Experienced harms from substance use among college students: A latent class analysis

ABSTRACT

Many college students experience personal consequences from their own substance use as well as secondhand effects resulting from other students’ substance use. Our study identifies meaningful subgroup response patterns representing the construct of experienced harms, that is, the combined harms resulting from personal substance use and the substance use of others. In this sample six latent classes of harms experienced by participants were identified. The classes ranged from a No Harms group to a group of eleven harms – Severe Harms. We demonstrated that harms class membership was directly related to the level of involvement with substances. As the level of substance use increased – demonstrated by membership in latent classes of progressive involvement with substances – the odds of membership in a more serious experienced harms class increased. Participants reporting early onset of any substance were more likely to be members in any of the experienced harms latent classes than members of the No Harms class. Elucidating the exposure to harm associated with college student substance use behavior through an expanded focus on the patterns of experienced effects (i.e., personal consequences and secondhand effects) advances current research on a nationally-recognized problem.     

The Influence of Parental,Peer, and School Factors on Marijuana Use Among Native American Adolescents

ABSTRACT

Marijuana use among Native American (NA) adolescents continues to be an ongoing concern and is often cited as the most critical health issue facing this population. Despite this recognition, few studies have examined the roles played by parental monitoring and school relationships among NA youth. This cross-sectional study used secondary data from the 2010 National Survey in Drug Use and Health to examine the combined influence of parental, peer, and school indicators on marijuana use among NA adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old (N = 287). The results of structural equation modeling suggest that peer factors and parental monitoring were significantly associated with marijuana use. In fact, the peer network was the most influential predictor. However, a significant relationship was not found between school relationships and marijuana use. Given the insignificance of school relationships, further research should examine the influence of peer interactions on marijuana use and the development of family-based prevention and intervention programs.     

Measuring characteristics of e-cigarette consumption among college students

Objective: E-cigarette use among college students has increased drastically in recent years. This study aims to inform development of a comprehensive measure of e-cigarette consumption for this population.

Participants and Methods: This mixed-method study collected both quantitative and qualitative data from a sample of 43 experienced e-cigarette users from two college campuses, using a self-reported questionnaire and a semi-structured interview, in March–September of 2017.

Results: College student users found some of the consumption questions in national surveys difficult to answer. Switching nicotine levels, mixing flavors, co-using with alcohol and marijuana, using with others who were vaping or drinking, and vaping in a car or indoor space were all common. The participants defined “regular user” based on ownership of a device rather than on quantity/frequency.

Conclusions: A comprehensive e-cigarette consumption measure should cover the complex characteristics that are potentially associated with negative health consequences such as flavorings, co-use and social contexts.     

Examining residence status as a risk factor for health risk behaviors among college students

Objective: The current study is aimed to evaluate college student residence as a unique risk factor for a range of negative health behaviors. Participants: We examined data from 63,555 students (66% females) from 157 campuses who completed the National College Health Assessment Survey in Spring 2011. Methods: Participants answered questions about the frequency of recent use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drugs, as well as sexual risk behavior in the last 30 days. Sexual risk behaviors were operationalized as having unprotected vaginal sex (yes/no) and the number of sexual partners. Results: Logistic regression analyses revealed that living off-campus is a unique predictor of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drug use, as well as engaging in unprotected sex and a greater number of sexual partners (all ps <. 01). Conclusions: Students living off-campus exhibit more substance use and sexual risk behaviors than students living on-campus, independent of gender, age, or race.     

Examining interactions within the theory of planned behavior in the prediction of intentions to engage in cannabis-related driving behaviors

Abstract

Objective: As marijuana use becomes more available to college students through increasing legal reform, this paper seeks to examine intentions for driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) and riding with a high driver (RWHD) through the lens of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and assess potential interactions between personal attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and sex. Participants: Undergraduate college students (N?=?311) completed online surveys in September, 2013. Method: Participants self-reported their attitudes toward DUIC, subjective norms, PBC, past DUIC and RWHD, and intentions to DUIC and RWHD. Results: Participants’ attitudes toward DUIC, subjective norms, and PBC were strongly associated with intentions to DUIC and RWHD bivariately. In regression models, attitudes and PBC were both positively and significantly related to intentions to DUIC and RWHD. Conclusions: DUIC and RWHD are concerns for college populations. Targeting personal attitudes and perceived behavioral control via interventions may reduce these behaviors.     

Contemporaneous and Intertemporal Relationship Between the Consumption of Licit and Illicit Substances by Youth

Using a representative sample of the 1999 National School-based Youth Risk Behavior Survey, this study investigated the risky behavior of cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana consumption by underage students. The research analyzes the contemporaneous and intertemporal relationship between the use of these licit and illicit substances. Evidence of a gateway from cigarettes to marijuana was found; however, prior use of alcohol does not significantly increase the likelihood of currently using marijuana.     

新疆大麻毒品犯罪的特点和对策

本文阐述了建国以前和建国以后至今新疆大麻毒品问题的基本情况,近期新疆大麻毒品犯罪的主要特点,大麻毒品犯罪带来的社会危害以及禁止大麻毒品犯罪的一些对策等问题。     

Exploring the association between alcohol,marijuana, and secondhand effects with rural college students

ABSTRACT

The current study investigated the association between secondhand effects and personal consequences with substance use in a sample of rural college students (N = 412; 55.1% women; 92.2% white/non-Hispanic). The study extends the body of secondhand effects research by (a) investigating the association of marijuana use with the experience of secondhand effects; (b) examining the association of onset risk of substance use (< 18 years old) with the experience of secondhand effects; (c) exploring the multiplicity of experienced effects associated with substance use by employing a four-category typology that exhaustively represents exposure to secondhand effects and personal consequences. Bivariate and multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate the data. The majority of students (90.3%) experienced undesirable effects from substance use, with 15% reporting only secondhand effects, 28.5% only personal consequences, and 46.8% reporting both secondhand effects and personal consequences. Residing on-campus, onset risk, and past 30-day alcohol or marijuana use increased risk for experiencing personal consequences and the combination of secondhand effects and personal consequences. Secondhand effects are likely to compound the harm for substance users because they often experience both secondhand effects and personal consequences.     

Clinical Pilot Experiences Using the Marijuana Screening Inventory (MSI-X): Screening Guidelines and Case Illustrations

ABSTRACT

A review of the literature indicates that there is a need for marijuana specific screening. The Marijuana Screening Inventory (MSI-X) was developed as a psychometrically reliable and valid tool for clinical use in general health and primary care settings. This paper describes the MSI-X, its potential assessment benefits, and clinical screening guidelines. It discusses the pilot application of the MSI-X with four clients to illustrate its clinical usefulness.     

Adolescents' Self-Reported Substance Risks and Need to Talk About Them in Mental Health Counseling

Summary

Although adolescents seeking mental health services may not consider them related, the prevalent co-morbidity of substance use and mental health problems makes it imperative that practitioners find ways of engaging troubled youth about substance issues. Based on their responses to a clinical self-assessment questionnaire (Adquest), this study shows that mental health service applicants are willing to disclose their substance use behaviors and are open to talking about them to intake workers. Age and gender differences in substance use patterns and willingness to talk are explored.