CORRELATES OF COLLEGE-STUDENT MARIJUANA USE - RESULTS OF A US NATIONAL SURVEY

This study examines which personal student background and college char acteristics are associated with marijuana use. A self-administered sur vey was mailed to a national representative sample of 17 592 students at 140 American colleges. One of four (24.8%) students reported wing m arijuana within the past year. Rates of use among the colleges ranged from zero per cent at the lowest we schools to 54% at the highest use schools. Multiple regression models, constructed to determine the coll ege and student characteristics predicting marijuana we, suggest that use was higher among students at non-commuter colleges and at colleges with pubs on campus. Student characteristics associated with marijuan a we included being single, white, spending more time at parties and s ocializing with friends, and less time studying. Marijuana use was hig her among students who participate in other high risk behaviors such a s binge drinking, cigarette smoking and having multiple sexual partner s, and among students who perceived parties as important, and religion and community service as not important. The study points to the socia l nature of drug use in college, and demonstrates that this behavior i s of continuing concern for public health.