Alcohol and cannabis use are significant public health concerns among college students in the United States. Most previous research has focused on students attending four-year institutions, with relatively little attention given to students at two-year colleges. These two-year college students, due to their unique demographic characteristics and social roles, may exhibit different substance use patterns and associated risks compared to their four-year counterparts, and these differences could lead to distinct behaviors regarding alcohol and cannabis use. This study aims to address these differences by providing a comparative analysis of alcohol and cannabis use, related consequences, and perceived norms between these two groups.
The study involved 517 two-year (n = 164) and four-year college students (n = 353) aged 18 to 23 from a longitudinal study on alcohol use in Seattle, Washington State. Participants completed surveys that assessed their demographic characteristics, alcohol and cannabis use over the past month, related consequences, and perceived norms. The data were analyzed using independent samples t-tests and chi-square tests to evaluate differences between the two groups. Additionally, negative binomial regression models were used to examine the impact of perceived norms on actual use and outcomes and to explore whether two-year college status moderated these relationships.
The study found that four-year college students are more likely to engage in frequent drinking and binge drinking, primarily due to their proximity to campus events where alcohol consumption is common. In contrast, two-year college students are more likely to use cannabis and spend more time in a ‘high’ state, which can be attributed to differences such as commuting from home, independent living, full-time employment, or balancing adult responsibilities. Additionally, the study also revealed that students’ perceptions of their peers’ substance use strongly influenced their own alcohol and cannabis use, with no significant differences between the two groups. These findings suggest that norm-based interventions, which have been successful among four-year students, could also be effective for two-year students, particularly in addressing the increasing use of cannabis. However, it is essential to tailor these interventions to account for the unique social roles and lifestyles of two-year students.
Takeaway: Norm-based interventions have the potential to be just as effective for reducing high-risk substance use among two-year college students as they are for four-year students.