The Wellness Resource Center takes a harm reduction approach to educating students about substance use. We do so in line with the principles of health education and using a public health approach. We emphasize personal choice and independent decision making, while providing accurate and up-to-date information about substances that students may encounter while they move through their lives both here in Philadelphia and elsewhere.

Alcohol—According to the National College Health Assessment, nearly 62% of college students used any amount of alcohol within the last 90 days, while students perceived that 90% of students were using.

Other Substances

• Cannabis—Only about 25% of U.S. college students report having used cannabis within the last 90 days, even though most college students estimate that about 83% of their peers used within the last 90 days.
• Prescription Drugs—About 7% of college students use drugs that were not prescribed to them in the last year.  Stimulants (like Adderall) were the most used among this group. Despite what some may think, these types of stimulants do not have a positive academic impact in the long run.
• Opioids—While opioid use is generally lower in college student populations than in the general population, they are highly addictive substances and can contribute to various disruptions in a person’s life. Many people abuse opioids as a form of pain management. There are many ways to treat pain without using opioids.

Temple University policy about alcohol and other drug use on campus can be reviewed on the Student Conduct and Community Standards page.

Do you struggle with alcohol or other drugs? Take this screening assessment and review our Campus Recovery Resources Guide [PDF, 941 KB] for additional information. 

References