College student substance use is a particularly rampant public health issue in university environments throughout the United States.  Alcohol consumption predominates substance use among students, and has been associated with numerous negative effects related to academic performance, physical health, mental health, public safety, etc.  Cannabis use continues to grow in college populations because of increased accessibility and a generally lower perception of harm.  While cannabis has not been studied as extensively as alcohol, emerging research does indicate that the substance is not without danger and may, in fact, cause respiratory damage or psychiatric exacerbations.   The motivating factors behind these two substances are not as well-studied as their intoxicant profiles.  This study aims to investigate why students may choose to not use alcohol or cannabis after initiating plans to do so. 

The study’s sample is composed of 341 undergraduate students from three universities in the United States who met eligibility criteria which included current enrollment, 18-24 years of age, and past year alcohol and cannabis use (N=341, 53% female, 74% white).  Participants completed baseline surveys, as well as two 28-day series of repeated daily surveys which assessed the following measures: demographics, alcohol use, cannabis use, substance use plans, reasons for not using alcohol/cannabis, alcohol accessibility, and cannabis accessibility. 

The data was generalized linear effects modelling with proper statistical adjustments incorporated for missing observations.

Results of the study found the most common reasons for avoiding alcohol consumption were related to school and/or work on sequential days.  The most endorsed reasons for avoiding cannabis use included the need to “feel in control” of some aspect of an individual’s activities.  Avoiding cannabis was also associated with forgoing plans alcohol use, and accessibility obstacles were frequently referenced when cancelling plans to use either substance.

Takeaway: decisions to cancel plans to use different substances in college students may be attributed to school schedules, work schedules, accessibility, and forgoing of use of a singular substance. 

Stevens AK, Blanchard BE, Sokolovsky AW, Gunn RL, White HR, Jackson KM. Forgoing plans for alcohol and cannabis use in daily life: Examining reasons for nonuse when use was planned in a predominantly white college student sample. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2021;45(10):2167-2178. doi:10.1111/acer.14693