Addressing Substance Abuse Among College Students: Strategies & Support

College is a paradox. You can be surrounded by people, yet feel alone. You have more freedom than ever, and somehow, more pressure. Your days are packed with classes, deadlines, and decisions—but no one’s asking how you feel or teaching you what to do with that stress.

When students turn to substances, it often begins as a way to relax or as a way to push through a heavy workload. But what starts as a short-term solution can quietly shift into a longer-term problem that’s hard to break.

Maybe you find yourself drinking more than you intended, using substances to fall asleep, or feeling like you're living a double life—one that looks functional on the outside but feels chaotic underneath. You’re not failing as a human, you’re just trying to cope with something that feels unmanageable. 

Why Substance Use Is So Common in College

There’s a reason that over 20% of college students meet the DSM-V criteria for a substance use disorder. Take into account academic pressure, social comparison, financial strain, and the disorienting task of trying to figure out who you are—all at the same time. Often, students arrive on campus without the mental health support they need, especially if they’ve been masking anxiety, ADHD, trauma, or depression for years.

Without a safety net, substances can seem like the fastest, easiest way to take control. And because college culture often glamorizes partying or casual drug use, it can be hard to know when things have crossed a line.

What Healing Looks Like (No, It’s Not Quitting Everything Cold Turkey)

At Attune, we believe healing is less about control and more about understanding. Recovery shouldn’t be a punishment. It should be a process of getting curious about what you’ve been carrying and why substances became the solution.

For some students, that process begins with individual therapy—a space to unpack emotional pain, unmet needs, or trauma that’s been ignored for too long. For others, recovery involves stepping into a structured program like our Intensive Outpatient Program, where you’ll be surrounded by peers doing the hard, honest work of rebuilding their lives with intention.

When psychiatric support is needed, our clinicians offer medication management and diagnostic evaluations. If executive functioning is a challenge, life skills coaching helps students develop tools for time management, communication, and self-regulation. Throughout the process, we honor each person’s unique story—and support them in writing a new one.

A Word to College Students: You’re Not Failing

If your substance use has started to affect your schoolwork, your relationships, or your mental health, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means something inside you is asking for help.

Maybe you’ve tried to stop before, but it didn’t stick. Maybe you’re scared to tell anyone what’s really going on. Or maybe you just want to feel okay again—but don’t know how.

Whatever stage you’re in, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to wait for things to get worse before reaching out.

Let’s Reroute the Story

Substance abuse doesn’t have to define your college experience. It can be the thing that wakes you up. The beginning of something more connected and clear.

At Attune Health & Wellness, we provide trauma-informed outpatient care designed specifically for young adults. Whether you’re looking for therapy, a structured program, psychiatric support, or all of the above, we’ll help you find your footing and move forward—on your terms.

If you’re ready for a shift, even a small one, reach out. There’s no shame in needing help. There’s just an opportunity to live differently—and more attuned.