spiritual, physical, and mental health treatment. These therapies are used as a way to address all of the individual aspects of a substance use disorder. Your addiction doesn’t need to define your entire life. Contact the caring professionals at Clear Life Recovery to begin your journey to the life you deserve.
Sources:
1. https://www.cdc.gov/injury/features/prescription-drug-overdose/index.html
2. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/cbhsq-reports/NSDUHNationalFindingsReport2018/NSDUHNationalFindingsReport2018.pdf
3. https://www.healio.com/psychiatry/addiction/news/online/%7bda3b60b9-cc6c-4bd6-b9ea-70b48f79f42a%7d/opioid-abuse-in-college-students-requires-increased-efforts
4. https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/145/2/e20192470
5. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/treatment-opioid-addiction-increasing-young/story?id=68577421
6. https://www.ocregister.com/2019/03/28/fentanyl-deaths-jump-in-orange-county-but-overall-opioid-deaths-dip-for-first-time-ever/
