Stressors experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and substance use among US college students.

              The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created a vast array of problems related to the health and wellbeing of those living in the United States.  While SARS-CoV-2 itself has killed over a quarter of a million people in the United States, millions more have also been affected by the psychological toll rendered by the disease.  Pertinent mental health diagnoses include depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.  Behavioral health research continues to provide preliminary evidence for altered patterns of substance use during pandemic times, and there is growing concern regarding the motivations for these changes as they are influenced or elicited by COVID-19.  Due to the already high prevalence of substance use in university communities, college students may be particularly susceptible to these changes.  This study aims to investigate the relationships between substance use and COVID-19-related stressors in college students in the United States. 

              The study’s analytic sample is composed of response data from 15,995 students across 28 universities who participated in a nationwide research effort entitled the “Fall 2020 Healthy Minds Study” (N= 15,995; 69.37% female, 66.26% white) Data for the following measures was included in the assessment: demographics alcohol use, cigarette use, cannabis use, COVID-19 stressors (including loss of a loved one, discrimination, personal infection, etc.).  Data analysis was performed primarily be using multivariable logistic regression models.

              Results of the analysis found infection with COVID-19 or providing care for someone with the illness was found to be associated with increased alcohol use.  Cigarette use was found to be positively associated with experiences of discrimination and financial distress. COVID-19 concern scores were found to be positively associated with increased cannabis use. 

Takeaway: the COVID-19 pandemic has altered many fundamental aspects of society, including substance use and coping mechanisms.  College students are already considered to be at higher-than-average risk for substance use, and this study suggests that different stressors may influence consumption of substances like tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis.

Oh H, Leventhal AM, Tam CC, Rajkumar R, Zhou S, Clapp JD. Stressors experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and substance use among US college students. Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports. 2021;1:100005. doi:10.1016/j.dadr.2021.100005