The transitional and experimental periods between high school, college and a career are often a difficult time for young adults. In addition to the new opportunities, experiences, places and people, there are also many stresses and dangers that make young adults vulnerable to the dangers of substance use and abuse and associated mental health issues.
Young adults and college students commonly face many problems associated with being away from home for the first time. A lack of time management skills, spreading yourself too thin as well as social, mental and physical health problems can make choosing a major, trying to balance school, work, and a social life very difficult. These circumstances can cause a variety of mental and physical issues that include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Other mood disorders such as bipolar disorder
- Homesickness
- Malnutrition/ eating disorders
- Substance use and abuse
Common substances of abuse among young adults in college include:
- Alcohol
- Benzodiazepines such as Valium and Xanax
- Cigarettes, e-cigarettes
- Ecstasy and club drugs
- Marijuana and marijuana concentrates
Young adults often do not seek help because of the stigma around addiction and mental illness, the time commitment, the monetary cost, fear of not getting the help they ask for, and denial that there is a problem at all. Many students even put their social lives, grades, graduation deadline and the dream of their future before considering their own health. Getting help and getting healthy, however, is the most beneficial thing anyone can do for their future.
Telemedicine is an affordable, convenient, and easy to use, health care service that utilizes real-time, secure, HIPAA-compliant data, voice, video and media services to provide clinical information and counseling, medical consultation, diagnosis, intervention and treatment, as well as a level of psychological and emotional interaction that might not otherwise be available due to monetary, geographical and even physical or emotional factors.
Telemedicine is an excellent option in an emergency situation, when a face-to-face meeting is not available or possible, for those on a budget, for those who have personal and professional responsibilities as well as those who might be unsure of how to access the information, care, and services they need.
Most colleges and universities have professional, on-campus physical and mental health services and other resources to help young adults maintain and achieve overall health and sobriety. Peer support, outreach, education, advocation and even the opportunity for extracurricular activities are also important and unique tools that can help foster a positive environment, promote good health and require little to no out-of-pocket expenses.
The type or combination of substances used, severity and duration of addiction, withdrawal symptoms, and pre-existing or co-occurring physical and/or mental disorders are all important factors to keep in mind to determine the most effective and affordable course of action. Like traditional face-to-face care, telehealth can be catered to meet the needs of any demographic, circumstance, condition or conditions.
The National Institutes of Health found that telemedicine services have significant potential to help treat many of the underlying and co-occurring problems that come with substance use, abuse and dependence that include depression, anxiety, stress, schizophrenia, diabetes, weight loss or weight gain, as well as mild to severe withdrawal symptoms from substance abuse cessation. In recent years, telemedicine services have come to offer these basic services:
- Suicide prevention
- Rape, sexual assault, and abuse assistance
- Grief counseling
- Couples counseling
- Nutrition and diet assistance
- Stress reduction and time management resources
- Substance use cessation, detox and treatment assistance
