Research has shown that a high percentage of college students are into substance abuse. Most of them are into substance abuse because of peer pressure. However, late treatment of addiction or alcoholism can lead to drug addiction and alcoholism. The road to recovery from drugs and alcohol is not hard as long as the victim receives all the support and love they need from their family and friends.
Most of the alcoholism and drug abuse cases have occurred in sororities and fraternities. A study that was conducted by the core Institute showed the following.
• Half of the students in sororities and fraternities had poor performances in their tests. That is compared to the quarter of all other students.
• Normally, around 33 percent of all the students, miss classes. The study showed that About 70 percent of the students in sororities and fraternities missed classes instead.
• Approximately 59 percent of fraternity and sorority members had fights and arguments compared to around 35 percent of the other students.
Why are Sororities and Fraternities the Most Affected?
Most students join these groups for leadership opportunities as well as a chance for social networking with other young people from other colleges and their school. A recent study revealed that 4 out of every five students in the fraternities or sororities were binge drinkers or substance abusers.
There are all types of students in those groups in the fraternities. Most of these students consider themselves as cool students of the school, which leads to drugs and alcohol abuse to prove how cool they are. Here are other reasons that make sororities and fraternities more prone to alcoholism and substance abuse.
Peer Pressure
Since many of these sorority and fraternity members live together and do most things together, it is very easy for people to influence each other to abuse drugs and get into alcoholism. Many members want to look cool as the other members, and they do not want to appear as naive.
There is usually a theme of solidarity in fraternities and sororities. Therefore, when members, especially the new ones, see others drinking or abusing drugs, they will most likely do the same. They feel like they need to fit in and feel accepted, and the only way to do that is by doing what the rest are doing.
Initiation and Hazing
Most, if not all, sororities and fraternities conduct initiation ceremonies for their new members. Most of the time, there is hazing involved in that ceremony and may involve the new members taking alcohol or any other drug as a tradition. Most of the hazing ceremonies result in excessive alcohol drinking. Later in those initiation ceremonies, parties are held to celebrate the new members who have joined the sorority or fraternity.
The new members feel the need to drink and engage in substance abuse to show that they deserve the spot in the group. The partying does not end at the initiation. There are usually more parties as time goes by and more drugs and alcohol.
Other reasons make the rates of substance abuse higher in fraternities, and sororities are experimentation, companionship, lack of supervision, and social anxiety. There are many types of drugs used in fraternities and sororities, but the common ones include alcohol, marijuana, ecstasy, and MDMA drugs.
Students, just like other drug abusers, will experience some side effects from alcoholism and substance abuse. Some of these effects are listed below.
• Higher chances of addiction and alcoholism
• Increased risks of assault and suicide cases
• Problems at schools and with the law
Some other effects include alcohol poisoning, memory problems and early and unplanned pregnancies. When there is early identification of substance abuse, there is a chance that the affected student can seek treatment for addiction or alcoholism. It very important that family and friends give the affected students all their support and love. However, some schools can participate by creating anti-drug cultures in sororities and fraternities without having to sacrifice those institutions entirely. The schools can decide to completely ban any drugs and alcohol in the sorority and fraternity houses. They can also fund programs for alcohol treatment and prevention, helping the sorority and fraternity members who are into alcohol and drugs the free help they need.
If you or your loved one needs help with guidance and treatment from addiction and alcoholism, our offices in Naples, South West Florida, are open 24 hours. You can visit us anytime, and we will help you with your addiction problem. Call us at 844-639-8371.