Polysubstance use is the use of multiple substances within a given period. It has been correlated with a higher rate of returning to use and a three-fold higher mortality rate when compared to mono-substance use. Polysubstance use also has a higher risk for negative consequences such as poor physical health. Current literature suggests that emerging adults are at an increased risk for initiating and later use of additional substances. The goal of this study was to examine associations between motivations for using alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis among college students who use multiple substances versus students using only one substance or no substances.
The study comprised 134 participants, and data collection took place from Fall 2018 to Fall 2019. All participants were undergraduate students enrolled at Emory University. The Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) was used to assess substance use, and The Substance Use Motives Questionnaire was used to measure how often individuals used coping, social, conformity, or enhancement motives relating to their substance use. Perceived stress and history of interpersonal trauma were also measured.
The results of this study suggest that college students tend to partake in multiple substance use more than other groups, which puts them at an increased risk for negative health or behavioral outcomes. This study found that college drinkers, in addition to cannabis users, report enhancement, social, and coping motives and rarely report conformity motives. Overall, it was found that substance use motives, especially among polysubstance users, are essential to consider when examining the frequency and severity of substance use. This could also help develop future intervention and prevention efforts on college campuses.
Takeaway: Substance use motives, especially among polysubstance users, are essential to consider when examining the frequency and severity of substance use.