Literature Review #4

Citation:
Ross, Virginia, and Newton, MA. Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention. “Depression, Anxiety, and Alcohol or Other Drug Use among College Students. Prevention Updates.” Education Development Center, Inc, Education Development Center, Inc, 1 Feb. 2004. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=ED485601&site=ehost-live

Summary:

This article discusses the rising drug and alcohol abuse in college students. It talks about the main reasons why college students start using alcohol and drugs, which is due to the environment and stress they face in college. Students who do not get help start using drugs and alcohol as a remedy or medication.

Author: 

The author of this article is Virginia Ross. There is not much information about her on the internet, however, the article shows a Ph.D. next to her name, which implies that she is knowledgeable about what she is writing about.

Key terms:

Self Medication Hypothesis: students abuse or even become addicted because they find their depression and/or anxiety relieved by alcohol or other drugs

Drug Abuse: Frequent taking of addictive or illegal drugs

Quotes:

"More college students who have been diagnosed with depression have used alcohol, marijuana,

cocaine, or amphetamines than have their peers who have never been diagnosed with depression" (Ross 1)

"Some studies support the self-medication hypothesis: students abuse or even become addicted because they find their depression and/or anxiety relieved by alcohol or other drugs" (Ross 1).

"Of current college students, 15.9 percent of women and 8.5 percent of men report having been diagnosed with depression at some time" (Ross 1).

Value:

This article is important in showing how poor coping styles lead to drug abuse among college students. When students do not get the help they need, they resort to drugs and alcohol, which can ruin their lives and worsen their mental health.