Signs of Substance Abuse In University Students

If you’re wondering if a friend or family member in college is abusing drugs or alcohol, there are some signs, symptoms, and warning signs that you can use to recognize if there’s a problem.

Santa Barbara College Student Mental Health Guide

Binge Drinking

Signs of Student Substance Abuse

College students, according to statistics, love drinking alcohol. But it’s often hard to determine the difference between what someone is doing as social behavior and what they’re doing as an addict. Binge drinking is rarely a good sign no matter who is doing it – and a key sign of addiction to look out for is binge drinking on a regular basis.

Studies show that the more you drink, the greater your blackouts will be. So just what defines “binge drinking”? It’s generally defined as five drinks or more in a two-hour period for men, and four drinks or more in that same two-hour window for women. Binge drinking, if left untreated, often leads to addiction.

Criminal Behavior

Over 100,000 arrests take place every single year that are blamed on students and alcohol abuse – everything from public drunkenness to driving drunk. Vandalism is also a factor; 25% of heavy-drinking students have vandalized.

Drugs make things even worse. Cocaine, for example, might help a student manage how tired they are for a small amount of time but more often than not, cocaine abuse turns quickly to cocaine addiction. That makes a person more prone to violence and in many cases that can lead to arrests.

Failing Grades

When a college student’s grades suddenly plunge with no apparent reason, it’s time to begin looking at how much they’re drinking or using. The NIAAA’s study into binge drinking alone reveals 1 out of every 4 college students who binge drink on a regular basis will do very badly in class. Drinking brings with it hangovers, irregular sleeping habits, and fuzzy minds – none of which are conducive to learning.

The extra danger here is that some students try and balance out their lives with stimulants – drugs that are supposed to keep them awake and give them more energy. This extends to prescription drugs like Adderall. These prescription drugs can also lead to drug addiction.

Reckless Behavior

This goes hand-in-hand with criminal behavior – as the substance abuse grows stronger, decision-making prowess starts to slip. If you notice any of the following traits or signs in a person that has never shown them before, it’s time to take an interest:

  • Emotional, physical, and/or verbal abuse.
  • Neglectfulness of both property and people.
  • A greater likeliness to start fights or even assault others.
  • A greater likeliness to say horrible things.
  • Driving drunk.
  • Unprotected sexual activity.
  • Committing sexual assault.
  • Sex with zero recollection.
  • Putting their own safety at risk.
  • Putting other people’s safety at risk.


A student who is binge drinking or taking pills to help them stay awake often will see changes in their appearance. It’s a known fact that 25% of college kids develop an eating disorder which, in turn, can lead to abuse of diet pills or stimulant pills. People abusing booze or marijuana can also put on a lot of weight. Look for dark circles around the eyes, a lack of color in the face/cheeks, and even sallow skin; all of these are indicators that their body is being weakened by substance abuse.

Lack Of Interest

If a student is isolating themselves for extended periods of time, it could be because they’re devoid of energy. Most substance-abusing students shun extracurricular activities even if they continue to go to classes.

Disturbances In Sleep

When a student begins shifting their entire lifestyle around a sleeping pattern that has them up all night and sleeping most of the day, it’s something to take note of. Cocaine and amphetamines help suppress REM sleep, so disorders are bound to arise.

Changing Social Circles

A sure sign that something’s going on is when people who are abusing change their social circles – meaning the good friends are out and the newer, poorer influences are in. If their new friends are all about partying, you should be able to sense that something is afoot.

Mood Swings

People abusing drugs or alcohol often exhibit a change in their personality. Because substance abuse manipulates the way the brain works, they become negative, lethargic, irritable and/or depressed. Withdrawal symptoms can cause even more agitation – one minute they seem happy (when they’re using), and when they’re not, they can become depressed.

Social Withdrawal

If a college student begins to withdraw and act in a secretive manner, there’s a chance something’s up. It’s generally due to a deep-seated shame at their own behavior and their unwillingness to confront what they’re doing to themselves. But it’s also because they’re not ready to stop and don’t want the guilt or shame a friend might give them when discussing their substance abuse issues.

Santa Barbara College Student Mental Health Guide

This information is provided by Mission Harbor Behavioral Health as an informational resource for college students residing in Santa Barbara. The treatment programs at Mission Harbor are not directly affiliated with any university, however, we offer outpatient mental health services specifically tailored for active college students.