A new study finds that college students in the U.S. can easily access stimulants and other prescription drugs illegally on campus. According to the 2015 College Prescription Drug Study, 70 percent of the more than 3,900 respondents said it was “easy or very easy” to get prescription medication without a prescription.
The study found that undergraduates were more likely to misuse prescription drugs, and most students claimed they used the drugs to help them study or improve their grades.
It’s important to note that even if your kid is off to college, parents can still have a positive impact on their children. You can guide your older teens to ensure they have a healthy experience throughout their college years. With finals right around the corner and college students thinking “a little something” might help them get through the long nights of studying, conversations from parents about the dangers of drugs still matter.
Explain to your child that you know getting a stimulant or other prescription medication on campus can be an easy thing to do. Use this as an opportunity to open the conversation without attacking or making them feel defensive.
It’s important to foster and maintain open communication with your child. They need to know that even if they are at college and experiencing life on their own, they can still turn to you for help if any problems or difficult situations arise.
For more information on how to talk to your teen in college, visit /drugfreeazkids/CollegeCulture.
