If you have struggled with substance abuse and are now headed to college, you might think that the quintessential college experience is full of red Solo cups and binge drinking. Whether you have a history of substance abuse or just want to avoid drinking, you might wonder whether it is possible to stay sober through college and what the benefits are.
Drinking in College
Drinking while at college is considered a social norm in the United States. Given the fact that state laws raise the minimum drinking age to 21, college presents a unique opportunity for those who are underage to gain access to alcohol from upperclassmen in a completely independent environment, free from adults like parents.
This newfound freedom, coupled with inexperience related to alcohol consumption and a myriad of other individual factors, often leads to binge drinking. Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that poses serious health and safety risks, including:
- Sexual assault
- Injuries
- Drunk-driving arrests
- Car crashes
- Liver damage
- Organ damage
Despite the many depictions of college drinking in the media, you don’t have to drink in college. In fact, you can learn to stay sober through college and avoid many of the consequences that follow those who binge drink.
Why Stay Sober Through College: College Drinking Facts
According to a 2022 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism study, nearly fifty percent of all full-time college students surveyed had drunk alcohol in the past month. The 2022 study found links between drinking and events such as:
- In 2022, there were 1,519 deaths of college students linked to alcohol-related injuries
- Nationwide, nearly 700,000 college students were assaulted by another student who had been drinking
- 29 percent of college students engaged in binge drinking, which has several health consequences
- 20 percent of women experience sexual assault in college, and many of these cases involve alcohol
- 15 percent of college students have an alcohol use disorder
- 25 percent of college students experienced negative academic consequences because of alcohol
There are several risks involved with college drinking, including missing classes, falling behind, and receiving low grades.
Timing Matters
One of the main reasons to stay sober through college has to do with timing. Studies indicate that the first six weeks of a freshman year are the most vulnerable time. It is during this transition that students participating in underage drinking often experience many alcohol-related consequences. This is often the result of social pressure and academic expectations that are placed on freshmen. This can also be combined with being away from home and adult supervision for the first time with ready access to alcohol.
As a result, if a student engages in alcohol consumption during those first six weeks, they are more likely to continue succumbing to things like academic pressure and social pressure, both of which can increase the risk of regular alcohol consumption and binge drinking, with the subsequent repercussions.
Getting Help When You Need It
If you are trying to stay sober through college but are struggling with triggers, cravings, or a relapse, it’s important that you recognize the need for help. Relapses do not represent failure but rather a regular part of the recovery process. They are opportunities to strengthen your sobriety, learn from mistakes, and adopt new coping mechanisms.
The best way to do this is to turn to professional substance abuse treatment, where you can find a program that works with your college schedule and offers the support you need.
With Ritual Recovery, you can get help with a partial hospitalization program or an intensive outpatient program that fits in and around your college schedule, breaks, or class schedule. During your time with our facility, you’ll have meals provided, cooking classes, opportunities for recreational activities, as well as comprehensive, holistic care. This all works together to give you the tools you need to stay sober through college and beyond.
With the right type of substance abuse treatment, you can get help for binge drinking or alcohol-related behaviors that are causing harm and learn how to stay sober in college.
