How Does Drug Use Affect Your College Grades?

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teen boy holding notebook

If you dream of going to a specific college, or are counting on getting some scholarships or financial aid to help pay for college, you should stay away from drugs. Drug use may prevent you from getting scholarships or from getting into the school that you wanted because of poor grades. 

Drug use in college has the same negative results as in high school.   Substance abuse, especially alcohol and marijuana use, contributed to college students:

  • Skipping more classes
  • Spending less time studying
  • Earning lower grades
  • Dropping out of college
  • Being unemployed after college

Not finishing college may result in later decreased earning potential.

Source: The Academic Opportunity Costs of Substance Use During College, University of Maryland School of Public Health, March 2013