The Psychology of Substance Abuse in College w/ Dr. Amie Haas

Summary

Today we are joined by Dr. Amy Haas, Professor at Palo Alto University and Senior Lecturer at Stanford University, specializing in college student substance use. We’re discussing the factors influencing addiction and substance abuse in college students. Dr. Haas explains the concept of blacking out and its effects on memory, as well as the potential long-term consequences, emphasizing the complexity of addiction and how addiction affects everyone differently. She also provides guidance for parents on how to address their child's substance use through open communication, finding a balance between intervention, and allowing exploration. We also discusses the potency of cannabis and other substances, especially when mixed with alcohol, highlighting how cannabis has become more addictive due to genetic engineering. She also emphasizes the dangers of unknown substances, particularly with the rise of fentanyl. Dr. Haas warns about the risks of mixing substances, as they can have unpredictable and dangerous interactions. She stresses the importance of knowing the potency and interactions of substances before using them. We finish the episode by sharing harm reduction strategies, such as using fentanyl test strips and carrying Narcan pens. She concludes by encouraging students to have fun in different ways but to be aware of their limits.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction of Dr. Amy Haas

00:28 Dr. Haas' research on high-risk drinking and drug use in college students

01:53 Dr. Haas' background and journey to becoming a psychologist

05:20 Personal experiences and motivations for studying substance abuse

06:01 Understanding the terms addiction, substance use disorder, and substance abuse

09:18 Exploring the concept of blacking out and its effects on memory

10:41 Factors influencing the likelihood of blacking out

14:19 The potential long-term effects of blacking out

19:19 The complexity of addiction and the absence of a threshold amount

20:26 Individual differences in addiction susceptibility

23:26 How parents can address their child's substance use

28:19 Approaching the conversation with a concerned child

31:57 Finding a balance between intervention and allowing exploration

36:54 The Potency of Cannabis and Other Substances

38:31 The Dangers of Unknown Substances

39:59 The Risks of Mixing Substances

40:56 The Importance of Knowing Potency and Interactions

41:29 Harm Reduction Strategies

42:42 Being Prepared for Opioid Emergencies

43:22 Having Fun in Different Ways and Knowing Limits

Resources:

Free NARCAN:

https://www.goodrx.com/naloxone/narcan-naloxone-at-home-free

https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/individuals/Pages/Naloxone_Distribution_Project.aspx

Fetanyl Test Strips:

https://www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/fentanyl/fentanyl-test-strips.html

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