Substance Use in College Students: A Back-to-School Guide for Virginia Families

Leaving home means more freedom. It also means fewer limits. For many students, college is their first close exposure to regular drinking, parties, and drug use. In 2024, about 1 in 4 full-time college students ages 18 to 25 reported binge drinking in the past month. The first six weeks can be especially risky as students adjust to new routines and social pressure. If you know how substance use in college students can show up, you may spot changes before they become more serious. At Bridging the Gaps, we help Virginia families respond with clear support and the right level of care.

How Common Are Alcohol and Drug Use on College Campuses?

Substance abuse in college students remains a serious concern, but alcohol use is not limited to campus life. In 2024, young adults ages 18 to 25 who were not enrolled full time reported slightly higher drinking rates across several measures.

The comparison shows:

• Past-month alcohol use: 46.6% of full-time college students vs. 47.7% of non-college young adults
• Binge drinking: 25.0% vs. 27.3%
• Heavy alcohol use: 5.0% vs. 6.5%
• High-intensity drinking: 4.7% vs. 7.2%

Even so, college drug and alcohol use affects a large share of students and can create problems with health, safety, and school. Alcohol is only part of the picture. Marijuana remains the most commonly used illicit drug among college-age adults. These national figures give us a useful baseline, while Virginia students show patterns that deserve a closer look.

The first weeks on campus can raise the risk of substance use in college students.

Why Is Back-to-School Season a High-Risk Time for Substance Use in College Students?

The first six weeks of freshman year can be especially risky. Students are adjusting to a new campus, new friends, and much more independence. At the same time, many feel pressure to fit in quickly. NIAAA identifies this early period as especially vulnerable to alcohol-related harm, including heavy drinking, injuries, unsafe decisions, and academic problems.

Parties, rush events, football weekends, and off-campus gatherings can also make alcohol easier to access. This can happen at schools across Virginia, from UVA and JMU to Virginia Tech. Without familiar routines or regular check-ins, some students may drink more than they planned or try drugs for the first time. When these choices repeat during the first weeks, they can become part of a student’s regular college routine.

Why Do College Students Turn to Alcohol and Drugs?

There is rarely one reason behind substance abuse in college students. Several pressures can affect the choices a student makes, especially during the first months away from home. Common reasons include:

1. Pressure to fit in with new friends
2. Frequent exposure to alcohol and drug use
3. Academic, financial, and personal stress

Peer Pressure and the Need to Belong

Many students want to make friends quickly and feel accepted on campus. They may drink or use drugs because people around them are doing the same. In these situations, peer pressure and substance abuse can become closely connected. A student may agree to something they would normally avoid simply because they do not want to feel left out.

Alcohol Marketing and Exposure

Alcohol can seem hard to avoid in some college settings. Bars, sporting events, social media, and promotions around college towns can make drinking seem like a normal part of student life. Frequent exposure can also shape how students view their own drinking.

Academic and Financial Stress

Classes, exams, work, and money worries can add pressure quickly. Some students misuse prescription stimulants to study longer. Others turn to alcohol to relax or marijuana to cope with stress or anxiety. When substance use becomes a regular way to handle stress, it can become harder to stop.

Academic stress can contribute to college drug and alcohol use.

What Does College Drug and Alcohol Use Look Like on Virginia Campuses?

Virginia students face many of the same risks seen across the country. The 2022 Virginia Young Adult Survey gives us a closer look at alcohol, cannabis, and vaping among young adults in the state.

The survey found that:

• 60% of respondents ages 18 to 20 who had ever used alcohol reported drinking in the past 30 days.
• 76% of respondents ages 21 to 25 who had ever used alcohol reported drinking in the past 30 days.
• 45% of respondents ages 18 to 20 reported using cannabis at least once.
• Among those ages 18 to 20 who had tried cannabis, 54% used it at least monthly.
• 46% of respondents ages 18 to 20 reported vaping at some point.

The survey used a convenience sample, so these figures do not represent every Virginia student. Still, they show why substance use in college students deserves attention across the state. This includes students at UVA, Virginia Tech, JMU, VCU, George Mason, William & Mary, and Shenandoah University near Winchester. When we take a look at how Virginia's addiction numbers compare to Maryland's, we see that substance use remains an important issue across the wider region as well.

What Are the Warning Signs of a College Substance Use Problem?

A single change does not always mean something is wrong. However, substance abuse in college students can affect school, money, relationships, and behavior. Falling grades, unusual money requests, blackouts, and other signs of alcohol use disorder or a substance use problem can become more concerning when several appear together.

Common warning signs include:

• Grades suddenly dropping or classes being missed
• Frequent or unusual requests for money
• Less contact with family than usual
• A completely new friend group
• Legal trouble or campus disciplinary problems
• Memory gaps or blackouts after drinking
• Frequent intoxication or difficulty controlling use

If you notice two or three changes together, bring them up directly rather than waiting until winter break.

Talk openly with your child about drinking, drugs, and asking for help.

How Can Parents Talk to Their Student Before They Leave for Campus?

Talk about college drug and alcohol use before move-in day, not after something goes wrong. Keep the conversation direct and practical. Explain what a standard drink looks like, and talk about what can happen when alcohol or drugs affect judgment.

You can also agree on a regular call or video check-in. Ask about classes, sleep, stress, friends, and social plans. Most importantly, make it clear that your student can call you for help without expecting punishment first.

If substance use is already affecting communication at home, family therapy for addiction in Virginia can help families talk more openly and respond in a more useful way.

What Are the Long-Term Risks of Untreated Substance Use in College?

Frequent drinking or drug use can affect much more than one semester. Students may miss classes, fall behind academically, make unsafe decisions, or struggle with anxiety and depression. Repeated heavy drinking can also raise the risk of alcohol use disorder later in life.

NIAAA research on harmful and underage college drinking also shows how alcohol misuse can affect academic performance, safety, and mental health. Some consequences may continue after graduation, especially when unhealthy habits become part of everyday life and no one addresses them early.

How Does Bridging the Gaps Support Virginia Students and Families?

When substance use starts affecting daily life, the right level of care depends on each student’s needs. Bridging the Gaps is CARF-accredited and offers residential treatment, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient care. These options allow treatment to match the level of support a person needs.

Care also goes beyond counseling alone. Clients can receive nutrition therapy, amino acid support, mindfulness training, and other holistic services alongside clinical treatment. Family therapy is part of every level of care, so parents and loved ones can take an active role in recovery and rebuild healthier communication at home.

Professional care can help students and families manage substance use.

Give Your Student a Strong Start This Semester

If you notice changes early, you have more time to respond before drinking or drug use causes bigger problems. You do not need to wait for failing grades, legal trouble, or a medical emergency before asking questions.

For families concerned about substance use in college students, Bridging the Gaps offers support in Winchester, Virginia. Our admissions team is available 24/7 to talk through what is happening and explain the next steps. Call 540-535-1111 to speak with our team.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What percentage of college students binge drink?
In 2024, 25% of full-time college students ages 18 to 25 reported binge drinking in the past month. That is about 1 in 4 students.

2. Is alcohol or marijuana more common among college students?
Alcohol remains more common among college students. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among college-age adults.

3. When is the riskiest time of year for college substance use?
The first six weeks of freshman year can be especially risky. Students are adjusting to more freedom, new social groups, parties, and less supervision during this period.

4. How can I tell if my college student has a drinking or drug problem?
Watch for several changes happening together. These may include falling grades, frequent money requests, blackouts, legal trouble, less family contact, or repeated intoxication.

5. Does Bridging the Gaps treat college-age clients from Virginia universities?
Yes. Bridging the Gaps provides addiction treatment for adults from communities across Virginia, including college-age clients who need support with alcohol or drug use.