• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
College Magazine logo

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
    • Find Your College
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
Home » Latest Posts » Fear of the Future: Rise in Marijuana Use
Life

Fear of the Future: Rise in Marijuana Use

Facebook Tweet
Jocelyn Murray   September 14, 2011

When we go to parties on our various college campuses, we rarely note the amount of alcohol being consumed; we only note that it is present. However, it has recently been noted on college campuses all across the country that the amount of students using illegal drugs – more specifically, marijuana – has drastically increased over the last few years. 

In a recent study completed by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, over 17.4 million Americans were using marijuana, compared to the 14.4 million in 2007. Of the 18-25 year olds among this staggering 17.4 million people, 21.5% of college-aged students were marijuana users, up from 19.6% in 2008.

 Different theories have begun to develop on why this increase has occurred among the group of people who are at one of the most crucial times in their lives. Perhaps it is because students are maturing more slowly; we are putting off the responsibilities of adulthood for longer than they’ve ever been put off before. Post-grad, many students decide to take gap years, travel, or participate in low or non-paying jobs (Teach for America and the like), just to avoid the responsibilities of the corporate world. 

Maybe smoking pot has something to do with this. Maybe people are extending the glory of their young adult lives by immersing themselves completely in activities that will soon be more frowned upon as the individuals age.

Or maybe it is on a parallel with the binge drinking that goes on weekly, perhaps daily, on our campuses. With students heavily influenced by the media and entertainment business, it is no wonder so many students participate in these unhealthy activities that their “role models” advocate. Students have said that marijuana, similar to alcohol, is a sort of stress reliever after a long day’s worth of work. No matter what the reasoning – delaying the future or living in the moment – fact is fact; marijuana use is more prevalent than ever among our peers.

About Jocelyn Murray

Jocelyn Murray

What I Wish I Had Known About Mental Health So I Wouldn’t Have to Call Myself a College Dropout

Ant-Man Opens the Doors for Marvel’s New Phase

10 Boba Tea Spots for Houston College Students

10 Ways to Have Fun with Your Friends Indoors

Do You Actually Care, Or Do You Want to Look Like You Do?

unsplash.com

Top Ten Inspirational Quotes from Your Favorite Sports TV Shows

I lived with my three best friends. Here’s how it went.

21 Things to Do in Williamsburg When You’re Under 21

The Beauty and Pain of Living Alone

Previous Post:Top 10 College Football Traditions
Next Post:Can certain positions make the possibility of pregnancy less likely?

colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

College Magazine logo

Copyright © 2023 Powered by BizBudding