Exploring Substance Use, Mental Health, and Safety Among College Students At Four-Year Public Institutions

Exploring Substance Use, Mental Health, and Safety Among College Students At Four-Year Public Institutions
Author: Akeisha Young
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2021
Genre: Electronic dissertations
ISBN:

Substance use and misuse among college students has presented unique challenges for institutions of higher education. As such, this three-article dissertation sought to examine and explore antecedent factors, such as student demographics, protective behavior strategies, mental health, academic performance, and how they interact with alcohol consumption, including heavy episodic drinking. Using the 2015 2019 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment II (ACHA-NCHA II) data cohorts, the first article examined the factor structure of the items assessing protective behavioral strategies and mental health through exploratory factor analysis using principle component analysis. Building upon the first article, the second article used the factor solution found in the previous article to include in structural equation model analyses to assess the indirect and direct effects of the predictor variables of interest on academic performance. Moving from the empirical articles, the third article focused on a higher education practitioner's perspective of the current status of collegiate recovery centers and how results from analyses in the previous two articles inform how higher education professionals and administrators should combat the increasingly alarming issues with substance use prevalent among college students. This three-article dissertation concluded with discussions on future directions for research as well as implications and recommendations for practitioners and policy in institutions of higher education.

Mental Health, Substance Use, and Wellbeing in Higher Education

Mental Health, Substance Use, and Wellbeing in Higher Education
Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 213
Release: 2021-03-05
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0309124123

Student wellbeing is foundational to academic success. One recent survey of postsecondary educators found that nearly 80 percent believed emotional wellbeing is a "very" or "extremely" important factor in student success. Studies have found the dropout rates for students with a diagnosed mental health problem range from 43 percent to as high as 86 percent. While dealing with stress is a normal part of life, for some students, stress can adversely affect their physical, emotional, and psychological health, particularly given that adolescence and early adulthood are when most mental illnesses are first manifested. In addition to students who may develop mental health challenges during their time in postsecondary education, many students arrive on campus with a mental health problem or having experienced significant trauma in their lives, which can also negatively affect physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing. The nation's institutions of higher education are seeing increasing levels of mental illness, substance use and other forms of emotional distress among their students. Some of the problematic trends have been ongoing for decades. Some have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic consequences. Some are the result of long-festering systemic racism in almost every sphere of American life that are becoming more widely acknowledged throughout society and must, at last, be addressed. Mental Health, Substance Use, and Wellbeing in Higher Education lays out a variety of possible strategies and approaches to meet increasing demand for mental health and substance use services, based on the available evidence on the nature of the issues and what works in various situations. The recommendations of this report will support the delivery of mental health and wellness services by the nation's institutions of higher education.

Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS)

Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS)
Author: Linda A. Dimeff
Publisher: Guilford Press
Total Pages: 218
Release: 1999-01-08
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 9781572303928

This instructive manual presents a pragmatic and clinically proven approach to the prevention and treatment of undergraduate alcohol abuse. The BASICS model is a nonconfrontational, harm reduction approach that helps students reduce their alcohol consumption and decrease the behavioral and health risks associated with heavy drinking. Including numerous reproducible handouts and assessment forms, the book takes readers step-by-step through conducting BASICS assessment and feedback sessions. Special topics covered include the use of DSM-IV criteria to evaluate alcohol abuse, ways to counter student defensiveness about drinking, and obtaining additional treatment for students with severe alcohol dependency. Note about Photocopy Rights: The Publisher grants individual book purchasers nonassignable permission to reproduce selected figures, information sheets, and assessment instruments in this book for professional use. For details and limitations, see copyright page.

Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders

Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders
Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 171
Release: 2016-09-03
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0309439124

Estimates indicate that as many as 1 in 4 Americans will experience a mental health problem or will misuse alcohol or drugs in their lifetimes. These disorders are among the most highly stigmatized health conditions in the United States, and they remain barriers to full participation in society in areas as basic as education, housing, and employment. Improving the lives of people with mental health and substance abuse disorders has been a priority in the United States for more than 50 years. The Community Mental Health Act of 1963 is considered a major turning point in America's efforts to improve behavioral healthcare. It ushered in an era of optimism and hope and laid the groundwork for the consumer movement and new models of recovery. The consumer movement gave voice to people with mental and substance use disorders and brought their perspectives and experience into national discussions about mental health. However over the same 50-year period, positive change in American public attitudes and beliefs about mental and substance use disorders has lagged behind these advances. Stigma is a complex social phenomenon based on a relationship between an attribute and a stereotype that assigns undesirable labels, qualities, and behaviors to a person with that attribute. Labeled individuals are then socially devalued, which leads to inequality and discrimination. This report contributes to national efforts to understand and change attitudes, beliefs and behaviors that can lead to stigma and discrimination. Changing stigma in a lasting way will require coordinated efforts, which are based on the best possible evidence, supported at the national level with multiyear funding, and planned and implemented by an effective coalition of representative stakeholders. Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders: The Evidence for Stigma Change explores stigma and discrimination faced by individuals with mental or substance use disorders and recommends effective strategies for reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek treatment and other supportive services. It offers a set of conclusions and recommendations about successful stigma change strategies and the research needed to inform and evaluate these efforts in the United States.

College Drinking and Drug Use

College Drinking and Drug Use
Author: Helene Raskin White
Publisher: Guilford Press
Total Pages: 321
Release: 2011-11-14
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1606239953

Substance use among college students can result in serious academic and safety problems and have long-term negative repercussions. This state-of-the-art volume draws on the latest research on students' alcohol and drug use to provide useful suggestions for how to address this critical issue on college campuses. Leading researchers from multiple disciplines examine the prevalence and nature of substance use by students; biological and neuropsychological considerations; psychological and social aspects; prevention; and policy. Exemplary programs are presented -- including brief interventions, comprehensive prevention programs, and recovery support programs -- enhancing the utility of the book for campus-based clinicians and administrators. This title is part of The Duke Series in Child Development and Public Policy, edited by Kenneth A. Dodge and Martha Putallaz.

Promoting Behavioral Health and Reducing Risk among College Students

Promoting Behavioral Health and Reducing Risk among College Students
Author: M. Dolores Cimini
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 331
Release: 2018-06-14
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1351707809

Promoting Behavioral Health and Reducing Risk Among College Students synthesizes the large body of research on college students’ behavioral health and offers guidance on applying evidence-based prevention and early intervention strategies using a comprehensive public health framework. Chapters authored by leading researchers and practitioners address a broad spectrum of important behavioral health issues, interventions, and challenges. Moving beyond a theoretical discussion to strategies for implementation, this book addresses the special issues and potential barriers faced by practitioners as they translate research to practice, such as resource limitations, organizational resistance, challenges to program sustainability, and the unique needs of special populations. This cutting-edge compendium will appeal to both practitioners and researchers involved in providing prevention, early intervention, and treatment services for college students.

Facing Addiction in America

Facing Addiction in America
Author: Office of the Surgeon General
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Total Pages: 420
Release: 2017-08-15
Genre:
ISBN: 9781974580620

All across the United States, individuals, families, communities, and health care systems are struggling to cope with substance use, misuse, and substance use disorders. Substance misuse and substance use disorders have devastating effects, disrupt the future plans of too many young people, and all too often, end lives prematurely and tragically. Substance misuse is a major public health challenge and a priority for our nation to address. The effects of substance use are cumulative and costly for our society, placing burdens on workplaces, the health care system, families, states, and communities. The Report discusses opportunities to bring substance use disorder treatment and mainstream health care systems into alignment so that they can address a person's overall health, rather than a substance misuse or a physical health condition alone or in isolation. It also provides suggestions and recommendations for action that everyone-individuals, families, community leaders, law enforcement, health care professionals, policymakers, and researchers-can take to prevent substance misuse and reduce its consequences.

TIP 35: Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Use Disorder Treatment (Updated 2019)

TIP 35: Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Use Disorder Treatment (Updated 2019)
Author: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 208
Release: 2019-11-19
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 1794755136

Motivation is key to substance use behavior change. Counselors can support clients' movement toward positive changes in their substance use by identifying and enhancing motivation that already exists. Motivational approaches are based on the principles of person-centered counseling. Counselors' use of empathy, not authority and power, is key to enhancing clients' motivation to change. Clients are experts in their own recovery from SUDs. Counselors should engage them in collaborative partnerships. Ambivalence about change is normal. Resistance to change is an expression of ambivalence about change, not a client trait or characteristic. Confrontational approaches increase client resistance and discord in the counseling relationship. Motivational approaches explore ambivalence in a nonjudgmental and compassionate way.