Alcohol and cannabis use are built into the American college experience. For many students, the use of this substance is a part of their social life. Current studies suggest that college students drink more than any other demographic in the U.S., and over half of college students report using cannabis. The goal of this study is to “examine the impact of school climate, barriers to care, and individual resiliency factors on the likelihood of engaging in problematic alcohol use cannabis use.” This study can help contribute to a better understanding of urban, suburban, and rural variations in alcohol and cannabis use in college settings.
Binge drinking is defined as “consuming five or more drinks on an occasion for men or four or more drinks on an occasion for women.” Binge drinking can lead to problematic drinking patterns, which is the big focus of this study. This study comprised 948 responses from the 2019-2020 Health Minds Study (HMS). This data was collected at a public university in a southeastern state in a rural county. HMS is a yearly web-based survey that examines issues related to mental health, substance use, and other factors that could impact college students. This study measured problematic drinking, substance use, binge drinking, barriers to care, resilience, and school climate.
Results of this study showed that as GPA increased, the likelihood of cannabis use, and problematic drinking decreased. Students who struggled with finances were found to use alcohol and cannabis more to cope with that stress. Participation in specific student organizations did not impact the likelihood of using cannabis, but it did increase the likelihood of problematic drinking. This study suggests that universities should implement targeted programs to teach students to identify and meet their specific needs healthily.
Takeaway: This study highlights various factors that impact college students’ alcohol and cannabis use and suggest that universities should implement targeted programs to teach students to identify and meet their specific needs in healthy ways.