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RISE Blog | Misconceptions of College life: College Students and Substance Use

Written By: Makel Dandridge & Audrey Hudson, Peer Educators
Edited By: Elizabeth Perry
November 8th, 2024

“The only thing to do in Lubbock is drink” and “everyone vapes– it's not a big deal” are common phrases you may hear in social circles at Texas Tech. Whether you're in class, on Broadway, or walking around campus, you won't see a shortage of vapes or a shortage of people talking about their crazy night. These broad statements that seemingly encompass every Tech student's conversations are called misconceptions. A misconception is a general view or opinion that is incorrect based on faulty thinking or understanding. Although you might hear that “everyone is drinking before they are 21”, are they actually? The reality is that not all Tech students are partying or giving into vices. According to the ACHA (American College Health Association) report, an anonymous survey of Texas Tech students, conducted in 2022 only 73.2% of students have ever tried alcohol and only 49.9% have had an alcoholic beverage in the past 2 weeks. 

As we can see, these assumptions are not accurate and not even half of Texas Tech students have consumed alcohol in the past 2 weeks. These overgeneralizations can be harmful and can take away from people’s experiences, both in college, and in life. Misconceptions can force people to try to fit into stereotypes or molds that they are not comfortable with and can be detrimental to not only their mental health, but to their physical health as well. Many of these misconceptions are easily proven wrong, and as students, we need to stand up for each other and be able to decide what is fact and what is fiction.  

The choices of campus life

You might be thinking, "Am I the only student at Texas Tech who is not addicted to something?" The reality is that college is a new time that comes with new freedoms: living alone, not being with your parents, making your own schedule, and so much more. With all this freedom comes stress and having to take control of your own life, which can sometimes be hard and overwhelming. Some students are introduced to drugs and alcohol, which are often times mistaken for short term stress relievers but can seem like a saving grace when you have so much going on, but some students do not. The reality is that when surveyed, only 73.2% of them have ever tried alcohol, 39.6% have tried cannabis, and 39.3% have tried tobacco and/or nicotine. Additionally, 54.1% claimed to have never tried or used cannabis (ACHA, 2022).  Some students do come to college, try drinking alcohol or using nicotine for the first time, and become addicted for the rest of their lives, but many do not. Students try it once or a couple times and decide that it isn’t for them, while others love to go out every weekend. The truth is that with nearly 41,000 students and more than 50 degree plans, no student has the exact same experience during their 4 years in Lubbock. Each student has their own unique experience that differs from the experience of people sitting next to them in class, or even other people in their own friend group; our unique experiences and opinions are what make us unique. You don’t have to stray from your beliefs and morals just because the people around you are doing different things. 

Chasing the Clouds

"Everyone around me is addicted to their vape and has it in their hand at every moment. Should I buy one? Am I getting left behind?" Walking around campus, or even sitting in class, if you look around you will see different shapes and sizes of metal tubes, all including the same addictive drug, nicotine. Vapes, short for Vaporizer, or e-cigarettes, are devices that were originally introduced to adults over the age of 18, as an alternative to combustible cigarettes. They were supposed to be "better for you" in the long term. In the past years, the use of e-cigarettes in college students has increased exponentially, to the point where there have been government bans on certain flavoring additivers and an increase in the age requirement to purchase a vape. Although vaping was originally introduced as a healthier alternative to smoking, they still pose significant health risks. According to the National Library of Medicine there is a correlation between vaping and cardiovascular diseases, seizures, and depression (McLeish, Hart, Walker 2022).” 

Referring back to the ACHA report, only 39.3% of students have tried tobacco and/or nicotine products, which includes vapes and cigarettes. This means that only a little over 1 out of every 3 students has ever tried a vape. According to the study by the National Library of Medicine on college students vaping, participants had used a vape an average of about 19 days, which when factoring in that 43.2% reported daily use, isn’t as many as it sounds. For the most part, these participants knew about the negative effects to their cardiovascular system and their lungs (McLeish, Hart, Walker 2022). Students that are participating in these vices know the negative effects of vaping and smoking, only they seem underestimate the seriousness of the related long term consequences.

Being a college student in 2024 is a different world than when people our parents’ age were in college. Although vaping was created in 2007, marketing efforts were targeted towards adolescents when we were growing up. From 2014 to 2016, the ads were everywhere and 78% of middle and high school students reported seeing at least one ad. The billboards, social media campaigns, fun packaging, and even the flavors like mango or gummi bear were all aimed at teenagers (Jones & Salzman 2020). As teenagers in these prime years of advertising, I was 14 in 2016, vaping was something that was seen as fun and cool. Many of my peers were not aware of the potential harmful effects of nicotine and dismissed it as “just water vapor.” We know now that vaping has serious side effects for both our physical and mental health. So, if you ever feel pressured to pick up a vape, remember that only 1 in 3 students vape, about 39% of students. Although it might feel that way, rest assured, not everyone is vaping.

Raising a glass

“It’s not alcoholism until you graduate”, you hear someone say as you buy a beer at a bar. One of the biggest misconceptions is that everyone at Texas Tech drinks and that they take it too far, to the point of memory loss or other negative impacts of alcohol. With more than 50 bars in Lubbock, there are plenty of opportunities for students to drink for the first time in college, but not everyone is actually drinking. Back to that ACHA report one last time, only 73.2% of Texas Tech students have tried alcohol and only 49.9% have had a drink in the past 2 weeks (ACHA 2022). Not even half of the students at Texas Tech have had a drink in the past 2 weeks, which definitely goes against the stereotype. Many people consider Texas Tech to be a party school, but there are so many other opportunities on and off campus. Try joining an organization on campus, attending an event hosted by the Student Activities Board, or exploring the First Friday Art Trail. 

Not everyone is drinking, but if you choose to drink, know there are resources available to help you stay safe. Regardless of whether you've gotten a degree or not, substance misuse is a big deal. Alcohol can seem like a good stress reliever and way to hang out with your friends, but many Texas Tech students that are drinking are also experiencing the many negative consequences associated with alcohol such as doing something they later regret, “blacking out” (which means experiencing serious memory loss), having unprotected sex, seriously considering suicide, and more. It’s important to know your limits and how to be safe. Things like having a designated driver who is sober and aware of their surroundings, keeping a tally of the amount of drinks you have had in a night so that you don’t forget and over consume, and always keeping your eye on your drink to make sure no one tampers with it can all help to make sure that if you do choose to raise your glass, you’re doing it safely. 

Celebrating our choices

With all this information hopefully you’re rethinking these common misconceptions about Red Raiders. Although there are many misconceptions like that everyone is drinking or that every college student is vaping, these aren’t accurate and can be dangerous to people's outlook. If you choose to drink or vape, remember that it’s your choice. Don’t let what everyone else is doing pressure you into any situation you’re not otherwise comfortable with. And if you do choose to drink or vape, look out for one another and help keep our community safe. Like we said at the start, everyone has a different college experience, and if drinking or vaping isn’t for you, you’re not the only one.

If you or someone you know is stuck in the loop of overconsumption of alcohol or drugs, Texas Tech offers resources for students who are struggling. The Center for Students in Addiction Recovery offers a supportive atmosphere where students can work toward physical and academic recovery or try out RISE's wellness and substance use coaching.

Resources

References

Castaneda-Vargas L. (2023). Flavored Air or Safety Hazard?. RISE Blog

Jones K., Salzman G. (2020). The Vaping Epidemic in Adolescents. Missouri Medicine, 117(1), 56–58.

McLeish, A. C., Hart, J. L., & Walker, K. L. (2022). College Student E-Cigarette Users’ Knowledge about E-Cigarettes: Ingredients, Health Risks, Device Modifications, and Information Sources. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(4), 1962.

Texas Tech University Fact Book. (2024). Texas Tech University Institutional Research.

 

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