15.2 percent of full-time college students report binge drinking in the past month. Alcohol-impaired driving produces more than 13,000 deaths each year. Nearly one third of college students with a substance use disorder receive no treatment.
Key Takeaways
- The NIAAA defines binge drinking as 5/4 drinks (men/women) in about 2 hours; 15.2% of full-time college students reported binge drinking in the past month (2023)
- In 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated 13,524 fatalities involved alcohol-impaired driving in the United States
- In 2023, 8.2 million people aged 12 or older had an unmet need for substance use treatment in the past year (United States)
- 3.2% of college students reported using opioids (non-medical) in the past year (2024)
- Opioid misuse (prescription-type opioids not prescribed) past-year prevalence among full-time college students increased to 7.9% in 2023 from 5.1% in 2015
- Any illicit drug use among college students (ages 18–22) peaked at 26.0% in 2015 and was 21.1% in 2022 (YRBS, national survey of high school students transitioning to young adults)
- 5.0% of college students reported driving under the influence of alcohol (2022)
- 1.6% of young adults aged 18–25 reported illicit drug use resulting in an emergency department visit in the past year (2019–2022 pooled)
- Nearly 1 in 3 college students with a substance use disorder does not receive treatment (2021)
- In 2022, 53.1% of youths aged 18–25 with any mental illness received treatment
- In 2022, 55.7% of young adults aged 18–25 with substance use disorder received treatment
- 36% of college students reported binge drinking at some point in their lifetime (2020)
- 25% of full-time college students reported binge drinking in the past month (2018)
- 24.1% of college students reported heavy alcohol use (5+ drinks on 1 occasion for men or 4+ for women in the past week) (2015)
- 7.9% of college students reported opioid misuse (prescription-type opioids not prescribed) in 2023
Binge drinking remains common, while opioid misuse and unmet treatment needs continue to threaten college student health.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevention & Policy8 stats
01
The NIAAA defines binge drinking as 5/4 drinks (men/women) in about 2 hours; 15.2% of full-time college students reported binge drinking in the past month (2023)
02
In 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated 13,524 fatalities involved alcohol-impaired driving in the United States
03
In 2023, 8.2 million people aged 12 or older had an unmet need for substance use treatment in the past year (United States)
04
In 2023, 1,623,000 people received treatment for opioid use disorder using medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) (United States)
05
NIDA reports that over 20% of college-age young adults have used opioids at least once, making opioids a key prevention target
06
The USPSTF recommends screening and behavioral counseling interventions to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in adults (Grade B)
07
The USPSTF recommends screening for illicit drug use in adults 18 years and older who are at increased risk (Grade C)
08
In 2022, 54.5% of adults aged 18–25 reported alcohol use in the past month (United States)
Interpretation
Prevention & Policy Interpretation
Prevention and policy efforts must address the scale of risk because 15.2% of full-time college students report binge drinking and 13,524 alcohol-impaired driving deaths occurred in 2023, while millions still lack substance use treatment and only 1,623,000 received MOUD, underscoring the need for stronger screening, access, and targeted interventions.
02 · Category
Prevalence1 stats
01
3.2% of college students reported using opioids (non-medical) in the past year (2024)
Interpretation
Prevalence Interpretation
In 2024, the prevalence category shows that 3.2% of college students reported using opioids (non-medical) in the past year, indicating that opioid misuse is present but affects a minority of students.
03 · Category
Trends Over Time2 stats
01
Opioid misuse (prescription-type opioids not prescribed) past-year prevalence among full-time college students increased to 7.9% in 2023 from 5.1% in 2015
02
Any illicit drug use among college students (ages 18–22) peaked at 26.0% in 2015 and was 21.1% in 2022 (YRBS, national survey of high school students transitioning to young adults)
Interpretation
Trends Over Time Interpretation
Looking at trends over time, opioid misuse among full-time college students climbed to 7.9% in 2023, while overall illicit drug use among 18 to 22 year olds fell from a 26.0% peak in 2015 to 21.1% in 2022.
04 · Category
Associated Harm2 stats
01
5.0% of college students reported driving under the influence of alcohol (2022)
02
1.6% of young adults aged 18–25 reported illicit drug use resulting in an emergency department visit in the past year (2019–2022 pooled)
Interpretation
Associated Harm Interpretation
Under the Associated Harm category, 5.0% of college students reported driving under the influence of alcohol in 2022, and 1.6% of 18–25 year olds reported illicit drug use that led to an emergency department visit over 2019–2022, showing that substance use continues to translate into real-world dangers beyond campus choices.
05 · Category
Treatment Access6 stats
01
Nearly 1 in 3 college students with a substance use disorder does not receive treatment (2021)
02
In 2022, 53.1% of youths aged 18–25 with any mental illness received treatment
03
In 2022, 55.7% of young adults aged 18–25 with substance use disorder received treatment
04
In 2022, 11.0% of college students with substance use disorder reported that they did not get treatment because no provider was available
05
SAMHSA reports that in 2023, 3.9 million people received substance use disorder treatment through substance use disorder treatment facilities (including those providing medications for opioid use disorder)
06
In 2021, 72% of colleges had an alcohol and drug prevention program
Interpretation
Treatment Access Interpretation
For the treatment access gap, nearly 1 in 3 college students with a substance use disorder do not receive treatment, and in 2022 only 55.7% of young adults aged 18 to 25 with a substance use disorder got treatment, showing that access remains a major barrier even though 72% of colleges have prevention programs.
More related reading
06 · Category
Prevalence & Patterns6 stats
01
36% of college students reported binge drinking at some point in their lifetime (2020)
02
25% of full-time college students reported binge drinking in the past month (2018)
03
24.1% of college students reported heavy alcohol use (5+ drinks on 1 occasion for men or 4+ for women in the past week) (2015)
04
10.0% of full-time college students reported using marijuana in the past year (2023)
05
1.1% of full-time college students reported using cocaine in the past year (2023)
06
3.0% of full-time college students reported using stimulants (other than prescription stimulants) in the past year (2023)
Interpretation
Prevalence & Patterns Interpretation
For the prevalence and patterns of substance use, binge drinking stands out as the most widespread behavior with 36% of college students reporting it at some point and 25% reporting it in the past month, while other substances are far less common such as marijuana at 10% and cocaine at 1.1% among full-time students in the past year.
07 · Category
Impacts & Harms2 stats
01
7.9% of college students reported opioid misuse (prescription-type opioids not prescribed) in 2023
02
14.1% of college students reported experiencing an alcohol-related injury requiring medical attention in the past year (2016)
Interpretation
Impacts & Harms Interpretation
Under the Impacts and Harms lens, about 7.9% of college students reported opioid misuse in 2023 and 14.1% reported alcohol-related injuries needing medical attention in the past year, showing that substance use is translating into real health consequences for a significant share of students.
08 · Category
Economic Burden2 stats
01
$3.6 billion in costs in the U.S. attributable to underage drinking by college students (2010)
02
$193.5 billion annual cost of drug misuse in the United States (2017)
Interpretation
Economic Burden Interpretation
The economic burden of substance abuse is massive, with underage drinking by college students costing the U.S. $3.6 billion in 2010 and drug misuse totaling $193.5 billion each year nationwide as of 2017.
09 · Category
Treatment, Access & Outcomes3 stats
01
33% of college students with a substance use disorder who needed treatment did not receive it (2021)
02
1 in 4 students who delayed getting help for a substance problem said it was because they did not know where to go (2022)
03
7.2% of college students reported symptoms consistent with alcohol use disorder (AUD) (2020)
Interpretation
Treatment, Access & Outcomes Interpretation
In the Treatment, Access & Outcomes picture, a major gap stands out as 33% of college students with a substance use disorder who needed treatment in 2021 did not receive it, alongside 1 in 4 who delayed getting help because they did not know where to go.
10 · Category
Prevention & Campus Policy3 stats
01
91% of colleges reported providing educational programming on alcohol (2020)
02
68% of colleges reported having policies that restrict alcohol use in residence halls (2019)
03
5.0% of college students reported driving under the influence of alcohol (2022)
Interpretation
Prevention & Campus Policy Interpretation
Nearly all colleges are using prevention through education with 91% providing alcohol programming, and while 68% restrict alcohol in residence halls, the reality still shows up in outcomes like 5.0% of students reporting driving under the influence in 2022.
report visual · Comparison
Opioid misuse in college students: 2015 to 2023
Past-year opioid misuse among full-time college students increased from 2015 to 2023.
Any illicit drug use among college students (ages 18–22) peaked at 26.0% in 2015 and was 21.1% in 2022 (YRBS, national s26%
Opioid misuse (prescription-type opioids not prescribed) past-year prevalence among full-time college students increased
7.9%
3.2% of college students reported using opioids (non-medical) in the past year (2024)
3.2%
source-verifiedsamhsa.gov · cdc.gov2024
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). Substance Abuse In College Students Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/substance-abuse-in-college-students-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "Substance Abuse In College Students Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/substance-abuse-in-college-students-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "Substance Abuse In College Students Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/substance-abuse-in-college-students-statistics.
Sources & references
35 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+23 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)