Risk Factors Associated with Alcohol and Marijuana Use in College Students

• Main Author: Nakashyan, Diana
• Language: EN
• Published: The Chicago School of Professional Psychology 2016
• Subjects: Psychology
• Online Access: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10008979

<p> Alcohol and marijuana are the most commonly used substances among college students with prevalence rates estimated at 80% and 29% respectively. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for substance use so that prevention strategies and interventions can be targeted at the groups that show the highest risk for alcohol or marijuana use. The public National Survey of Drug Use and Health, 2013 dataset was filtered to include only college students between the ages of 18 and 24. Alcohol and marijuana use within the past 30 days was compared based on the following independent variables: ethnicity, gender, location, and student status (full-time vs. part-time). Male students, European Americans, and participants with multiple ethnicities reported the highest alcohol and marijuana use frequencies. Students from low population density areas used alcohol more than students from high population density areas. Full-time students engaged in binge drinking more frequently than part-time students, but part-time students reported using marijuana more frequently than full-time students.</p><p> Recommendations for further research and implications of the findings are discussed.</p>