P enn students are passionate about health, but there is one serious health issue that often goes unrecognized: addiction and other substance use disorders.
Substance use disorders affect the lives of millions of Americans. Addiction, the most severe form of substance use disorder, affects 23.5 million Americans — almost 10 percent of the adult American population. National Institute of Health researchers estimate that substance use costs Americans more than $500 billion every year. Trends in substance use disorders are only getting worse — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that drug overdose rates have more than tripled since 1990 .
You might be wondering: If substance use disorders are such a serious public health issue that affect so many people, how come I don’t know any drug addicts? The truth is, you probably do. By applying national data to the Penn community’s population, it is likely that as many as 2,000 students at Penn struggle with addiction. Even if you don’t currently know a person with a substance use disorder, you will. Researchers at Columbia University estimate that 25 percent of people who use addictive substances before they turn 18 will develop a substance use disorder. You rarely hear about substance use disorders because of the negative stigma.
Don’t take my word for it. Students interviewed by 34th Street Magazine’s Manola Gonzalez in her feature article, “Sober, So What?” discussed the various reasons they decided not to drink. Several of the students interviewed — our fellow Penn undergraduates — abstain from drinking because they are recovering from addiction or another substance use disorder.
Despite its prevalence, for many of us, substance use disorders aren’t something we come in contact with on a daily basis. But addiction is a disease, and we must approach it with empathy. A public health issue of this magnitude cannot be addressed solely by its victims. Like we have for mental health, cancer, diabetes, ALS and so many other disorders and ailments, I urge the Penn community to rally in support of those struggling with addiction and other substance use disorders.
How can we help? We can help by providing students with safe and sober living quarters so they can stay in school even as they work to overcome addiction. The Haven At College is a nonprofit organization that provides housing and support services for students who attend school while dealing with addiction. The Haven has given college students the opportunity to attend college, despite their recovery needs. Tell Vice Provost for Education Andy Binns that Penn needs a Haven for the Quakers who struggle from substance use disorders!
Help bring The Haven At College to our campus. Visit PennDAPA.com to send a letter to VPUL’s Binns.
Theodore Caputi, W’17 C’17
Co-President of Penn’s Drug and Alcohol Advocacy program
Correction: An earlier version of this op-ed stated that the Vice Provost for University Life Dr. Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum was the appropriate person to contact on behalf of this issue. The authority for residential programs flows through the Council of Undergraduate Deans, which is chaired by Vice Provost for Education Andy Binns and staffed by Dr. Rob Nelson in the Provost’s Office. The article has been corrected to reflect the accurate information.
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