College Age Substance Abuse as a Developmental Arrest

Abstract

Pscyhoactive chemical use, abuse, and dependence often serve as false detours or roadblocks to the development of college students. Chemical abuse consultation to the young person struggling with a normal developmental hurdle of late adolescence, or struggling with a normal developmental hurdle of late adolescence, or struggling with pathology brought to or occuring at that time, can be extremely rewarding. not only can it prevent the development of short- or long-term chemical abuse but it also can be an ice breaker to a destructive development crisis. Knowledge of the individual and group psychodynamics of chemical abuse, and the developmental issues of late adolescence and early adulthood, is essential to providing such a consultation. Preparedness for the problems and crises of student substance abuse requires, in the college community, a set of attitudes, awareness, compassion, structure, support, and service systems that address substance use and abuse as an expected but uninformed and potentially destructive effort of a student to address a developmental challenge.