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SUBSTANCE USE AMONG STUDENTS ON THE RISE
Tamara Ogden, Pallad City Post
[Archived Article: Published 2 Months Ago]

Over the last year, Aphrosia has risen to the forefront as the predominant “substance of choice” for users between the ages of 18 to 27. This comes on the heels of a national increase in stimulant use in schools and college campuses.

Taken to initiate, heighten, and/or extend sexual activity, Aphrosia is an illegal substance that many are calling this generation's Voltaria—a similar illicit substance that was popular three decades ago, but is no longer being manufactured.

Treated as recreational stimulant, Aphrosia's popularity has grown due to it being relatively affordable, widely available on most campuses, and because it lacks the addictive qualities of high-risk alternatives such as Euphoria.

Available in liquid-filled capsules, bitten to release the substance directly onto the tongue, Aphrosia is extremely potent. Even a few drops are enough to produce the desired result—because of this, two or three users can break open a single pill and effectively split it between themselves. This has only added to Aphrosia's acceptance, as budget-strapped students can divide the costs of just one pill and still reap its effects.

Higher grade variants of Aphrosia are currently being sold, with the promise of having an “extra kick” and longer lasting effects. However, the price of these are substantially higher.

So far, both law enforcement and school officials have been unable to combat the growing prevalence and usage of Aphrosia. Screening tests, campus-based interventions, and counseling programs have done little to curb the rising numbers, which now estimate that 43% of college students regularly use an illegal stimulant or abuse alcohol. A recent study found that 4 out of 10 college students have experimented with Aphrosia prior to graduation.

Substance use among students is associated with numerous negative outcomes including lower academic performance, a higher probability of unemployment after graduation, and an increased risk of committing crime.

Mayor Hynden Neville has recently promised to provide more resources for city-wide drug prevention programs, particularly due to the skyrocketing usage of Afterlife, Sydust, and Euphoria. However, a recent poll found that 72% of Palladians are skeptical or unsure if such programs could stem the tide as more narcotics hit the streets. Even more dire, 87% of Palladians put little trust in law enforcement to handle the issue.