The College Transition: A Guide for Families Navigating New Risks

Why college is a high-risk transition

The first year of college combines several risk factors that make it one of the highest-risk periods in a person's life for substance use. Students are away from parental supervision for the first time. They are surrounded by peers who are also experimenting. They face academic pressure, social pressure, and the emotional challenges of a major life transition. Alcohol is often normalized and accessible; other substances circulate more widely than parents realize.

Roughly 60 percent of full-time college students report drinking in the past month, and a substantial portion meet criteria for alcohol use disorder. Nonmedical stimulant use—Adderall and similar drugs, often traded for academic performance—rises sharply in college. Cannabis is used regularly by nearly half of college-age adults. And overdose deaths on college campuses, driven by fentanyl-contaminated pills, have risen alarmingly.

Before move-in: conversations that matter

The best conversations happen months before move-in, not during the drive to campus. Talk with your student about what they expect, what they are nervous about, and what they hope will be different. Ask what role they want alcohol or other substances to play in their college experience—their answer is data even if it changes.

Share specific, current information. Explain that any pill from a source other than a pharmacy could contain fentanyl. Explain that mixing alcohol with prescribed anti-anxiety medication is dangerous. Talk about the norms of consent and about how substances affect the ability to give or read it.

Agree on how you will stay in contact. Not so tightly that they cannot separate, but enough that neither of you will feel lost.

The first six weeks

The first six weeks are the highest-risk window. Students are trying to find friends, and the fastest social path often runs through parties. Homesickness, academic worry, and roommate friction compound the temptation to numb or escape.

Check in more often than usual during this period, without making check-ins an interrogation. Ask about specific things: their favorite class, someone they met, something they laughed at. If they mention going out, ask calmly what the plan is—not to police, but to normalize the conversation.

Recognizing when things are off

The signs of trouble in a college student mirror the signs at home: withdrawing from calls, dramatic changes in mood or communication, unexplained financial issues, dropping grades, missed classes, physical changes visible on video calls, and a growing gap between what they say is happening and what appears to be true.

Trust your instincts. If something feels off, name it—gently, and without accusation. "You've been sounding different the last few weeks and I wanted to check in" is a reasonable opening.

Campus resources you should know

Every accredited college has a counseling center, and most offer a limited number of free therapy sessions to enrolled students. Many have a dedicated collegiate recovery program for students in recovery from substance use disorders. Health services can address medication, screening, and referrals.

Learn the names of these offices before your student needs them. Save the phone numbers in your phone and, if your student is willing, in theirs.

Staying connected without hovering

The healthiest connection during college is regular but light. A weekly call, occasional texts, and clear availability for real conversations when needed. Send small tokens—a favorite snack, a note in the mail—as reminders that they are held in mind without being watched.

If your student does struggle with substances during college, remember: this is not the end of anything. Many people who develop substance use issues in college recover and go on to healthy lives. What predicts recovery most is not whether they struggled, but whether they had support—and told the truth to at least one person who kept loving them.