Cannabis Use Associations with Adverse Psychosocial Functioning among North American College Students

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescent-onset cannabis use (CU) (before age 18) is associated with multiple adverse psychosocial outcomes, but rates of CU peak between the ages of 18 and 22, coinciding with college matriculation. Whether CU among college-enrolled young adults is associated with similar psychosocial outcomes is poorly understood. In the present study, we examined relationships between CU and multiple psychosocial outcomes in North American college students. Methods: Data for this report come from N = 40,250 North American college students ages 18-to-25 years (mean age = 20.7 years, 69% female, 66% Caucasian) who participated in the Healthy Minds Study (HMS) 2016-17. HMS is a web-based annual survey querying multiple mental health, substance use, and psychosocial variables in representative student populations from 53 universities across North America. Student respondents were stratified in two groups based upon their self-report of past 30-day CU and compared on psychosocial variables. Results: Approximately 20% (n = 8,327) of student respondents reported past 30-day CU. After adjusting for socio-demographics, knowledge of campus services, and use of other drugs, the odds of depression (aOR = 1.3), suicidal thoughts and behaviors (aORs ∼1.4–1.7), anxiety (aOR = 1.2), eating disorders (aOR = 1.2), and violence victimization (aOR = 1.4) were all higher for CU students. Additionally, CU students had higher rates of other drug use and lower rates of perceived supportive relationships. Conclusion: Our results indicated that CU is common among North American college students and associated with adverse psychosocial consequences across multiple domains. Based upon these findings, colleges should consider expanding educational, prevention, and early-intervention programs for students who use cannabis.

Keywords:

• Cannabis use
• college students
• behavioral associations
• psychosocial functioning

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

Dr Vidal receives support from the K12 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Physician Scientist Program in Substance Use Career Development Award (K12DA000357). AACAP and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) had no role in the design and conduct of the study. Dr. Hammond has received grant support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA; Bench to Bedside Award and K12DA000357), AACAP, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA; H79 SP082126-01), the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (Grant# 2020147), the National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC), the Johns Hopkins Consortium for School-based Health Solutions, and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has served as a subject matter expert and consultant for SAMHSA, has served on the Scientific Advisory Board for Forbes & Manhattan, and has received honoraria in the past 24-months for meeting participation from NIDA, AACAP, NNDC, and Psychiatric Times.