Association between perceived risk of harm and self-reported binge drinking, cigarette smoking, and marijuana smoking in young adults

Abstract

Objectives

Evaluate the association between perceived risk of harm and self-reported binge drinking, cigarette smoking, and marijuana smoking among college students.

Participants

Participants were 599 students (ages 19–28) at a large Midwestern university recruited from October 2015 to December 2017.

Methods

Hurdle regression was used to test the relationship between perceived risk of harm from substance use (i.e., binge drinking, cigarette smoking, and marijuana smoking), and self-reported use. Demographic characteristics were tested as moderators of this relationship.

Results

Engagement in all three substance use behaviors was less likely when perceived risk was high. Age moderated the association between perceived risk and self-reported marijuana smoking with younger participants demonstrating a stronger relationship between perceived risk of smoking marijuana and self-reported marijuana smoking.

Conclusion

Intervention programs will be most effective when perceived risk of substance use is high. Therefore, intervention programs should aim to increase college students’ perceived risk of substance use.

Keywords:

• Binge drinking
• cigarettes
• college students
• community-based prevention
• Health Belief Model
• marijuana
• perceived risk of harm
• substance use

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, SP277999