The proportion of college students who abuse prescription drugs such as Percocet, Vicodin, and OxyContin has “skyrocketed” in recent years, according to a new study measuring the rate of substance abuse on college campuses.

Released today by Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, the report also says nearly half of all college students binge drink or abuse drugs, and nearly one in four meet the medical criteria for substance abuse.

Between 1993 and 2005, the proportion of students abusing painkillers increased 343%, to 240,000. During that same time, the number of students using marijuana daily more than doubled, to 310,000.

“The prescription drug abuse by college students has exploded,” CASA’s chairman, Joseph Califano, said.

By contrast, the report found that the proportion of college students who drink – 68% — has barely changed over the past several years. However, between 1993 and 2001, the proportion of students who binge drink went up 16%, and the number of students who get drunk at least three times a month went up 26%, researchers found.

The report cited several factors that may contribute to the prevalence of substance abuse among college students, including parents and administrators who may not do enough to prevent it. Researchers also reported that 37% of college students did not seek help for substance abuse because of the perceived social stigma attached to it.

“I think we’ve got to make it a bigger public health priority,” Mr. Califano said.