Resources Help Parents and Students Understand Dangers of Drug Use at College

It’s hard to believe, but my oldest daughter already returned to Providence College for her sophomore year. I know I’m not alone among parents who will be watching their children either return to school or embark upon their continuing education for the first time as freshmen.

College can be an overwhelming time for children and parents alike as students adjust to a new environment and new challenges. The presence of drugs can further complicate that transition.

Young people (ages 18 to 24) are already at a heightened risk of addiction, and the combination of stress, heavy workloads, peer pressure, curiosity and other factors only amplifies that risk.

Fortunately, there are valuable resources that can help both parents and students understand the dangers of drug use and the ways to prevent abuse for teens heading off to college.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey delivers relevant information for parents at ParentCheckNJ.Com, a website that features a quiz for parents to test their knowledge on both binge drinking and opioid misuse.

Another resource available is the new website, CampusDrugPrevention.gov, launched by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) focusing on preventing and educating on college drug use.

The DEA created the website in its latest effort to support drug abuse prevention programs on college campuses and their surrounding communities. The website offers a one-stop resource for professionals including educators, student health centers and student affairs personnel, who work to prevent drug abuse among college students. It also is beneficial to college students, parents and others involved in campus communities.

CampusDrugPrevention.gov offers valuable information, including data, news updates, drug scheduling and penalties, publications, research, national and statewide conferences and events, state and local prevention contacts, and resources available from DEA’s federal partners. The website also includes a “Help a Friend” resource to educate and prepare those who plan to talk to friends or loved ones about drug use concerns.

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