Princeton's role in combating the drug crisis must begin on campus

Drug dependency is a crisis of public health in the United States. In the past two decades, the deaths of overdose in the United States have increased in all demographic groups in the past two decades. Last year, about 17 percent of Americans fought against a disorder of substance consumption.

These alarming statistics show how great a problem dependent of drugs has become, but there is another alarming undertrend that you do not illustrate: the typical student is more often drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy four years after completion than in school, and more than 1 of 5 college students, the diagnosis criteria for the disturbance of alcohol consumption in 2021.

Perhaps drugs are more available on the college campus, but this effect could also be because the students are no longer informed about the risks of substance consumption. In order to maintain a healthy and safe community, Princeton has to do more to inform the students about the risks of substances and substance disorders. This includes information about drug use and prevention that is accessible to students – and not just on a website.

In addition to medical and mental health care, Princeton University Health Services (UHS) provides information on disorders of substance consumption and the right practices for taking prescription medication. Princeton offered the students free fentanyl test kits and free naloxone, a life -saving medication when someone overdoses opioids. However, Princeton must continue to provide further information in order to minimize the risk of students that students at College develop substance disorders.

Everyone can develop dependency, and many do due to legal, medical recipes. 18 percent of Americans have intentionally abused prescription medication. However, Princeton does not make it easy enough to safely handle prescription drugs: UHS does not offer a safe disposal process for prescription drugs that can add an increased risk of abuse for students.

Although disposal locations are available in front of the campus, it is important that the students have this resource in a cheap place. Department Health Center is a perfect place: it is in the heart of the campus and makes it comfortable for the students to dispose of these drugs up to 0 days during their day, including between the classes.

College students are also uniquely susceptible to the development of substance disorders, since many suffer from anxiety and depression. When prescribing medication for these conditions, providers should fully inform the students about all addiction properties. While prescribers were ideally responsible for the effective clarification of their patients, the university should offer additional resources and education as a community that takes care of security and well -being in this crisis.

Abuse is sometimes random and can appear benign; However, ignoring can lead to major problems, including tolerance. The first uses of a drug release more dopamine in the brain reward system, which creates dependency on it when the reward circuit adapts. Finally, this can lead to addiction because, despite negative consequences, people are looking for this dopamine release.

During orientation in the first year, the students take part in events such as Safer Sexpo and the Stock Game, which they inform about the risk prevention in relationships and in the nights. Alcohol is already exists to inform the students about alcohol culture and their risks, and the like should be developed for other drugs.

A workshop in which further information about drugs and the risk of a disorder of the substance use should also be included in this alignment plan. It is important that the students are taught about drug interactions, overdose risks and the effective use of instruments for reducing damage. This would also provide the students clear information about the risk of mixing alcohol with prescription drugs and other substances.

It is absolutely necessary that Princeton brings his students to safety during this crisis. The university should be committed to creating a safe and healthy community in which students can thrive, and the implementation of these changes helps Princeton to achieve this goal.

Liz Reyes is a second year in which the opinion writer contributes to the main subject in neuroscience. She is from Cherry Hill, New Jersey and can be reached in Lizbeth.Reyes[at]princeton.edu.